Page 30 of The Perfect Play

I waited for the crowds to leave, and a bunch of us students waited for the coach’s pep talk in the outfield to be over before the players started gathering up equipment to head back into the locker room.

“They did so well; don’t you think?” Kate asked, looping her arm through mine. “I know they lost, but at least they didn’t get killed.”

“I guess that’s one way to look at it.” Any loss was hard to swallow, especially if the end goal was to make it to the state championship, but I needed to hold onto Kate’s positivity when I got the chance to talk to Jake in a few minutes.

Kate tugged on my arm. “That guy looks really familiar.” She pointed to Dax, the catcher, and I shrugged.

“He’s been the team’s catcher for a while. You’ve probably just seen him hanging out with Jake in the halls.”

“What if he’s my mystery kisser?” Kate asked, eyes wide with excitement.

Sighing, I shook my head. “Are you still trying to solve that mystery? I don’t know if you’d want Dax to be the one to fit your man. He’s just as much of a ladies’ man as the rest of them.”

“Well, look at Jake. He’s a good example of a reformer. I haven’t heard anything about him hanging out with any other ladies ever since you two have been talking again.”

The thought of it put my mind at ease. If anyone were to hear of anything, it would be Kate. But that still didn’t make it one hundred percent fail-proof, and I did my best to hide my momentary excitement.

“It’s been maybe a month since we started talking. I don’t know if reformed is a word I would use yet. But he’s been sweet to me.” I searched for Jake amid the boys who’d come out of the dugout as they threw cleats and gloves into their bat bags.

Feeling anxious for him, I walked over to the end of the cinderblock dugout and rounded the corner. Jake stood stock-still in front of his father, his features tight and his lips pulled into a line.

“I don’t know if you’ll get any offers after the way you played today, Jake. You looked like an absolute idiot when you swung and missed at that curveball. Grab your things. We’re going to go practice again at home.” I watched as Mr. White grabbed Jake’s upper arm, pushing him toward the dugout.

“Dad, I’ve got to work at the diner again.”

I shook my head, knowing he hadn’t been scheduled for that night, and Jake’s gaze drifted in my direction, his eyes going wide as if trying to tell me something.

His father’s phone rang, and he turned to answer it. In that time, Jake shook his head, looking terrified.

“Don’t let him see you. I’ll talk to you later,” he said, looking like he was going to be sick.

I took a few steps back, glancing at his father’s back. It was tempting to stay and give Dave White a piece of my mind after everything Jake had told me. But it seemed like now wasn’t the time.

“Just remember how awesome you are,” I said just loud enough for him to hear before I turned and made my way back to Kate.

“What happened? Did you get to talk to him?” Kate looked more confused than ever and pointed in the direction Jake was standing.

I grabbed her arm and pulled her along behind me. “I think Jake and his dad are having a little argument. I need to grab my bag.”

“Okay, well, some of us are meeting at the ice cream shop in about thirty minutes. Brynn, Hazel, and Serena are going to meet us there. You coming?”

I jogged to grab my bag and ran back to her, grateful Jake’s dad was still on the phone. “Let me see what’s going on at home, and I’ll let you know.”

What I really wanted to do was make sure Jake would be okay, that he had some out if he needed it. My dad liked the fact that I pushed myself to practice as much as I did, but after a long game, more practice wasn’t going to help.

“Sounds good. Text me when you’re on your way.”

* * *

I hungout in the parking lot for another twenty minutes, waiting for Jake and his dad to appear from the field. At one point, I even walked down far enough to see his dad throwing pitches to him from behind a screen.

No wonder Jake had begun to hate baseball.

After several more pitches, they picked up the balls and packed up.

I ran back to my car and drove it up next to Jake’s Jeep so I’d have a chance to talk to him, hopefully alone.

Jake walked into the locker room, and his dad continued on to his car. When I saw him pull out on to the main road, I breathed a sigh of relief. I don’t know what I expected, maybe that his dad would start beating him right there if I didn’t stick around to help.

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