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I’m not too sure about being myself though because, since the night I met him, what myself seems to want is to leap on Liam at any given moment. And I obviously can’t do that.
But what Icando is stop worrying about sucking at sports and embarrassing myself. Just go out there and enjoy my day. And even if I can’t leap on him, I can still use every opportunity for Liam to see me for who I am:
The woman who’s good at her job, and makes him laugh, and who I kind of, sort of, maybe think he might like to get to know better.
And I think I have an idea of how to do it.
24
ANNIE
The baseball diamond is an All-American dream.
The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and it’s a beautiful day for a softball tournament. If you’re into that sort of thing.
I’m not sure what I’m expecting when I hop out of the car my dear dad lent me for the day (ten minutes early, I’ll have you know. Mostly because I’m sure Liam expects me to be late). Nerves tingle in my stomach as I make my way from the parking lot to the bleachers where the crowds are gathered.
I can confirm that, whatever I was expecting, it certainly wasn’t this chaos.
I’m talking country-music playing, hot dog-grilling, beer-swilling chaos. This looks more like a tailgate party than an athletic event. There’s probably a hundred people here, and everyone looks ready for a good time.
Vanessa’s memo was right about one thing though: this softball league is more for socializing than actual competition.
Thank goodness. Because if it’s not about winning or losing, like Brené says, then nobody can be too mad when my spectacular lack of coordination sends Team Donovan Brothers on a one-way trip to Loserville.
I rummage in my purse for my sunglasses and pop them on. Hold a hand to my forehead as a sunshield as I scout for a familiar face.
Eventually, I spot Jamal and Todd, Stay Inside the Lines’s developers. They’re hovering awkwardly near the bleachers, looking as pained and unathletic as I feel.
These are my people today.
“Hey, guys!” I greet them with a cheery wave.
“Hi, Annie,” Jamal says, then his gaze drops over my body and his eyes practically bug out of his head. “Wha…”
I set my tray of homemade brownies on the bottom bleacher, drop my purse to the ground, then do a little twirl to show off my mom’s glittery, green, 80’s relic leggings. And my t-shirt. “Just a little inside joke between Mr. Donovan and myself.”
“You mean Mr. D, right?” Todd’s brow wrinkles. “Luke?”
“No, Liam.”
“I didn’t know Mr. Donovan had inside jokes.” Jamal coughs. “Or any jokes at all.”
“Are… are you sure about wearing that?” Todd adds, an expression close to terror etched across his narrow features.
I give the boys a wide smile. “Maybe the boss man’s turning over a new leaf.”
“Who’s turning over a new leaf?” Luke’s booming voice calls from behind me.
I spin around to see Luke, Mindy, Legs and Liam walking towards us, laden down with coolers, camp chairs and bags of snacks.
“Annie!” Legs drops the huge bag of popcorn she’s carrying and runs towards me.
I crouch to her level and open my arms for a hug. “Hey there, cutie. You ready to watch your uncles play softball?”
“I brought Barbie and Ken in my backpack in case I get bored.”
“Thats a good idea! Are they gonna play softball, too?” I address my question to Legs but I have to admit she only has fifty percent of my attention because, behind her, Liam is shrugging off his hoodie. When he pulls it over his head, his t-shirt rises with it, revealing a slice of tanned, toned, inked skin.
