Page 16 of Convincing the Catcher

Haven is stunning. Then again, after meeting her mom, Anna, and her dad, Mason, I don’t know how she wouldn’t be because they are both insanely good-looking.

“Thanks, bish.” She winks, looking at herself in the mirror and applying some lip gloss. “Isla is coming out with us, too, if you can believe it.”

“Wow. How did you convince us both to come out with you tonight?” I gasp.

“I have no freaking clue,” she says, smacking her lips together and admiring herself. “All right, let’s roll.”

Like me, Isla Hardy doesn’t like to go to parties, whereas Haven loves them. She doesn’t really drink, but she loves to dance and flirt with guys.

All the guys.

I don’t flirt because at the end of the day, I wouldn’t have time ever to date one of them if he flirted back.

I made a rule for myself years ago, when I finally became the softball player I always wanted to be.

No distractions. No dating. No men.

In high school, I watched so many friends of mine become unfocused and take their eyes off the prize. They’d end up skipping practices or quitting altogether. Love has a weird way of making you forget about everything else that’s important in your life. I’ve worked too hard to get here to throw it away.

So, I don’t flirt. And I don’t date. Neither of those things is going to change anytime soon, either. Not until I get where I’m going—playing for a professional softball team somewhere.

CANE

Parking my truck along the sidewalk in front of The Tower, I watch people file into The Lookout, all heading to the party. The last place I want to be right now is at a crowded party, around a fuck ton of people. No thanks.

A group of girls walks down the sidewalk, and I squint my eyes in the darkness, knowing that one of them is Harley because the way she moves gives it away.

Her hair is down tonight—a rare occurrence. And even though I can’t make out her face from down the road, I can see her hair flowing freely in the breeze.

She’s playing on her phone, trailing behind Isla Hardy and Haven King as they walk ahead, chatting. Unable to stop myself, I roll my window down.

“Pssst,” I say loudly, and when she doesn’t look up from the screen, I do it all over again but louder. “Pssssst!”

This time, her gaze snaps up, and she stares at me as her feet come to a stop.

“Careful, Catch. You’re going to run into something, looking down like that,” I tease her.

Her friends eventually slow, looking back at her, and when they start talking in hushed tones, I can’t hear what it is. Seconds later, they walk toward The Lookout, but she stays behind.

Walking up to my window, she scowls. “Why are you everywhere, Hale?” She narrows her eyes. “Seriously, it’s getting really annoying.”

“I mean … you realize I live on this street too, right?” I say, gawking at her.

“Whatever,” she utters, taking a step back. “Just … stop being so … everywhere. It’s weird and creepy, and I don’t know how to take it.”

She starts to turn on her feet, and I surprise myself when I reach out the window and stop her by grazing her arm. Instantly, her eyes fly to where I’m lightly touching her body before she lifts her gaze, and I’m met with an angered scowl. Part of me wants to push her and keep my hold, but the other part of me is fucking terrified of this woman.

“Did you at least consider what I asked you last night?” I blurt out. “Even just for, like, five seconds.”

“No,” she says, gritting her teeth. “I told you; I’m not interested in your help or taking money from your family. I don’t like being looked at like a charity case, but thanks.”

She turns away from me, and this time, I don’t touch her to stop her from walking away, instead using my words.

“What if you could help me out too?” I call behind her quickly, just as she’s about to cross the road. “If we were both getting something out of it, it wouldn’t be charity … right?”

This catches her attention, but still, she doesn’t turn to face me, though she also doesn’t move.

“People hate me, Catch. And it’s getting worse by the day.” I stop, wincing at my own words because admitting it out loud really fucking sucks. “But you?” I think back to all the people commenting and liking her posts on Instagram and all the followers she’s gained. “People love you.”