Chapter 21 #2
Her mouth is curved into a subtle grimace as she scans the people scattered about the living room, her freckled nose slightly wrinkled. It’s fairly obvious she’s not here of her own volition. She whispers something to a blonde girl I recognize as Cassie Belmont, who giggles in response.
Then Lennon spots me. And she freezes.
Relief hits me like a wave. Because if she didn’t care, if she were totally over me, Lennon wouldn’t be looking at me like I’m a ghost.
Seconds suspend in time as we stare at each other. There’s no music on, and I don’t think it’s my imagination that the room around us quiets, exacerbating the fact that neither of us are saying anything.
People pay attention to me. And to Lennon, even if it’s for reasons she hates. Add in the fact we argued throughout high school then ended senior year with a series of private moments in public, and I’d guarantee there’s still gossip circulating town about us.
I don’t move any closer to her. Don’t say anything.
It’s childish, but I want Lennon to be the one to speak first. Her poker face is almost as good as mine, but her words give a lot away. I could really use that insight right now.
So, of course she doesn’t give it to me.
She stays silent and still. Cassie is a bit slow to realize what’s caught Lennon’s attention. Once she sees me, she glances between me and Lennon with wide eyes.
I watch her whisper something to Lennon I’d bet my trust fund is an offer to leave. When Lennon shakes her head, I’m certain I’m right.
She wouldn’t risk me, or anyone else, thinking I’d run her off.
Jake appears in the doorway behind Cassie and Lennon. “Drinks are this way, ladies.” He takes on the role of host and ushers them toward the doorway that leads to the kitchen. Toward where I’m standing with Brett.
Luke and Colt choose this moment to exit the kitchen. I’m a bit suspicious about the timing. They find my awkwardness around Lennon hilarious.
“Surprised to see you here, Lennon,” Luke calls out as he approaches.
It’s a practiced move. Talk to the friend, or girl, you’re not interested in, so you can see how the one you are interested in reacts. Cassie doesn’t appear affected by his lack of attention, but I don’t think Luke cares either way.
This time he’s not trying to bait Cassie.
He’s trying to bait me.
Lennon ignores him and addresses me instead. I’d be lying if I said that didn’t give me a secret thrill. “You’re back.”
“What tipped you off?” I tease her for stating the obvious, and I’m rewarded by the sight of a slight flush in her cheeks.
I don’t know what else to say, though. Don’t know how to broach into any of the heavier topics dangling between us. The last time I saw her, she kissed me and then walked away.
“The kitchen is just through here,” Jake says, cutting into the silence that’s fallen.
Lennon heads in the direction of the kitchen without saying anything else to me, with Cassie right behind her.
I drain the end of my beer. “I’m going to the bathroom.” I stalk down the hallway to the restroom. Miraculously, there’s no line.
After I wash my hands, I stare at myself in the mirror for a minute. Six months, and she still affects me. Maybe I’ll never get over her.
With an impatient sigh, I shove away from the sink and leave the bathroom to head back down the hallway.
Even more people have arrived in my absence. I have to maneuver my way through them to reach the kitchen for another beer. I finished my first, but that’s not why I’m in here. I’m looking for Lennon. And she’s standing by the sink. Talking to Ryan James, of all people.
I grab another bottle of beer and slam the fridge door shut harder than necessary.
My gaze stays fixed on nothing but the condensation dripping down the side of the brown glass as I head back into the living room, taking a seat on the couch to the right of the fireplace.
After a couple minutes of solitude, Colt makes his way over.
He sinks down beside me. “Reunion not all you were hoping for?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie, taking a long swig of beer.
“We can skip past this shit, Winters. It’s pretty fucking obvious how you feel about her.”
“Whatever,” I mutter, drinking more beer.
“You planning to do anything about it?”
I make a purposefully unintelligible sound, and Colt sighs before standing and leaving the living room.
It only takes a few seconds for Poppy Tisdale to fill his empty seat. She asks me a few questions about college, and then launches into a long description of the sorority she joined, clearly thrilled to have what appears to be my undivided attention.
I’m paying attention, but I’m definitely not focused on her. Especially once Robin Jones joins us on the small couch and jabbers away about her own sorority experience.
But I sure act focused on them when Lennon enters the room. I’m not proud of it. But my pride is still smarting from watching her in the kitchen with Ryan, and it’s a hell of a lot easier to pretend I’m listening to what Poppy and Robin are saying than facing why it bothered me so much.
