Taking our seats, I get myself situated while music plays through the speakers. Maybe I should send them a mix of better songs, these are severely lacking.
“Hi,” a perky voice chirps next to me. A small, beautiful blonde cheerleader holds her hand out to me. “I’m Clara. I don’t think we’ve met yet. Aren’t you Polly’s roommate?”
Her big blue eyes bat at me while I shake her hand. “Yeah. Hi, I’m Candi.” Her lipstick-painted mouth pops open at the mention of my name.
“Oh my God, your name is Candi? How sweet!” Her blazing white teeth sparkle in the sunlight, and I feel myself shrink next to her. Am I going to have to deal with this the whole game? Polly is talking to the girl next to her and isn’t paying any attention to me, which is fine, but that means I have no one to rescue me.
Before Clara can drag me further into an unwanted conversation, the announcer comes over the speaker with all of the opening game procedures. Then, the players are individually announced, and I find myself nervous for Jaxon as his name is called. “First baseman, Jaxon Sharp!” Jaxon steps forward and waves a gloved hand toward the crowd and I’m beaming at him clapping my hands in support. But Clara? Clara jumps out of her seat and screams at the top of her lungs, her arms thrown in the air as she cheers.
Girl, what the fuck?
I’ve never met this girl, and Jaxon’s never mentioned her, so what the hell is going on? Thinking back through the past month with Jaxon not once has he brought up anything other than baseball, school, and his mom.
He’s spoken about his home life in bits and pieces. He was raised by a single mom who struggled when he was younger. She’s the reason he wants to work in a non-profit once he graduates. They’re pretty close and he calls her once a week just to check on her. I briefly met some of his friends, Trevor and Gavin mainly with a couple of baseball players thrown in, but no Clara. No girls ever.
Do they have a history together? Why has he never mentioned her? Is he keeping her a secret? But why would he do that? We’ve been together basically nonstop since Valentine’s Day, he couldn’t possibly have had time to see me and this chick. Maybe I’m reading too much into it. Definitely reading too much into it. Just relax and enjoy watching your boyfriend play the sport he loves.
I’ll admit that I know very little about baseball. I understand the basics—hit the ball, run the bases, get the runners out, rinse and repeat.
Polly helps to get me out of my funk brought on by overthinking Clara’s reaction to my boyfriend. When someone in the stand starts the wave, Polly drags me up out of my seat, making me join in. She leaves for a bit in the third inning and brings back hotdogs saying, “Everyone knows you have to enjoy a hotdog while watching a baseball game. It’s in the rule book somewhere.”
Watching Jaxon, I’m amazed at how good he is. He’s so quick to catch the ball for an out and immediately rears his arm back and lobs the ball across the field, making a double play. It’s clear that he’s an important part of the team and it makes my heart fillwith pride. Adjusting his hat on my head, I smile and clap with the crowd as the teams switch the field.
“You see the first baseman?” Clara leans over and points to Jaxon as he walks into the dugout.
“You mean number seventeen? Jaxon Sharp?” I ask, playing dumb. “I might know him.”
Clara’s blue eyes widen when I say I know him. “You do? Isn’t he just a dreamboat?” She reaches out and lightly touches my arm as she swoons over him. “We went out a while back, and let me tell you,” she leans in closer and crooks her finger at me, “he’s as dreamy as he looks.” Clara dramatically fans herself and blows out a breath through her pursed lips. “He’s going to be mine one of these days.” The determined look on her face says that she’s not going to stop until she gets what she wants, and what she wants ismyboyfriend.
Taking a minute while Sweet Caroline plays through the speakers as the players get warmed up for the next inning, I look over at Clara as she talks to the girl on the other side of her. She’s a petite, perky, busty blonde cheerleader. She’s everything I’m not.
Since Jaxon stumbled into my life, I haven’t been as self-conscious. He’s never made me feel anything other than pretty and desired whenever he’s around me. I don’t worry about what I look like at all when I’m with him.
So why am I letting Clara wiggle her way into my head?
For the rest of the game, I’m distracted by my thoughts. I’m watching the game, but my mind is overthinking, leaving me in no mood to deal with the people around me.
When the ninth inning comes to an end, the entire student section loses their minds. Rosewood College beats Liberty College seven runs to five. We’re all jumping and screaming for our team, and I’m so proud of Jaxon.
The team gathers in the middle of the field surrounding their coach as he talks to them. I can’t hear what he’s saying but the guys are circled around him, arms tossed over the shoulders of their neighbors with smiles on their faces. They’ve worked so hard for this. All at once, the guys lower their arms and clap, running over to the stands to wave at their fans. I catch Jaxon’s eye as they head to the student section and a heart-stopping grin spreads across his face, his pace picking up to a run in my direction.
The only thing separating the stadium seats from the diamond is a four-foot-high concrete wall. Jaxon runs right to me, flipping his hat backward the closer he gets to me. When he’s right in front of me, he slips my borrowed baseball cap off my head, wraps his arms around my waist, and kisses me right in front of everyone.
Some shocked gasps and catcalls are being made by the students behind me, but I’m too wrapped up in Jaxon to care. I’m left breathless when he finally releases me and playfully places his hat back on my head before running back with his teammates.
“Damn girl,” Polly claps, “That was hot.”
My hands flap in front of my face as I try to cool my overheated skin and to get the blush to die down. “You’re telling me.” Smiling at my friend, I bend down to pick up my bag and when I stand up, Clara is staring at me, her eyebrows furrowed.
I get it. I’m trying to figure out why he’s with me too.
Chapter Seventeen
Jaxon
With the win over Liberty College comes an enormous sense of relief. They are our rivals for a reason. Not only are they our neighboring college, but they are the most competitive team in our league. This means that the rest of the season—all three games—should be a breeze. Not that we are going to let up on our drive, that would mean throwing out all our hard work, but we can at least relax in the knowledge that we beat the hardest team.
I’m on cloud nine as the players wave thanks to the fans and head back to the dugout to grab my bag. I just played the best game in my college career and my Sweetness was waiting for me in the stands. Nothing can shake this high.
