Page 21 of Pitching for Keeps
"To 'Centerfield'..."
"I'm going to need more champagne for this reception, aren't I?"
"So much champagne," she agrees cheerfully. "Now let's go. I have a garter to throw, and I'm aiming directly at Jay."
"Megan!"
Her laughter follows us toward the reception hall, where the best man is already making jokes about teammates and second chances in his speech prep, and where Jay is definitely waiting to ask me to dance.
Maybe is looking more and more like yes.
CHAPTER FIVE
The reception is alreadyin full swing when we arrive. Greg's best man Brian is halfway through his speech, and I catch the tail end of "—never seen Jay pitch better than he did last night. Must've had some extra motivation in the stands."
Jay finds me at the bar. "Champagne?"
"Please. You know I’m not a drinker, but for this special occasion I’m going to have a glass of bubbly to celebrate.”
“That seems okay.” He smiles and looks behind us at the party going on. “Brian's about to make this weird, isn't he?"
"Oh, definitely." He hands me a glass, fingers brushing mine. "But first, I believe I owe you a dance."
"The speeches aren't even?—"
"To all the teammates in life," Brian raises his glass, "on the field and off. To Greg and Megan!"
Everyone toasts. Jay touches his glass to mine. "See? Speeches done. Dance floor. Now."
"That’s kind of bossy."
"You like it."
"I—" The opening notes of "Centerfield" fill the reception hall. "Did you request this?"
"Would you believe me if I said no?"
"Jay—"
"Dance with me, Tracy. I've got a bus to catch in an hour."
And then I'm in his arms on the dance floor, and muscle memory takes over. Three years of sorority formals and baseball banquets, swaying to the cover band play a pretty decent John Fogerty while Jay hummed in my ear.
"You still lead with your right foot," he murmurs.
"You still count the beat out loud."
"Only with you." He spins me out and back. "You mess up my rhythm."
"Your rhythm is fine. Twenty-one strikeouts, remember?"
"Because you were watching."
"Jay—"
"I know we said Tuesday. But I need you to know—this week, seeing you again, it's everything I've wanted for five years."
I step on his foot. He stumbles just a little, and I almost fall down since I’m wearing heels.
