Her expression softened, and she looked away for a moment. “Kickball represents a lot of things from our past, so let’s just play a round. I’ll kick first.”
I’d always looked at kickball fondly, probably because it brought me to Kira. We got to know each other while playing on the same team. We got to argue with each other when we were on separate teams. We had our first kiss in the dugout. Plus,multiple make-out sessions there at night, which was very scandalous for the teenage versions of us.
But we could make some new memories, too.
She walked over to the kicking box, and I couldn’t help admiring the shape of her ass in those leggings. The years had been good to Kira.
Damn it, Landon. Not the right time.
I placed the ball on the dirt and rolled my shoulders with exaggerated flair. Kira laughed, and it sent me a little jolt of adrenaline.
The ball rolled toward her, wobbling slightly over the uneven ground. I held my breath, watching as she ran forward and connected with the ball in one fluid motion.
It wasn’t a home run, but it soared higher than I expected, arching toward the outfield. I let out a curse, chasing after it, sneakers slipping a little on the damp ground. The air stung my face, but I didn’t care. For a moment, it felt like no time had passed at all, like we were kids again, running wild under the sun.
By the time I jogged back to her, the ball tucked under my arm, my breath was coming in shorter puffs.I need to do more cardio. Kira stood there with her arms crossed, her grin as smug as it was playful.
“You’re onto something,” she said, tilting her head. “This is better than flowers.”
“I have my moments.” I tossed her the ball. “Your turn, champ.”
Kira didn’t waste any time, rolling me the ball as soon as she made it to the mound. Her hand-eye coordination never ceased to impress me. When the ball neared, I kicked it farther than anticipated, soaring over her head.Whoops.
She turned and started to run, but I ran after her. Kira might be skilled in kickball, but I was always the faster runner. Shehadn’t made it very far before I caught her, throwing my arms around her waist and pulling her toward me.
“Cheater!” she exclaimed, trying to pull her way out of my embrace.
“I forfeit,” I said, flexing my arms.
Turning around in my embrace, she asked, “You forfeit already?”
“Already? Did you expect me to forfeit this whole time?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
Without thinking, I thrust her over my shoulder. The good ole sack of potatoes trick.
“What are you doing?” She pounded her fists against my back. “You’re sweaty.”
“I’m taking back my forfeit and getting the ball.” I carried her to where the kickball lay in the grass. “We’ll call it even.”
“I don’t think it counts if I’m incapacitated.”
I tapped her on that sweet ass, and she yelped.
“Okay, fine! We’re even.”
Slowly, I released her back to the ground. “Thank you.”
It felt like the past was merging with the present.
I’d been so focused lately on being there for Kira, on seeing if she was capable of offering forgiveness and letting go of the past, but I hadn’t spent any time considering what I should do if I obtained it. Of course my priority was to make sure Kira went after everything she wanted, but it wasn’t until now that I thought that could also include me.
Maybe, after all these years, she still wanted me a smidgeon of how much I wanted her. I could live with that. I had enough love for both of us.
But I wouldn’t do anything that made her uncomfortable. She had already shared her anxieties with me, and I didn’t want to make any of them worse. I had to be patient. Let Kira take the lead.
So I waited for her to lead.
