Bill claps my shoulder. “Well, I’m sure Darcy can tell you, there’s no place like home.”
Jake’s trying to get me to look at him. “Y’all have a real special home. It’s nice to see a family this connected.”
He’s concealing it well, but I know there’s pain behind what he’s saying. It makes me want to hug him, still mad at him or not.
Maggie pats his hand. “Thank you, honey. You’re welcome with us anytime. If Darcy doesn’t invite you, just come on anyway.”
“Have you ever seen her mad?” Jake teases. “I wouldn’t dare set foot in her territory if she didn’t want me there.”
“A wise man doesn’t upset a woman,” Bill says, and everyone has a good laugh.
Maggie just rolls her eyes and we both rise from the table. “Why don’t y’all go set up the field for our ball game?”
THIRTY-FOUR
JAKE
Not to tootmy own horn, but I’m crushing it with Darcy’s family.
Her cousins have set up the field behind the house for Wiffle Ball. Brianna and Darcy are on one team, while Becca and I get assigned to the opposite. The impromptu baseball diamond is in the shade, so we’re not boiling hot.
Darcy’s all sweaty and feral-looking, her long, curly ponytail hanging out the back of a ball cap, and in her same navy shorts and white t-shirt she wore in the orchard this morning. Her team’s up to bat first. Her tiniest cousins act as “outfielders,” AKA sitting in the field near their parents in their red, white, and blue regalia. Brianna snaps pictures, designating herself the family’s documentarian.
Darcy has a little dink of a hit that goes past me at shortstop, but I act like it’s out of reach. She stays at first base, pretending she’s going to steal second. I wag a finger at her, and Brianna yells, “Don’t make Daddy mad now, Darcy.”
Thanks, Bri. In front of her entire family. Her aunt Maggie’s pitching for our team and she turns to check my reaction. “You surviving back there, Jake?”
I wave. “Fine, thanks.”
On the next hit, I’m due to tap Darcy out at second, but she decides at the last second that she’s not having it, charging into the outfield and prompting me to chase her. Game on.
She’s not going down without a fight, and neither am I. She’s surprisingly fast. Turning on a dime, she sprints back for the base.
It’s a valiant effort. It really is. She’s almost there when I pluck her off her feet from behind, pinning her to me at the waist. She squeals, thrashes, and beats at my arms.
“I WAS SAFE!” she shrieks, grabbing onto my arms like she’s afraid I’ll fling her down. She’s so close that I inhale her fruity-flowery shampoo scent, along with the soft scent of her sun-warmed skin. I spin her around twice, Brianna snapping pictures all the while. I put her down on the base with the ball pushed into her stomach. I lean down to her ear, still laughing.
“You’re out.” Darcy stumbles out of my grip, landing ass-first on the ground. She acts like she’s mad, but I know she’s not. Her cheeks are rosy, her doe eyes wild, and her mouth holds back a smile. I extend my hand down to help her to her feet. “Nice try, Rossetti.”
“I was safe,” she argues as I help her up, jamming a finger into one of my dimples. “But I guess I can’t embarrass Mr. College Ball with my skills.”
“Uh-huh, tell yourself that.” That’s three outs, so my team’s up to bat. Darcy pitches and Bri catches, and I’m batting cleanup. Two runners are on base, and I’ve got a chance to pull ahead.
I step up to the plate, doing my elaborate ritual before getting ready to swing. “You ready yet, Mr. College Ball? Done showing off?”
“I’m not showing off. I’m preparing to clear this one out of the park.”
“We’ll see about that.” Darcy squares up to pitch, and I have to jump out of the way as the ball flies dangerously close to my beltline.
“Are you trying to hit me?” I ask, feigning outrage. “Don’t make me charge the mound.”
“Hmm, good idea,” she calls. “If I walk you, you’re less dangerous.”
Her next pitch is underhanded, but I swing and miss.
“One ball, one strike,” Brianna calls.
“Wait, are you the umpire too?” I ask, not believing the injustice of the game. Darcy sneaks her next pitch past me while I’m arguing semantics with Bri.
