"We'll totally drag you in with us, make it...Triple Play or somethin'," she laughs.
"Imagine all three of us workin' in an office?" I laugh.
"Well y’all will probably get no work done the way you are, always kissin' and doin' what couples do. Ughhh."
"Oh hush, it's startin'!"
We both turn to the field for the pre-game ceremony. The coach announces Gabriel as the starting pitcher and I stand, cheering so loud my voice goes hoarse. He waves to the crowd and winks at me and I laugh.
"Daddy at 3 o'clock, tone it down, groupie," Savannah whispers.
I sit back down and discreetly look to my left and catch my fathers gaze. I wave at him and he gives me a nod, looking back towards the field.
"Crap, I swear, I ain't ever gonna lose my virginity. I can't even go to a damn game without him followin' me. I don't know how we got away with the lake a few weeks back," I grumble.
"That's because I'm the most badass wing woman on the planet, but drop it. Ears everywhere, remember?"
I glance around and no one is looking at us but that doesn't mean they're not listening. Damn this small town.
Gabriel
I toss the ball around in my glove a couple times, waiting for the batter to get into the box.
I hear cheers from the bleachers and look up and see Charlotte, hollering with my away jersey on her cute little body. I can't help the smile and the flutter in my stomach. I'm so damn happy right now. Starting the first game, on top of the world. Baseball and the girl that cheers my name in the stands, that's what keeps me going.
The ump calls play ball and I fiddle with the ball in my glove, waiting for the catcher to give me my pitch.
Curveball. My fire.
I nod with a smirk and stand straight, getting the right grip on the ball and lift my leg. I fling my body forward and the ball flies straight, curving at the last minute as the batter swings and misses.
Our catcher grabs it, throwing it back as I walk to the mound, wiping my hand. I dig my cleats in and look back towards the plate.
High fastball. Okay then.
I repeat my movements, changing my grip as I throw a high fast and he fouls it off.
One more, baby. Bring back the curve. I glance at my catcher and we’re on the same page.
Curveball.
You think it's coming one way, then it takes you in a totally different direction and you never saw it coming.
That's what I throw and he leans his body forward, chasing the pitch.
Strikeout number one.
I look over to the stands and hold up my pointer finger to Charlotte, blowing her a kiss.
"One, for you," I mouth.
She smiles, catching my kiss and cheers with the crowd.
On top of the world.
5
Charlotte
6 months later…
I run my hands down my violet dress and study myself in the mirror on the back of my bedroom door. I fiddle with my hair a little, debating on just putting the front pieces into the bun at the back of my neck.
“Just leave it, Charlie, he’ll love it,” I whisper to myself.
There’s a knock on my door and it opens, my mama walking inside with my daddy.
“We wanna talk to you, Honey Bear,” my daddy says.
“What’s up?”
“We know Junior Banquet can be...a little...you might feel...pressured to do certain stuff,” my mama says softly.
Oh God, if they only knew. I keep my smirk at bay and nod, my expression stone.
“Can we not have that talk right now? I’m gonna behave, don’t worry,” I assure them.
“Especially that party after at Theodore’s house. His parents ain’t from around here. You know how easy goin’ they are with that boy. Remember what the Lord--”
“I know, daddy!” I snap. “I love Gabriel and y’all are gonna have to get over that at some point! I’m sick and tired of havin’ to defend myself. Y’all got married almost at my age! Don’t be hypocrites.”
I’m breathing heavy now and my parents stare at me. I’ve never raised my voice to them in my entire life and I open my mouth to apologize and stumble on my words.
“I-I’m s-sorry, I shouldn’t have...I didn’t mean to…”
“You’re right,” my father says exhaling. “We need to trust you more. It’s just, Gabriel...has a reputation around town, sweetie. I know y’all have known each other since y’all were kids but he…he might be too fast for you.”
I want to defend him and say we were each other’s first with everything and whatever the people in town are saying about him is a lie, but I keep my mouth shut and just nod.
“He doesn’t pressure me to do anything and he ain’t fast. Can we just drop this and have some trust in me?”
My mama and daddy nod and walk over to give me a hug.
“You look beautiful, baby,” my mama whispers.
We hear the doorbell ring and we all walk downstairs. My father opens the door and immediately my body responds to Gabriel. My breathing picks up and my southern region is already crying out for him, as if he wasn’t just inside me in the back of his truck last night in the ball field parking lot.
“Mr. and Mrs. Daniels,” he says nodding.
He moves to give my mama a kiss on the cheek and shake my daddy’s hand. I see the way my daddy grips him and Gabriel holds his ground.
“That’s my baby, Gabriel John Gavinwood. You hurt her and I’ll pepper your ass with my twelve gauge.”
“Daddy!” I admonish.
My mama puts her hand on my daddys shoulder and he nods, stepping back to let me through the door.
“Lord have mercy,” I hear Gabriel whisper when he finally sees me.
“Twelve gauge son!” my daddy calls as I walk through the front door, shutting it behind me.
“Don’t listen to him, he won’t really shoot you,” I whisper, linking our hands together. “You look really handsome.”
“You look beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous, baby cakes,” he says, slinging an arm over my shoulder and kissing the top of my head.
“Can we skip this shindig and go and park down by the lake?” I whisper, as he opens my car door.
He glances over his shoulder, back towards my house and groans.
“Tryna get me killed, Charlotte?”
“I ain’t worth it?” I pout.
“Get that sexy little ass in my truck and I’ll make it worth your while at Teddy’s after,” he winks.
I laugh, getting into the truck and he runs around, opening his door. We drive to the dance at school, our fingers laced together in the center console the whole time as Gabriel belts out, “Take a Little Ride With You” by Jason Aldean, extremely out of tune and louder than the radio.
“You’re crazy, ya know that?” I laugh, “The whole town heard you on the way down Main Street, everyone was lookin’.”
“Lookin’ at you, baby cakes. How beautiful you look tonight.”
I glance over out of the corner of my eye and his smile melts me into a puddle on the floor of this truck.
“You’re too much,” I laugh, shaking my head with embarrassment.