34. Jake
THIRTY-FOUR
JAKE
Not to toot my own horn, but I’m crushing it with Darcy’s family.
Her cousins have set up the field behind the house for Wiffle Ball. Brianna and Darcy are on one team, while Becca and I get assigned to the opposite. The impromptu baseball diamond is in the shade, so we’re not boiling hot.
Darcy’s all sweaty and feral-looking, her long, curly ponytail hanging out the back of a ball cap, and in her same navy shorts and white t-shirt she wore in the orchard this morning. Her team’s up to bat first. Her tiniest cousins act as “outfielders,” AKA sitting in the field near their parents in their red, white, and blue regalia. Brianna snaps pictures, designating herself the family’s documentarian.
Darcy has a little dink of a hit that goes past me at shortstop, but I act like it’s out of reach. She stays at first base, pretending she’s going to steal second. I wag a finger at her, and Brianna yells, “Don’t make Daddy mad now, Darcy.”
Thanks, Bri. In front of her entire family. Her aunt Maggie’s pitching for our team and she turns to check my reaction. “You surviving back there, Jake?”
I wave. “Fine, thanks.”
On the next hit, I’m due to tap Darcy out at second, but she decides at the last second that she’s not having it, charging into the outfield and prompting me to chase her. Game on.
She’s not going down without a fight, and neither am I. She’s surprisingly fast. Turning on a dime, she sprints back for the base.
It’s a valiant effort. It really is. She’s almost there when I pluck her off her feet from behind, pinning her to me at the waist. She squeals, thrashes, and beats at my arms.
“I WAS SAFE!” she shrieks, grabbing onto my arms like she’s afraid I’ll fling her down. She’s so close that I inhale her fruity-flowery shampoo scent, along with the soft scent of her sun-warmed skin. I spin her around twice, Brianna snapping pictures all the while. I put her down on the base with the ball pushed into her stomach. I lean down to her ear, still laughing.
“You’re out.” Darcy stumbles out of my grip, landing ass-first on the ground. She acts like she’s mad, but I know she’s not. Her cheeks are rosy, her doe eyes wild, and her mouth holds back a smile. I extend my hand down to help her to her feet. “Nice try, Rossetti.”
“I was safe,” she argues as I help her up, jamming a finger into one of my dimples. “But I guess I can’t embarrass Mr. College Ball with my skills.”
“Uh-huh, tell yourself that.” That’s three outs, so my team’s up to bat. Darcy pitches and Bri catches, and I’m batting cleanup. Two runners are on base, and I’ve got a chance to pull ahead.
I step up to the plate, doing my elaborate ritual before getting ready to swing. “You ready yet, Mr. College Ball? Done showing off?”
“I’m not showing off. I’m preparing to clear this one out of the park.”
“We’ll see about that.” Darcy squares up to pitch, and I have to jump out of the way as the ball flies dangerously close to my beltline.
“Are you trying to hit me?” I ask, feigning outrage. “Don’t make me charge the mound.”
“Hmm, good idea,” she calls. “If I walk you, you’re less dangerous.”
Her next pitch is underhanded, but I swing and miss.
“One ball, one strike,” Brianna calls.
“Wait, are you the umpire too?” I ask, not believing the injustice of the game. Darcy sneaks her next pitch past me while I’m arguing semantics with Bri.
“One ball, two strikes,” Brianna calls.
Oh, it’s fucking on now.
Darcy launches one last pitch. With a deep plastic thunk, I make perfect contact with the ball, making a show of watching it fly as I run. The toddler outfielders are helpless against the long-driving hit. The two runners ahead of me make it to home base. Darcy’s crabbing at her team to get the ball back as I round third and head for home. She catches it just as I cross home plate, but she needs to be put in her place.
I drag her off the plate by the waist as I run by.
“He’s out!” Brianna cheers.
“No way!” I object. “That was a third run.”
“You touched me and I had the ball,” Darcy argues.
“Aw. Come on, it was our run,” Maggie tries, coming in as our coach and captain.
“Think again, all-star. You were out, fair and square.”
I stand so Darcy and I are chest-to-chest, making myself as tall as I can to seem more intimidating. I lower my voice. “You sticking with that answer, Rossetti?”
I don’t recognize the demon in her eyes. It’s different than how she looks when she’s mad at me. This is some competitive beast I’ve never seen before. “You bet your ass I am,” she bites out, lunging at my face at the last part.
Oh, how badly I want to haul her over my shoulder and spank her sassy little butt. My eyes flick between hers, and she tips her chin up ever-so-slightly when I look at her lips.
“Okay, you two, this is a family event. Leave room for the Holy Ghost. Save that stuff for later,” Maggie says, sliding a hand between us.
She puts it up to a vote, and guess who wins? Me.
“They’re just being polite because you’re new,” Darcy spits.
“Keep telling yourself that,” I say.
“This game is rigged!” she shouts, narrowing her eyes at me. “I forfeit!”
But as she walks off the field, she’s still smiling.
I follow after her in the house. I’m wiped from the day’s heat and getting up early to go to the lab.
Darcy and her aunt Maggie’s voices echo from the kitchen. I slow because I’m nosy and I want to hear what they’re talking about. I’m softening her up today, but I know I’m not fully off her shit list yet.
“Why don’t you go catch a nap?” Maggie asks. “You haven’t had a break all summer.”
Darcy’s tired laugh sounds. “Everyone’s been telling me how exhausted I look. And anyway, you and Bill never have a break from the farm.”
“Right, but Bill and I share it. You’re doing it alone.”
Darcy hesitates. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without Jake.”
I still at the sound of my name and a beat of silence follows. My heart swells. She’s talking about me to her aunt? Her favorite family member?
“I mean, the team,” Darcy corrects. “Jake’s just here the most.”
“I heard what you said,” Maggie says. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without Bill either.”
A heavy sigh comes from Darcy. “Jake is not my Bill.”
I can’t lurk in the shadows any longer. I round the corner and find Darcy leaning her elbows on the counter while Maggie stands with one hand on it. “I’m not?” I ask.
“Oh god,” Darcy mutters.
“Thanks for lunch,” I say. “I’m kind of wiped. I think I’m going to go take a nap.”
Maggie’s eyes dance while she gives me a good-natured smile. “I was just telling Darcy to go lay down too. But you come on back for dinner, now. Party’s not through yet.”
“Thanks, I think I will,” I say. “See y’all later.”
“See ya,” Darcy says softly, and I can’t tell if it’s wistful or spiteful.
I go into the mudroom off the kitchen to leave. Just before I open the door, I overhear them whispering at each other.
“Go with him!” Maggie giggles.
“No!” Darcy hisses.
“What? A nap could be code for something.”
“Maggie! Quit!”
“What? Go have some fun!”
Darcy growls and I smile to myself stepping out the side door.