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“First, I just want to say, Mia, you did a great job.” Sunnie claps her hands, and we all follow. “Now, down to business. As you can see, we all need a bit of…” she clears her throat, “practice.”
We all nod but laugh at ourselves. I’m so glad we all seem to be here for fun and not really all that competitive. Hanging out and having fun is really the only reason Grace and I joined the team to begin with. Neither one of us has ever been all that athletic.
“Great. Glad you all agree. So, for our next practice, is Monday afternoon good for everyone?” We all agree. “Great. Then, good game ladies. I’ll see you all on Monday.” Sunni starts picking up the kickballs and bases. Most of us help her out as the others clean up the garbage from the dugouts.
Once we’re all done, Grace and I start for the parking lot to leave. “What do you have going on tonight, Grace? Any big plans?”
“Actually, since you have your big date with Hudson tonight, I’m going to tagalong with Mia and Riley to Hooplas to celebrate our loss.” She laughs at her joke, and I just shake my head and smile.
“Oh, that sounds like fun as long as it doesn’t end up like the last time you and I went there.” Raising my eyebrows and tilting my head, I try to make my best ‘mom’ impression.
She raises her hand up at me. “You don’t have to tell me that. I plan on being the designated driver tonight.”
“Maybe you’ll see your friend there. What was his name? Chris, Curt…”
“Kane.”
“Ah, yes, Kane.” I tease.
“I hope I don’t see him there. The humiliation is still strong with that one.” Grace climbs into her car, rolls the window down, and turns down the blaring music. “Besides, tonight is all about Mia and her almost home run.”
“Okay, well, have fun tonight. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” I hesitate. “Scratch that. Don’t do anything you normally would do.” I laugh.
“Funny. You’re hilarious.”
“But I’m right.”
“Whatever.” Grace gets a devious look in her eyes. “I’ll call you in the morning and you can tell me all about your sleepover tonight.”
The nervous knot in my stomach drops like a ten-pound weight. “There will be absolutely no sleepovers tonight.”
“Prude. Just go for it. It won’t kill you. Actually, it might do you some good.”
I turn my back to Grace and climb into my SUV. “We are not having this discussion right now. I’m leaving.”
“Chickenshit.”
“Have fun tonight at Hooplas.”
“You have fun tonight with the owner of Hooplas.” Grace wiggles her eyebrows, not a good look on her, and drives away.
Now my nerves are shot. I’ve been excited to see Hudson all day, but now that I’ll be seeing him in less than two hours, the butterflies in my stomach have multiplied and all my nerve endings are buzzing. Is this excitement or terror? I can’t tell anymore.
I’m having heart palpitations. I’m so nervous. Why? I don’t have an answer to that question.
Getting ready for this date, I dropped anything and everything that I picked up. From the soap and shampoo in the shower to my car keys, twice, on my way out of my house. What is wrong with me? It’s not like I haven’t been out with Hudson before.
But I’m sure excited to see him. Honestly, I can’t wait to see his dark, kind eyes; feel his strong, yet tender touch, maybe even his soft kiss again. I’m finding I’ve been craving his embrace, as well. I’ve got it bad, and that is so not like me. Not after what Adam did to me.
Adam and I dated from high school through college. Sure, we had the typical breakups during high school when you get mad at your girlfriend or boyfriend for something stupid. That was just kids’ stuff, though.
But once we got to college, Adam and I made a commitment to each other. We had plans. Big plans. First, we’d finish school, I’d open my shop, and he’d go to law school and then get hired at some prestigious law firm.
Then we’d get married, having the wedding of the year and invite all of his associates from his practice and all our friends from high school and college. Then we’d buy a big house, have three or four kids, go on vacations to exotic places, and maybe even have a dog or two. At some point, he’d run for a public office, perhaps a senator, and then possibly eventually even Governor.
Mostly, those were Adam’s plans. He had stars in his eyes. His plan was to conquer the world, and nothing was going to stand in his way. When we made these plans, we committed ourselves to be each other’s support system and cheerleaders. He had my back, and I had his. It was us against the world.
Then a girl named Ashley came along. Then Missy. Then Rita. Then Emily. Then I stopped keeping track of their names. And each time, Adam swore it was a mistake. A minor flaw he had and that he only loved me. And, of course, he promised to never stray again. After each one of them, and as the fool I was, I believed him and in our plans that we made together, and I forgave him every single time. Every. Single. Time.