By the time I finish my third beer, which Robin helpfully provides, I’m feeling pretty damn good.
The turkey sandwich I wolfed down is no longer absorbing much alcohol, if any, and I’ve hit that sweet spot where colors seem a little brighter and jokes a little funnier, before the world turns hazy and anything anyone says sounds amusing.
The crowd around me has grown, hanging on to my every word as I describe the slip and slide set up during the first week of classes for the entire baseball team.
About halfway through my story, Jake appears. “Caleb, I need to talk to you. Right now.”
His serious tone is enough to capture my attention, but his use of my first name ensures it.
I stand up immediately and follow Jake into the front hallway. “What’s going on?” I ask urgently.
“Not here,” he replies, veering to the right. Jake slides open a glass door, and steps out onto the back deck that overlooks the expansive backyard. There’s about ten people standing on it, and several more standing on the patio that melds into the covered pool.
“What is it?”
“I need one more person for pickup,” Jake responds.
I stare at him for a minute, slowly registering there’s no serious problem. “You’re joking.”
“Nope.” His serious exterior falls away. “Come on, Winters,” he pleads. “Your fan club will still be around later.”
“This doesn’t have anything to do with my fan club,” I reply. “I took a three-hour exam this morning and then drove for a few hours. I don’t want to play baseball right now.”
“Excuse me,” a familiar voice says. “You’re blocking the door.”
I keep my gaze straight ahead, but know the grin spreading across Jake’s face means he’s recognized the voice as well. “Lennon!” He turns to face her. “Any interest in a ball game?”
“You just said there was only one spot,” I point out.
“You just said you weren’t going to play,” Jake replies.
Lennon ignores our side commentary. “I’ll pass,” she replies. “I was just leaving.”
“Bummer,” Jake responds. “I thought you liked party games. Or was it only Truth or Dare?”
I send him a warning glare for that comment, but Lennon beats me to a verbal response. “I’m sure you can convince Caleb to play. Although he doesn’t seem to be very daring tonight.”
I forget about Jake, my attention immediately snapping to her. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Lennon shrugs, sending me an infuriatingly serene smile. “Awfully easy to just sit on the couch and get fawned over all night.”
“Jealous, Matthews?”
“You wish, Winters,” she scoffs.
I do. I’d love to know she cares.
“I should have known that’s exactly how you’d act,” she continues. “Enjoying the attention.”
“Well, we can’t all be like you, Lennon. Not needing anything. Or anyone .” Yeah…that was the wrong thing to say. Lennon’s expression hardens into a glare.
“Come on, Winters. Let’s just head to the field. We can’t play without you.” I’m fairly certain Jake is regretting lulling me out here under false pretenses by this point.
“Maybe I didn’t want to need someone who was about to leave for who knows how long,” Lennon retorts, ignoring Jake.
“Yeah, how dare I go to college,” I snap.
Lennon breaks eye contact with me and looks at Jake. “Actually, I will play.”
I know Jake’s serious expression isn’t faked this time. He looks to me, panicked, and I know Lennon catches it. She snorts and strides back inside the house.
“Fuck,” I curse. “Let’s go.”
The couple dozen guys Jake already drafted for the game are waiting on the lawn to head over to the field, but once it becomes clear I’m playing, the house pretty much empties out.
It’s only a five-minute walk to the high school, and I’m hit with another powerful wave of nostalgia when we arrive at the baseball field.
I haven’t been back to Landry High since graduation. The sight of the brick building brings back a lot of memories. Not all of them involving baseball.
Jake designates himself one captain, and I’m offered up as the other. I pick Colt first; Jake picks Luke.
Almost everyone from Luke’s house made the trek over to the field, meaning the pool of prospects has grown with the number of spectators. Jake gives me five chances before he picks Lennon. I’m sure that’s her preference, and I’ve already experienced enough rejection from Lennon Matthews.
We grab equipment from the shed tucked between the bleachers and the school, and then the game begins. My team takes the field first, and I’m automatically designated as pitcher.
It’s strange, stepping on to the mound I’ve spent so much time atop. Like coming home, only to realize it’s a place I’ve outgrown.
Robin Jones is the first one up at bat for the opposing team, her eyes as wide and inviting as they were on the couch. “I just swing and hit it, right?” she calls to me.
I nod, chewing on the inside of my cheek to hide the smirk that wants to form when I see Lennon roll her eyes.