Page 81 of Facing the Line

I don’t know what to say, but Hunter drops the conversation as the Cubs hit into a double play, and my dad flags a vendor and buys a round of beer for everyone. Natalie and Hadley file out to use the restroom, and when they come back, Natalie swaps seats with me because she says she likes the view better.

It’s fine. I can sit by Hadley and be cool. I’ve been hiding my feelings for her in front of her brother for a year now—what’s one baseball game?

“Okay so.” She leans close to me, her shoulder brushing my arm, and her sweet scent overpowers the smell of beer, popcorn, and baseball. A flash of desire hits me, and my mind is full of the kisses we stole last night as I helped her set up the sofa bed in my dad’s office. I shake my head and try to banish my fantasies. “I know there are three strikes and three outs in baseball, but not much beyond that. Fill me in?”

“Sure.” I can't help but grin as I explain the game and point out landmarks around the stadium. Hadley gazes at me, and I could get lost in her eyes, the same color as the sky.

“Hey, what’s that?” she asks, pointing the other direction. I glance, laughing at her as she steals a sip of my beer.

Hunter leans over Natalie, his forehead creased in a frown. “Hey, you’re not twenty-one yet.”

“And you’re not my mom.” She raises a brow, her tone sassy and teasing.

He glares at me. “You’re supposed to be looking out for her, Joe.”

A sip of beer isn’t a big deal, but his words twist in my gut. He’d freak if he knew we’ve slept together.

But thankfully I don’t have to say anything, because Natalie scolds him. “Stop being ridiculous.”

Instead of grumping back at her like I expect, he smiles and tugs on her long, brown ponytail to tilt her head to his for a kiss. Natalie has changed him for the better. It’s cute to see them together. But my heart physically aches at how much I want to be like this with Hadley—kissing her in front of everyone, blatantly in love.

Because I’m pretty sure I’m head over heels for her.

I can’t sit still any longer. Panic makes my pulse pound and sweat pricks the small of my back. Hopping to my feet, a weird, nervous laugh pops out of my mouth. All eyes fly to me.

“Um, food. Yeah. I’m gonna go food.” I clear my throat. “Get food now.”

Natalie gives me a concerned frown as I step over her, not waiting for anyone to stand up.

“Joe, hang on, I’ll come and help you,” Hadley says, following me down the aisle. “Can we grab anything for you guys?”

I don’t have a reason to say no to her. My dad asks for a hot dog, dragged through the garden Chicago-style, Hunter wants an Italian beef sandwich, and Natalie requests popcorn.

As we head up the stadium steps to the concourse, Hadley links her arm through mine. I stare at her.

She shrugs. “Totally normal gesture from a friend, right?” She glances over her shoulder. “Plus, no one is watching. So I can do this.”

Steering me behind a green support post, she presses me against it and kisses me until a catcall from a fan has us springing apart.

I groan. “I want to kiss you in front of everyone.” Forever.

Hadley rolls her eyes. “Can you imagine how my brother would handle that? Yeah, no thanks.”

I press kisses to the side of her neck, desperate for anything I can get. “You talking about your brother right now is kind of a turn off.”

She laughs. “Sorry about that.”

Another whistle splits the air behind me, and I take a step back from her and run my hand over my hat. “Wanna experience the best nachos in the entire world?”

“You have to ask?”

Grabbing her hand, we weave through the crowd until we get to the one concession stand that sells the only nachos worth eating at Wrigley. The Big Slugger Meal, served in a full-size baseball helmet. Tortilla chips upon chips, layered with cheese throughout and all the toppings imaginable. I’m pretty sure they serve four people, and they are awesome.

Hadley’s mouth drops open when she sees someone carrying it past us in line. “Is this nacho heaven?”

“Quite possibly.”

We get two, to share, plus the other requested items, and head back to our seats. I hold her hand to help her through the crammed aisle, but that’s what any gentleman would do.

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