“Try not to buckle under the pressure,” he advises.
I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m not the last man standing.”
He grins, getting into position again. This time, I push any thoughts about his sexy arms out of my head andfocus.It’s a perfect bowl, but it’s also a very good bat. He runs as fast as he can to the screams of his team, while I shout myself hoarse yelling at Rakhee to throw it back as quickly as possible, my whole team now congregating around the third and fourth bases, all of us on hand to stop him.
Just as he rounds the third, the ball is neatly caught by one of Mimi’s school friends, who taps it on the fourth-base jumper and Ryan is declared out.
Our team now gets ready to bat, knowing how many points we need to score to win. Mimi decides to bowl, while Ryan ends up in the space between third and fourth base, manning both of them, no doubt having regaled his team with the story of his famous pond catch.
My team gets off to a rocky start, but soon we’re into the swing of things and scoring some rounders. My first go at battingis a success, and I hit it far enough to make it the whole way round and score, which prompts Ryan to shout to his fellow fielders to “get back” when it’s my turn again, something that gives me a huge thrill of satisfaction.
As I rejoin my team’s queue after my second turn batting, my phone buzzes in my back pocket and I reach for it, expecting it to be Liam, whom I haven’t heard from today. I know he’s working, so I can’t be annoyed, but it would have been nice for him to message this morning to say he was sorry he couldn’t make it.
Checking the screen, I see it’s not a message but a showbiz notification.
IT’S OVER! Pregnant star Isabella Blossom splits with film director boyfriend the day after tearful public fight in Hyde Park!
Judging from the horrible way that Elijah behaved during those few minutes I was in his company during the press junket, I imagine she’s better off without him, but I still feel a wave of sadness for Isabella. She seemed like a really decent person, and she must have found some comfort in knowing she had a partner at her side while going through pregnancy and for when the baby arrives.
Ignoring the cheers and shouts from my team as someone legs it round the rounders pitch, I begin typing out a message to Rachael, from the press junket, saying I’ve seen the story and if there’s any truth to it, I hope Isabella is okay.
Her reply comes back moments later:
She’s not great, to be honest. It’s all very overwhelming for her and think she feels quite alone. I’ll let her know that you messaged, she’ll appreciate it xx
I frown reading the message, my heart sinking.
“Harper!” Katya says, nudging my arm. “You’re up!”
I’d been so engrossed in the news, I hadn’t realized it was my turn to bat again.
“Come on, Harper, just one rounder and we’ve beat them!” Katya informs me.
“Oh! Uh… sorry, I was distracted. Hang on, does this mean the whole of the game rests on my shoulders?”
She nods solemnly. “It’s all down to you, my friend.”
To a round of applause from my team, I make my way to the jumper crumpled on the ground marking the batting spot. I catch Ryan’s eye as I prepare myself.
“Not too long ago I was in your position, Harper,” he says. “You think you have what it takes to make it all the way round?”
“You certainly didn’t make the grade as far as I can remember.”
He flashes me a grin. “You need the rounder to win. Not half a rounder, a full one.”
“Yes, thank you, Ryan, for explaining that really complicated point system to me.”
“I was emphasizing for dramatic effect, not explaining.”
“If you two stop bickering, then we can actually play,” Mimi says bossily, her hands on her hips. “Ready, Harper?”
I scowl at Ryan as he winks at me, before turning my focus to Mimi and lifting my bat.
“Ready.”
As the ball is tossed in my direction, I swing with all my might. There’s a loudthwackas it collides with the bat, before it soars through the air.
“Run, Harper! Run!” Katya shouts at the top of her lungs.
