"Run!"I yell on a peal of laughter.
Her face opens up in surprise when she remembers, and she takes off for first as everybody else runs for home too. Somebody finally has the ball in the outfield and chucks it infield, but nobody catches it.
"Go, go, go!"I'm yelling, swinging my forearm in a circle, waving them all in. Molly is hauling ass, the other runners already in, but the other team is still fumbling with the ball, so she runs and keeps running until she runs across home, scoring the last run and winning the game.
The crowd loses it, and the team rushes her. But she runs straight for me, jumping into my arms with so much force, we spin when I catch her.
Laughing, I kiss her hard. And when she breaks away, she's flushed and shining and bright and perfect.
"I hit it! I fucking hit it!"
"Yeah you fucking did," I say before kissing her again.
Only then do I realize what I've done.
Everyone is staring. Some are cheering. Some are…not. Cass is grinning like an asshole, and Shelby's just shocked, half laughing and eyes bugged.
Fuck.
I set Molly down, and she knows too. But the team mobs her and cheers for her, and it almost feels forgotten when they pick her up and carry her around on their shoulders.
Almost.
I do my best to act normal as we go through the motions. Line up to slap hands with the other team. Gather for a brief pep talk from me. Fortunately I've given enough of them that I could pull something out of my ass without having to think. Because I can't think. They're all staring. I can already hear the whispers.
Everybody knows. Everybody saw. Half the fucking town is here.
Can't take it back.
By the time the team disperses, most everyone is gone. I take my time getting my shit together. Nobody's mentioned the kiss, probably because I look like I'd hit anybody who did.
Molly's still accepting congratulations when Carlin approaches the dugout, smirking a little.
"Look at you, keeping secrets," he jokes.
I know how he feels about her, which is making me real uncomfortable right about now. "Would you believe me if I told you we've never kissed before?"
On a laugh, he says, "Not a chance. She told me earlier."
My gaze snaps to his eyes. "She did, did she?"
He shrugs, looking as unassuming as ever. "Sure. I get you're trying to keep it a secret and all--"
"I don't want to keep it a secret," I note.
"Then why try?"
I let out a hot breath through my nose. "It's complicated."
"Yeah, she said that too. Just … just be careful with her. Treat her like she deserves. Don't take her for granted. Okay?"
If he only knew. "I will." It's a vow, and he knows it, hears it, accepts it with a nod. And then he's got on a smile, his attention shifting behind me as he calls out to Molly. "Hey, you getting a ride home with Coach, Molls?"
She laughs nervously. "I dunno. Am I, Coach?"
I nod.
"Cat's out of the bag," Carlin adds, backing away from the dugout with a teasing look on his face. "Get her home safe, okay? Text me, Mols!"
