Page 53 of The Perfect Hit

“To tell you that I like you. That I’ve liked you since the first day you moved in and said hello to me across the fence.”

My chest constricted, just as it had the first time he’d said those words. I remembered our first meeting, when he walked by as we were moving in and I said hi.

“But we’re friends, Trey. We’ve always been friends.”

With more emotion than I’d seen on his face, he opened his mouth to speak, but instead of letting him, I pressed my finger to his lips.

In a breathy voice, I took his line and said, “But I want more.”

He studied my expression, and it was hard to figure out what he was feeling. In a moment, he swept me into his arms and pressed his lips to mine. Every inch of me felt the kiss, the nerves in my lips on fire.

The sounds of the stage fell away. What had taken me so long to figure out how I felt about Colt? Because that kiss topped any kiss I’d ever seen or experienced.

We broke apart, our foreheads touching as we gulped in the air.

As if remembering it wasn’t just the two of us, Colt slid his hand down my arm and slipped it into my palm. “Well, it took you long enough!”

The crowd laughed at that, and we ran off the stage and into the dimness of the side.

“What were you doing out there?” he asked, holding both of my hands as he studied my face once again.

“Colt, I’m so sorry for the argument at the dance, for the problems I caused and for just being a mess.”

He pulled me to him, hugging me tightly and making me feel safe once again.“Did you mean what you said on stage, though?”

I couldn’t see his face, but I could tell he was trying to be calm about things.“Every word.”

He pulled back and kissed me again, a short, feathery kiss. “This is like a dream.” Then after a moment, he asked, “Do you really have feelings for me?”

I gave him a small smile with a quick nod. “It was gradual, but I might’ve needed a little push into it since my past is so crazy and all.”

Colt leaned his forehead against mine again and whispered, “I guess the question is, Hazel Miller, will you be my girlfriend?” His lips quirked up, and he looked hopeful.

“Absolutely.”

35

Colt

The night could not have gone any better than this. The baseball team slaughtered San Marcos, and Hazel was finally my girlfriend.

What a loop that had thrown me for, to see her come on stage when I’d been expecting Marcy. But the unexpected kiss was worth every moment of pain I’d gone through over the past few days.

The play wrapped up, and we were sent out to mingle with the families who’d shown up.

A bunch of the other cast members had lots of people talking to them, and I hadn’t thought far enough ahead to tell my family when the performances were.

Then I saw a wheelchair with a familiar white head of hair and a brilliant smile, and the night was complete.

“Grandpa, how did you get here?” I said, leaning over to give him a quick hug.

I stood, staring at my father and mother, trying to decide what they thought.

“Hazel called us and said she had some tickets for opening night,” my mom said, getting a little teary-eyed. “You did such a fantastic job, honey. I’m so proud.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I mumbled and stared back at my father. His expression was stoic, something I expected with bad grades, not a play performance.

My mom stepped back, and to my surprise, my father stepped around the wheelchair and pulled me in for a hug, something I’d only had a handful of times in my life. With a few rough pats on the back, he said, “Well done, son. You made me proud.”

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