Page 23 of Chasing Elliott
“Don’t you two dare start or else I’m leaving,” she grumbled. “I’m not in the mood for
your competitiveness.”
“Then you’ve come to the wrong place with the wrong people, darling,” I informed her as
I turned my attention back to the field to see that we were batting first. “Sports are the most
competitive thing there is.”
All the boys rushed the mound at the end of the game as I pitched yet another no hitter to
win. Two of my teammates picked me up and placed me on their shoulders as they all started
chanting our school’s song.
I glanced over at the stands and saw Elliott on her feet, jumping up and down with
Benjamin while Kara stood there clapping. I smiled as her head turned in my direction and I held
the ball up in the air. I saw her shake her head, but the smile never left her beautiful face.“Party at the baseball house,” one of my teammates yelled. Everyone in the stands, well
the students, cheered a little louder while the boys ran into the dugout to head into the locker
room to shower and change. Instead, once I found myself on my own two feet, I made my way
over to the bleachers and up to where Elliott and them were standing.
The stands were slowly starting to clear out but the three of them stood there, presumably
waiting for me. As I approached, Elliott noticeably bit her lip, and I caught her scanning me up
and down. I took the stairs two at a time so I could make it to them faster.
“You were amazing,” Elliott gushed as she surprised me by jumping up into my arms, her
own wrapping tightly around my neck. I didn’t hesitate as I slinked my arms around her waist,
basking in the fact that she initiated this.
That’s got tomean she’s coming around,I thought to myself, suddenly hopeful.“Thanks, beautiful,” I said as I set her down. Glancing over Elliott’s head, Benjamin
smiled devilishly at me which caused me to roll my eyes. She stayed standing with one arm around my waist, so I kept one around her shoulders and used the other to clap my best friend’s
hand.
“Great game, Coop. You finally listened to my pointers,” he teased with a wink but
before I had the chance to respond, Elliott spoke up.
“And if I had a chance to give him pointers before the game, maybe it wouldn’t have
gone into extra innings.”
I glanced down at her with a small smile as my eyebrows bunched together, surprised as I
stood and listened to Elliott and Benjamin’s banter. I was glad they were becoming close, I
mean, it was perfect for the group and meant better chances for me, but I could see lots of
