Ritual and routine are everything.
And then I look in Audrey’s direction as I tap my lucky charm, feeling how fast my heart is beating. It feels like I’m back in high school.
She’s standing with her eyes locked on me, excitement radiating around her.
It’s like no time has passed at all.
I take my stance, watching the pitcher like a hawk as he winds up and throws the ball towards me, my swing already in motion.
There are very few things in the world that top the cracking sound a bat makes when colliding with the ball. But as I run base after base, the cheering and announcer shouting “HOME RUN!!” is enough to make me pump my fists into the air.
I risk looking in her direction. She’s jumping up and down, clapping with the widest smile on her face, screaming out, “GO NOAH, GO!” It makes me want to run towards her and kiss her, but instead once I tap home plate, I run to my team in the dugout.
By the time we get to the seventh inning stretch, I can’t stop smiling.
Especially watching Audrey sing along toTake Me Out to the Ball Gamewith the same enthusiasm she had when we were growing up. It looks like a little bit of the spark I’ve always loved about her is coming back.
Connor is pitching a great game today and every once in a while I catch him looking in Audrey’s direction with excitement.
I forgot how much we both cherished her high energy while playing.
Maybe I’m not the only one who's been missing her.
Thirteen: Audrey
Down Bad - Taylor Swift
They won. Noah got a home run. Connor pitched a perfect game. It’s almost as if no time has passed at all.
Except it has.
Things are different now.
Noah and I have seven lost years between us.
“Fuck, I might actually be a baseball fan now, that was an amazing game,” Fiona jokes from beside me, before kissing Selena.
Selena winks at Fiona as we move towards the locker rooms. “Don’t blame you, me too. I didn’t feel like falling asleep during the game for once.” She points at me with a devilish smile. “But don’t you dare tell Connor!”
I knock my shoulder against hers, smirking. “Oh, I’ll let him think you hate baseball for the rest of our lives, don’t worry.”
“Excellent! Now, fess up, you were definitely checking out Noah’s ass the whole time, how are you going to reactto seeing him without a railing between you? Willyouget a railing?” Selena wiggles her eyebrows.
Fiona snorts, before responding, “That was a terrible innuendo, Sel.” Still, she also turns towards me expectantly, waiting for my response.
Of course I was checking him out. My eyes were glued to Noah every single time he was on the field. I couldn’t focus on anyone but him.
“I don’t know, honestly,” I reply, leaning against the wall behind me once we join the group of people outside the locker rooms. “But I doubt I’ll getrailed.”
Fiona and Selena both snicker, looking unconvinced.
We’re waiting for the team to come out, when a blonde woman comes up to us. “Are you a WAG?” she asks Selena, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
Selena fails to hold in a laugh. “A wh-what?”
“Wives and girlfriends …” The woman rolls her eyes as if everyone in the world should know the saying. If only she knew how unsporty Selena is. She spends most of the games she comes to waiting for a fight to break out. I’ve explained to her at least twenty times that baseball is not a sport known for its brawls.
“Oh, no … we’re the sister's friends club. The SFC you might say.” She glances towards me with a smirk.
