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Prologue
Cooper
“Arey’alldeafandstupid?“ Coach Benson’s deep, boisterous voice echoes through the bus, causing all of us to silence. “I said get your damn asses off the bus and out of my face.” The huge smile on his face vastly contradicts the menacing tone.
As soon as he descends the steps and out the door, the chatter continues as if someone just turned the volume up on the world. But it gets us all moving. Don’t have to tell us twice—or, well, maybe you do.
After traveling for two hours, we’re finally back in the parking lot of Meadows Ridge High School. I can’t wait to get off this fucking bus. My muscles are sore as hell and my ass numb. At least the boosters had the funds to get us the nice buses and not force us to ride in the typical yellow ones.
I grab my bag from the empty seat beside me and sling it over my shoulder. The line moves slowly as we all shuffle our way to exit the bus. Outside the windows, it looks like what feels like half, if not the whole, town is waiting to celebrate with us.
This morning, the fourteen of us woke up normal teenagers, and now we are champions—North Carolina State Baseball Champions, to be exact.
“I can’t believe all those people are here for us,” Kaden, our third baseman, says in shock as he stares out the window.
“Fuck yeah, they are. We’re fucking champs,” Max, our shortstop, exclaims as he slaps Kaden’s shoulder.
Fucking champs.I still can’t believe it.Last year, we came close, but the Topsail Pirates knocked us out in the playoffs. I don’t know if it was skill or pure determination to graduate as champions, but it finally fucking happened.
Coach Benson slaps my back as I step off the bus and onto the sidewalk. “I’m proud of you, Cooper. Gonna miss you around here.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m going to miss you, too.”
Verne Benson has been my baseball coach all four years here. He saw something in me as a scrawny freshman when I walked onto his field for the first time as one of two players selected for varsity.
“Are your parents here?”
I shake my head. “Nah, they went straight home from the stadium.”
My parents might not be here, but there is someone in the crowd that I’m searching for.
“Cooper,” a familiar female voice shouts, and we both turn to find my girlfriend, Riley Parker, standing high above the crowd with her hands cupped around her mouth so that I can hear her over the sheer volume. She is clearly standing on something to see over the crowd because there is no way she should be able to see at only five foot two. The crowd swallows Riley once she jumps down, confirming my suspicion.
Coach Benson clears his throat, stealing my attention back. “You be safe tonight.” He chuckles, and I’m unsure, based on his expression, the meaning behind his words, but either way, I plan to be.
“Yes, sir.” I flip my hat around backward and head toward her.
I push through the crowd, nodding at all the slaps on the back and the yelled congratulations and high-fiving the hands being held out as I pass. A few folks try to stop me to chat, but my sole focus is on the brunette beauty making her way over to me.
When our eyes lock, her smile widens, matching mine—full of pride. I drop my bag at my feet and scoop her into my arms before spinning her around.
“You did it, baby! I’m so proud of you,” she screams in excitement.
“We did it,” I correct.
As soon as I stop spinning, I place a searing kiss on her lips. I don’t even bother setting her back on her feet. Her legs swing and wrap around me as my tongue plunges deeper into her mouth. She tastes sweet, like the watermelon candies she’s always eating.
When we finally break apart, we’re both breathless. Nothing could kill the high I’m feeling. It’s like I’m on top of the world. Having Riley in my arms just feeds the adrenaline flowing through my veins.
“Oh, that’s interesting. I didn’t realize I was on the field, too,” she sasses.
“But you were,” I say, brushing the hairs off her face. “You always are—“ I place my hand over my heart. ”—right here.”
Riley’s eyes glaze over with unshed tears. “You always say the sweetest things.”
“I mean it, Riles” I whisper just before closing the distance and claiming her lips once more. I couldn’t care less that we’re in public. All that matters right now is us.
“Could you two just get a room already?” Tanner, my best friend since we were kids, says behind me.
