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Without thinking, I walk to Talynn on the other side of home plate and hug her. “Can you believe it? I’m starting today for the Kodiaks.” She’s rigid for a moment, not sure how to react, before relaxing into my arms.
She pushes away from me a bit and looks up at me through dark lashes, a wide smile stretching across her face. “A dream come true, right?” She smells like fresh fruit.
“Hell yeah.” I match her smile. “I’ve waited my whole life for this.”
“Congrats. I’ll be watching from behind the dugout. I think just you and I are flying home on the team plane tonight, so I’ll see you after the game,” she whispers in my ear, causing every hair on my body to prickle at the touch of her breath against my ear. “Good luck.”
She pushes off of me and turns without a backwards glance. It strikes me then—as good as she looks from the back—I don’t like watching her walk away from me. I shout after her, “Thanks. See you tonight. Root for me.”
This the best day of my freaking life.
ChapterTwo
TALYNN
It’s hardnotto watch a train wreck. The whole wedding party minus Wilson and Patrick who are playing, are sitting behind the dugout. The Kodiaks are on the field and the opposing team’s batter hits a fly ball to right field. Tackett loses the ball in the evening sun, and it drops onto the green, checkerboard field beside him. My sister yells, “Shake it off, Tackett!”
The video board shows the replay and the crowd rumbles, not loud, but they make their displeasure known. Luckily, Wilson and Patrick turn a double play to get out of the inning and do their signature handshake routine which gets the fans off their butts and cheering. The two of them wait for Tackett at second base as he runs from right field. Wilson takes off Tackett’s hat and messes up his hair while Patrick gives him a back slap. The camera closes in on them and you can see Patrick saying, “You can do this.” A boyish grin forms on Tackett’s face. The three of them jog into the dugout together.
Archer leans over to Megan, smiling as he speaks. “The manager is batting Tackett first, so he doesn’t have time to get nervous.”
“Good idea.” Megan squeezes his knee and pulls the ends of her hair hanging over her shoulders. It makes me happy that she’s so in love. We spent the first few days after the proposal together and if anyone deserves a fairy tale ending, it’s Megan.
Kenni, Wilson’s fiancé, and Megan both shout, “Let’s go Tackett!” I clap. I barely know him, but we’ve spent the last two days together, hanging out with Archer’s siblings and Tackett’s infectiously fun—so cute he doesn’t even realize it.
He stands, holding his bat in front of him. He looks up the shaft to the barrel. I watch his hands twist over handle as he steps into the batter’s box. He’s a lefty so we have a clear view of his face. Tackett digs his front cleat into the dirt. His thighs look massive as the pinstriped fabric stretches. His bat swirls in the air while waiting on the pitch.The first pitch blows past him for strike one. He steps out of the box and looks to the dugout and then to the third base coach giving him signals. He swings at the next two pitches and strikes out.
Patrick hits a double. Wilson, batting clean-up, hits one over the centerfield wall. He starts this season like he ended the last season when the Kodiaks won the World Championship. I look over at Tackett and he’s yelling like he’s a fan. Then I glance down our row at Jackson, Patrick’s stepson. He’s jumping up and down with arms in the air, wearing Patrick’s jersey,. What a wonderful way to spend the day. I’ve never been around people that aren’tfamilybut love each other like they’re the closest family in the world. My skin pimples just thinking about it.
When Wilson crosses home plate, Patrick is waiting on him, and the first player out of the dugout is Tackett. He runs to give them both high-fives. The three of them look into the stands. Wilson flashes his dimples; Patrick winks and Tackett does a freaking back flip. The fans go Cracker-Jack crazy, so he does it again but this time, undercuts and falls on his face. Wilson and Patrick quickly pull him into the dugout.
Tackett gets benched in the fourth after failing to lay down a bunt, at least that’s what Jackson told his mom. The Kodiaks win, so while Megan, Archer, and I wait for Tackett to come out of the locker room, a reporter stops many of the players for an interview. Tackett’s the last to emerge and there’s still a reporter wanting to talk to him. Kenni, who’s also the Public Relations Director, steps in and tells the reporter that she’ll have Wilson do an exclusive but to leave Tackett alone.
“No, Kenni. This may be the only time I’ll do an interview in the majors.” He shoves his hands into his pockets and answers every question the reporter asks. Everything from why he got this opportunity to where he learned his gymnastics prowess. By the end, Tackett was close to tears but still finds the voice to say, “Thank you to the Sharks and the Kodiaks. I’ve met the best people, and I’m sorry I squandered the opportunity they gave me today.”
I just want to hug the shit out of this guy. He’s so damn cute with his thick, messy blond hair and blue eyes that I find myself wanting to comfort him.
After the interview, a driver takes Tackett and I to the private airport. We’re the only ones heading back to Sarasota, so we step into a private plane. Who am I? And whose life am I living? I’m a girl from the south-side of Chicago—I take taxis, not private planes.
During take-off, Tackett doesn’t say a word. It’s been a long day and we’re both tired. The flight attendant, in her green and yellow uniform, matching the Kodiaks colors, takes our drink orders. Tackett asks for a beer at first but then quickly changes his mind to a protein shake. I wonder what that’s about. I wonder if he’s worried about being underage.
I walk to the seat that faces him and sit down. “Hey. Everyone gets nervous. You’ll get another chance.”
His jaw clenches and I watch him swallow hard before taking a drink of his shake. “After that display, I would venture to say I will never see the inside of a major league ballpark unless it’s as a spectator.”
“Where’s that fun-loving guy that picked me up at the airport ten days ago? The one who took a random girl to a wedding?” I reach across the space between us, lay my hand on his knee and shake it just a bit. “Don’t give up.”
He looks slowly from his knee to my eyes. “I won’t. I need to get out of my head. Maybe do something spontaneous or crazy to get my mind right.”
“Are you a Mile High Club member?” I joke.
Tackett situates himself in his seat as he raises his leg and put his ankle on his other knee. He stays quiet, pulling his lips to one side. Finally, he responds. “No, are you?”
I can see he’s thinking about it. I chuckle, then say, “Of course, I have a million miles.”
This earns me a smile and Tackett Towles is gorgeous when he smiles. Those pearly whites are the perfect size for his face. He’s one of those people with perfect proportions, unlike me who has legs like an ostrich.
“How about we have champagne or beer? That’s not too crazy, right?” I ask.
