7
Holly
Weeks turn into months and I can’t believe how happy I am with Shawn. I stay at his house more than my own. Even when he’s traveling sometimes, he asks me to stay there. We get along so well, I keep waiting for something to happen or for him not to be the person I think he is.
It’s a home game, the top of the 9th, and I’m watching him on third base. He always talks to me about the games afterwards, and after last night’s game, I finally had to tell him that really, he’s the only thing I watch on the field. I thought he would be upset about it, but instead he picked me up and carried me to his bedroom. I think it’s fine that I only have eyes for him.
The hit of the ball brings me from my thoughts. Shawn makes a diving catch and then throws it to first base from his knees. The first baseman, Beau Garner, then tags the runner out. An assisted double play. I jump to my feet, waving my hands and screaming for him and the team. What a way to end a ball game. They were able to hold the Rebels and beat them by one run.
The crowd is going wild and I just stand there and watch as the team all high-fives each other. At one point, Shawn nods his head at me with a smile on his face. I stand there in the front row with my hands on the fence. When a couple of news people walk over to Shawn, I stand and watch, knowing it will be a while before he heads to the showers and then meets me outside the locker room. I barely notice that Carter Arnold, one of the baseball players, is standing next to me until he says, “Hey, we’re throwing Shawn a birthday party after the next game.”
I smile at him. “I had no idea it was his birthday. How exciting.”
He shakes his head. “Don’t tell him though. It’s a surprise. I told the others he’s so old that his heart probably can’t handle a surprise like that, but they all insisted.”
Shocked, I don’t know what to think about his joke. I shrug it off, because I know the guys all razz each other. They’ve been messing with Shawn about me since I came into the picture. “I promise I won’t tell him.”
“So can you get him there without telling him why?”
Normally after a game, we go back to his house. But any time I want to do something, he always tells me yes. I don’t know why I wouldn’t be able to get him there. “Yeah. I can.”
He tells me where the party is, mentioning a bar down the block from the stadium. “We rented it out for the night.”
Nodding my head, I turn back to Shawn and he’s still talking to the news people, but now his gaze is on me. Even from this far away I can see the jealousy in his eyes. The second Carter touches me on the shoulder and tells me, “I’ll see you next time,” Shawn thanks the reporters and starts walking toward me. I don’t answer Carter or even watch him walk away. I’m frozen, staring at the heat in Shawn’s eyes.
As soon as he gets to me, he bends down so I can kiss him. As soon as I pull back, I’m gushing at him. “That was a great game. You did so good. What a catch!”
He shrugs his shoulders. “What did Carter want?”
I try to keep my gaze neutral, but I’m a horrible liar and I’m sure there’s guilt in my face. Hopefully, he doesn’t notice it. “Oh, nothing, just to talk about the game.”
He stares at me and the longer he does, the more uncomfortable I get. Finally, I look away and Shawn tips my chin back to him. “I don’t trust him. Just be careful when he’s around.”
I can see he’s jealous, but I love the fact that he’s not mean or blaming me for Carter’s actions. Just another thing to add to the list of why Shawn’s such a good guy. I feel bad that I can’t tell him what Carter was whispering about, but I don’t want to ruin the surprise. I get on my tiptoes and throw my arms around his neck. “Let’s get out of here.”
Shawn
It’s eating at me. I keep seeing the way Carter is looking at me, almost like he knows something I don’t. Most of the guys have given me a hard time about how much younger Holly is than me, but Carter won’t let it be.
“Holly sure is sweet,” he says to me as we’re gathering our stuff in the locker room after the game.
I stuff some clothes into my bag, ignoring him. I know how Carter is and he causes shit all the time. Normally, I ignore him and just bide my time, knowing that eventually he’s going to get traded. I’ve been in this game long enough to know when a player is not pulling their weight and that’s him for sure.