Page 28 of Pitcher Perfect
“Robbie!” Vivica exclaimed, setting down the watermelon on a wicker coffee table and sailing down the stairs, her toned and tanned arms outstretched. She wrapped them around Skylar and inhaled deeply, rocking her daughter, so similar in build and coloring, side to side. And Skylar hugged Vivica back, absorbing the affection, knowing the love was genuine, but also so unsure how to nurture it. “It is such a pleasure to meet you,” Vivica said, breaking the embrace with Skylar to grasp Robbie’s hand. “Welcome to our home—and the ninth annual Page Stakes!”
“Thanks for having me—”
“We should have known our little Skylar wouldn’t take last year’s loss to Team Foul Balls lying down,” boomed Doug, chest puffed. “She went and joined forces with a professional athlete, did she? Fight fire with fire! She got that from me.”
“Sadly, none of our competitions involve skates and a stick,” her mother said with a sweetly sympathetic smile. “Do you have anyusefuloutdoor skills?”
“Here we go,” Skylar muttered, poised to defend him, like a good fake girlfriend.
“Oh, I do.” Robbie sniffed. “But I’m not tellingyouwhat they are.”
Her parents traded an impressed look. “We’ve got a live one, honey.”
Doug rubbed his hands together. “Ooh-wee. This is going to be interesting.”
“That’s one way to describe her canoodling with the dude who gave me a sore nose and a black eye,” called Elton, appearing in the side yard. Madden sauntered closer in Elton’s wake, that characteristic broodiness thickening his energy. He seemed to be looking through the assembled group, searching for something that he didn’t find, but then again, that’s how he always looked—and Skylarlovedhow he looked. Sturdy and patient and somber and eternal. That was Madden.
“Looks like it’s healing nicely,” Robbie commented as Skylar’s brother drew even with the group, Madden arriving seconds later, but hanging toward the back, quiet as ever.
Feeling Robbie’s gaze on her profile, Skylar realized she was staring at her longtime crush and shook herself. “First of all, Elton, the word ‘canoodling’ isn’t for you. Drop it from your vocabulary. Second, please enlighten Mom and Dad as to who threw the first punch.”
Elton waved off the request. “Irrelevant.”
“Spoiler alert. It was Elton,” Skylar stage-whispered to her parents.
“Only because he was harassing my sister.” Robbie’s hand flinched inside of hers at the reminder of the morning they met. For some silly reason, she decided to give him a reassuring squeeze this time. After all, wasn’t he here to make up for his behavior that day? “What is he doing here?” Elton burst out, as if an explanation was long overdue. “Bad enough you kissed himright in front of me, Sky. I’ve actually considered bleaching my eyeballs, by the way—”
“Don’t do it,” Robbie rasped. “Trust me.”
Elton scowled. “Now you’re what?Official?”
“That’s right,” Robbie responded, his gaze level.
“And your first official date is observing the Page Stakes?”
“He’s not observing.” Skylar lifted her chin. “He’s my teammate.”
Madden’s head jerked up, his blue eyes concerned. “What about Eve?”
“Eve has to work through spring break.” No help for it. Skylar’s tone turned to velvet when addressing Madden. “She can’t make it this year.”
Her brother’s best friend didn’t like hearing that at all. Of course he didn’t. He was compassionate and thoughtful. He wouldn’t want Eve missing their one chance for the four childhood friends to be together every year, right? “I’ll go see her,” Madden said, breaking from the group. “Maybe I can cover some shifts.”
“Don’t even think about it, man. We’re defending champs,” Elton called after Madden. “Get your head in the game.”
“Gosh. Have you always been this empathetic, Elt?” Skylar mused.
Robbie chuckled at her sarcasm.
Everyone looked sharply at Robbie.
Down at Skylar’s and Robbie’s connected hands.
Then at one another.
“Isn’t there a rule stating that any changes to the teams have to be reported in advance?” Elton asked. “A few hours before the opening ceremony doesn’t count.”
Vivica inclined her head. “The change was reported beforehand. Your sister emailed me days ago.”
