Page 25 of Left on Base

Nicee

saw ya went 8 for 10 in clearwater

and 14ks damnn

yk my stats??

He knew my stats? Oh, yeah. The game he watched while he was with Inez. A siren wails somewhere on campus, and I press my forehead against the cool glass, trying to calm my pulse. The reflection of my phone screen creates a blue glow against the raindrops.

Holy shit. Okay, don't panic. We’re fine. Everything’s fine.

ofc i dooo

See? This is why I can’t move on from this charming bastard. I grip my phone tighter, the case making a slight cracking sound under the pressure. “Stop being so cute,” I whisper, hoping not to wake Callie. Oh, yeah. She came out of the bathroom, got in bed, and is now sound asleep. Girl can crawl into bed and be out within minutes. The gentle whir of her white noise machine almost drowns out the faint bass still thumping from the party down the hall.

The bubbles disappear and I frown. “No. Don’t stop!” My breath fogs a small circle on the window.

Within seconds, they reappear. Yesssss.

Girl ya got robbed in the gm against LSU

That shoulda been a homer

Ikr

I was so mad

Frr

I clear my throat, draw in a deep breath and sit up straighter against my purple UW throw pillow. The dorm feels too small suddenly, like it’s shrinking with each message.

I saw ya hit a tank in the top of 3 against long beach

Hmmm

yk my stats??

Nah

Not rlly

ESPN highlights

Dangg??

Got a little excited there

I’m smiling. Are you? I bet you are because this is cute as fuck, isn’t it? Okay, okay. Calm down. Let’s be cool. I slap myhand over my mouth to try and stop the smile. It doesn’t work. My cheeks actually hurt.

For what??

That ya haven’t forgot meee

I’d never forget ya

Oh fuck. I shouldn’t have said that. Damn it. Quick, say something else to distract him. Say something else. My heart’s doing that weird flippy thing.

I type another message and my thumb hovers over the send button.