Cassie giggles. “Can we…not talk about my brother like that?”
“Just stating facts. Nothing wrong with that. Matter of fact, I’ve never seen a couple so into each other. They’re like a couple of teenagers. It’s pretty cute.”
I lean in, lowering my voice so no one can hear.
“Which is too bad, because I was thinking we could explore the, uh, grounds after the game.”
She grins. “That sounds like a great idea…for a time when I’m not watching Jackson and Ivy’s kids.”
I blink once. “You’re watching Ellie and Harriet tonight.”
She smiles. “You sound surprised.”
“I’m not,” I say. “I just feel like that’s a lot of work. I mean, Ellie was a great whiffle ball player. Don’t get me wrong.”
She nudges me lightly. “They’re not that bad.” She leans in so no one else around can hear. “I think you’re just jealous because you wanted to hang out with me.”
“Me? Jealous? Never.”
“Right.”
It’s just the two of us now, even with everyone else around.
I lower my voice again. “So…you got the video? Of my homer?”
Her eyes light up slightly. “Yeah.”
“Let me see.”
She pulls out her phone, stepping in just a little closer so I can look.
Our shoulders brush, and I can smell her, the same scent as last night. That soft, faint sweetness.
She hits play, and the clip runs, clean and perfect.
The wink, the swing, and the ball flying out toward the river.
I exhale quietly.
“That’s…actually really good. Damn. You zoomed in at just the perfect time.”
“I know,” she says, a little proud. “I got lucky. You were the one who hit it out though. Wouldn’t have been as fun if you just struck out.”
I glance at her. “You gotta swing for the fences.”
“So you keep telling me.”
“Alright. You ready?” I ask.
She nods.
“Yeah.”
I sling my workout bag over my shoulder and we make our way out together, past the guys and the noise.
Out into the quieter hallway, then through to my truck.
The drive is quiet. I throw on the local country radio station, 94.9. They call it FM 95. I guess they round up. I feel that. It’s a glass half-full type of station.
