Page 40 of The Perfect Catch

“We’re not dating, Jake. She can date whoever she wants.” I stood, feeling stifled underneath the shade with everyone staring at me, pity in their expressions.

Walking away from the group, I strode over to the bathrooms, needing a few moments of peace.

I’d been holding out hope, but I should never have let myself believe I could be in a relationship with Kate Adams. The most amazing girl at Rosemont High who would just date people from her own social class. I was just the pity date.

I made a fist and went to punch the cinderblock wall of the bathroom, stopping only an inch or two away from the wall. I didn’t need to screw up my chances of winning the next game by breaking my hand.

I would just have to get rid of the feelings I had for Kate, put up a wall every time I saw her and make sure she didn’t worm her way back into my life. Not that she’d want to. I was just a boy from a trailer park. Not worthy of her love.

Chapter 30

Kate

My mom had left to run some errands, and I snuck out while she was gone, grateful the headache had finally disappeared so I could think and drive more clearly.

I drove to the field, excited to see Dax, and I just hoped he would do well in the game.

Pick me up for the game?Serena asked in a text.

I’d already pulled into the parking lot, but I turned around, grateful her house wasn’t too far away from the fields. I didn’t even have to honk once I arrived before she slid into the passenger seat.

“What happened to your car?” I asked, shifting the car into reverse.

Serena groaned. “I might have gotten into a little accident yesterday, and now the front wheel won’t drive. It’s back in the shop.”

I stepped on the brake, giving her a once-over. “Are you all right? You didn’t get any injuries, did you?”

Serena’s face was a sheepish grin. “No injuries. Just hurt pride. I ran into a cement pole down at the mall last night. Let’s just say my dad laughed and tried to scold me for it.”

“Sounds about right,” I said, driving back to the field.

“What did you do last night?” she asked, more curiosity in her face than normal. That meant she knew something.

I parked near a shaded tree and leaned my head back against the headrest. “Ugh, my mother set me up on a date/non-date with Trent Jacobs. It was pure torture. We had to go to the dinner they have here in Rosemont, and we were the youngest people there.”

“You looked kind of cozy in the picture Trent posted.” The last few words held a hint of a question, and a measure of panic formed in my stomach.

Raising my hands, I said, “I’m telling the truth, girl. I’m not excited about the fact that I had to put up with Trent the Jerk for a whole evening, but I’m even more annoyed at my mother for telling me I couldn’t date all my life, and then when I’m showing interest in someone she doesn’t approve of, she arranges a date for me.”

Serena cringed and nodded. “Yeah, that sounds awful. So, do you like Dax, then?” Leave it to her to be so straightforward.

Blowing out a breath, I nodded slowly. “Yes, I do like him. He’s a good guy, only trying to do what he can to help out his family. And he treats me like I matter, and that my opinions count for something.”

“Could he be the Masked Kisser?” Her eyebrows were raised, and she looked thoughtful.

I shook my head, trying to think that one through. “What makes you think that?”

“I don’t know. From everything you’ve said, I was thinking it could be him, not some guy who went to another school. I’ve heard Ben talk about a masked guy a couple of times, and I’m thinking it’s Dax, Nate, or Colt.”

I turned to stare out at the baseball field, trying to replay the memory in my head. The details were getting fuzzier as time went by, with the physical features of the guy fading away. The only thing that hadn’t changed was the tingling sensation in my lips every time I thought about the kiss.

I pulled the keys out of the ignition and stepped out of the car. As exciting as the thought was, if Dax had been the Masked Kisser, he would have told me, right? We’d shared so much in the past few weeks that I was sure we had that level of trust.

As we walked over to the stands, the guys were all out warming up, taking grounders and pop flies. I looked around for the pitcher and saw Ben throwing in a small fenced-off section. The bullpen, I think it was?

Directly opposite him was Dax, and I walked up to the fence and whispered, “Hey!”

He turned to look at me, his eyes narrowing once he recognized me. “Hey.”

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