“I don’t know,” she blinks, a slow smile creeping onto her face as she edges around the table to line up her next shot. “Are you?”
“Yes. I’m thinking there’s a very real chance I’m about to get hustled” I admit, watching in awe as she once again sends the cue ball straight toward another striped-ball, and now, to no one’s surprise it cleanly drops into the pocket.
“Did you really think that Jared Clemmins wouldn’t teach his daughter how to play pool?” she asks, reaching for the blue chalk and giving her cue a few quick rubs.
“If I’m being honest, yes, or at least that had been my hope.”
I have a sneaking suspicion Jared thought ahead and did his best to protect Hollis from the guys who only want to “teach” her just so they can cop a feel. If right, I have to give the man some major props. At least it was her dad she learned from and not some creep with questionable intentions.
“So, what do you say we make things a little more interesting?” she asks, as she moves to face me from the other side of the table.
Given the devious smirk on her face I should probably be nervous, but I’ve also never been one to turn down a challenge.
“I could be open to it. What exactly are the stakes?”
“When I win, tomorrow you have to film whatever video I want for the team socials with no complaints.”
I tilt my head from side to side as I mull it over. “And what do I get if I win?” I ask, letting her be in charge, since if it was up to me, it’d likely be me leading her out back to recreate the magic that happened the night before.
“To keep it fair, you’d get to pick what we film and I can’t say anything about it either.”
It may not be as fun as what I’d been hoping, but I’m fairly certain I could still have some fun with it.
“Deal,” I agree, rounding the table and holding out my hand.
She shakes it, officially sealing the deal. But, the second she turns back toward the table and lines up her next shot, I realize I likely just hit the final nail in my own coffin.
But really? What do I have to complain about? Hollis is finally loosening up, laughing with me, and no longer pushing me away. We’re having fun, and it looks like I’m finally gaining some ground in winning her over.
There’s still a long way to go, but progress is progress. And hey, even if it means embarrassing myself tomorrow, I’ll take it. There really isn’t much I wouldn’t do for Hollis Clemmins.
This woman has me wrapped around her pretty little finger, and I’m fairly certain she knows it.
13
Hollis
I don’t think I’ll ever get over how talented these guys are. They’re easily just as skilled as a lot of the players in the Major Leagues, but what they’re doing here goes beyond regular baseball. The perfect example is Easten, catching the ball from centerfield while performing a backflip. A fucking backflip! Who even does that?
The crowd absolutely loses it, and so do I. I may be working and this may be my job, but I’m screaming just as loud, jumping and cheering with everyone else in this packed stadium.
Yes, part of my job is watching the game, but it’s also catching all the behind-the-scenes fun on the sidelines while the cameramen capture the action on the field. And I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t keeping an extra-close eye on Fletcher tonight.
Whether he’s up to bat, or heading out onto the field, my eyes are glued to him. Plus, there’s no denying how good he looks in those tight, red baseball pants. I’m only human after all. And come on, after how much he’s checked me out, it’s only fair I get to do the same.
I’m also fairly certain he’s been going out of his way to show off a little extra tonight. Case in point: Theo, from the Rowdy Rattlers, hitting a ground ball straight toward Fletch. Instead of scooping it up and making a normal throw to Mateo at second, he does a trick play, tossing it from under his leg to second before Mateo spins and fires it to Jaxon at first for a double play.
I cheer again as the crowd roars in excitement.
Working for the league as a whole, I try to stay impartial and root for both teams equally. But at this moment, it’s hard not to get swept away, especially after seeing those trick plays. If the Rattlers want to secure their first win, they’re really going to need to step it up.
“You catch that one?” Fletcher asks, jogging straight for me as he and the Honky Tonks exit the field to get ready for their turn at bat.
“I did. Very impressive,” I compliment as pure boyish pride radiates off him. “But what I really can’t wait to see is what I have planned for you. You know, after my own big win last night.”
At every practice, the teams not only work on their baseball skills, but also on both the big and small choreographed dancenumbers. There are, of course, the big ones involving one or both teams, but sometimes they’re for only a couple of players who get to have a bigger-than-normal walk-up song moment.
It’s all planned in advance, and while I know I put a slight wrench in the plans for those who work behind the scenes, there’s no way me changing Fletcher’s walk-up song isn’t going to be a huge hit. Not that they put up a huge stink about it.
