“Ack!” the blonde-haired, heavenly-scented, glittery eye-shadowed, curvy pop star squeaks as her open glitter tumbler tips and spills liquid all down her jersey.
I stop.
And I gape.
Start to reach out to touch her hair at the same time I try to pinch myself. This is a dream.
This has to be a dream.
Actually, have I had this dream?
I have definitely had this dream.
No matter what color her hair is dyed, I’ve had this dream.
“Here, sweetie, I’ve got it.” The dark-haired woman that I recognize from the meet-and-greet, the one with round rosy cheeks and the energy of a chipmunk, bustles between us, shoving napkins across Waverly’s chest and using her hip to bump me out of the way. “Are you burned? Cyrus! More tea! Elodie! Wardrobe change! Oh, Waverly, don’t you worry. I’ll get this cleaned up for you in no time.”
“Thank you, Hiramys. I’m okay.”
Hiramys eyeballs me, and recognition sets in immediately. “Cooper! Cooper Rock! Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? Mercy. Hello. How did you get past all of the security? Didn’t you see the signs? The ballpark is closed.”
“Only to some people,” Waverly murmurs.
Her voice is cool, but it’s not snooty,I am above you, peonpop star cool. Or evenyou seriously crossed the line with that comment about my mothercool. It’s moreI’m dripping in hot tea and wouldn’t be if you were watching where you were goingcool.
At least, that’s what my brain says.
Right along withyou are such a dumbass every time you see this woman.
It’s not wrong, which is the only explanation for what comes flying out of my mouth next. “That was my sister. That I was kissing. At Cash’s party last month.”
Yeah.
That’s what I just said.
And it’s what I did when the team was in LA and I got invited to a party thrown by a movie star who grew up here in Copper Valley and who’s been a personal friend since I made my debut with the Fireballs eight years ago.
I was minding my own business, hanging out with Max and Tillie Jean and a few other friends when I saw Waverly and her entourage and freaked.
Nothing saysbig bad baseball playerlike freaking out when you see a woman you have a stupid crush on.
Yeah.
I’mthatkind of mature.
Her aunt was right all those years ago, and that hasn’t changed.Waverly’s going places, and she doesn’t need a man who’ll never grow up holding her back.
Hiramys and Waverly share a look that’s clearly more conversation than a simple glance. Hiramys clears her throat. “This isn’t personal—I adore you on the field, Cooper, and that was so sweet that you’ve adopted the worst team in Little League to build them up and make their dreams come true the last time we were here in town—but I’m going to have security escort you out. Protocol. You haven’t had a background check. Honestly, I don’t know how you slipped through. There are signs and securityeverywhere.”
Jesus. Hello, bad. Meet worse.
I aim my most harmless grin at her because I need to not leave here.
I need to ask Waverly out.
Mind made up. Right here, right now.
This is theonlyway I’m getting her out of my system. I have to ask her out, and she has to go ice princess and show her true colors, then I can realize that the Waverly I’m crushing on is all a façade who has her aunt do her dirty work for her, and I’ll finally be able to get back to doing what I do best: scoring.
