Page 63 of The Change Up
“Yeah, but you threw them, fucker!”
Hudson chimes in next. “You fucking did it!”
Yeah, I fucking did it!
I turn to head toward the dugout, but my feet plant like I’m stuck in cement as my girl stands just outside the dugout. She’s holding a camera to her face as she clicks away, her wide smile shines from behind the lens. My heart stops as I take her in.
I love watching her in her element. I know this isn’t the assignment she was hoping to have, but she’s crushing it. I’m in awe of her talent. Not only does Chloe have a way with words, but she has an eye for photography. I’m also selfishly glad she got assigned to cover our team. It was the push we both needed to mend our shattered past.
Before I have a chance to go to Chloe, my sister is flinging herself at me. I’m able to catch her before she tackles me.
“Bub! I’m so damn proud of you!” Leah screams as she wraps her arms around my neck. I squeeze her back.
“Thanks, sister!” I set her back down on her feet as I wrap my arm over her shoulders. The two of us make our way over to Chloe.
“Now let’s go celebrate my birthday.” She tosses the words out so casually over her shoulder. Spinning around, she gives me a wink before adding, “Oh, and I guess we can celebrate the best game of your career.”
Chloe sidles up next to me, and I bend down wrapping my arms around her waist and lifting her off her feet. Our lips find each other for a brief moment before she pulls me back. “Put me down, Cody.”
Rolling my eyes, I do as I’m told. “I’m so proud of you. That game was insane.”
“Thanks, Wildflower. I saw you up there freaking out.”
She scoffs. “I wasn’t freaking out. I was just praying to the baseball gods to let this be your big game.”
“Well, it paid off.”
“It sure did.” She bumps my shoulder as I step down into the dugout.
“I’m taking your sister with me to the house, and then we’ll head to your place.”
“Be careful.”
“I’m always careful.”
Leaning down, I can’t resist the urge to kiss her one more time. “I know you are, but Leah is…well she’s a troublemaker who isn’t under my dad’s roof this weekend.”
She smirks before turning and walking away from me.
Some of the guys stop her at the top of the dugout. They say something that makes her head tilt back in laughter and a pang of jealousy runs through my veins.
She must sense it too because she finds me watching her and gives me a wink.
With a wink back, I turn to make my way through the door that leads to the hallway where our locker room is.
It’s time to celebrate.
“You should wear this dress.”
Quinton drove Brynn, Leah, and me back to our townhouse where we’d spent the last thirty minutes going through clothes trying to figure out what I should wear tonight. Apparently, one of my floral minidresses isn’t good enough.
We’ve now made our way into Brynn’s room where she and Leah are going through some of Brynn’s party dresses.
“Pass.” I veto the super short, blue bodycon dress that has more cutouts than connected fabric.
“Fine, but I’m the birthday girl, so what I say goes,” Leah says.
“Okay, but why do I feel like that will be the start of a very epic night if we have to do what Leah says, kind of like ‘Simon says,’ all night long?” Brynn chimes in from the spot in front of her mirror where she’s applying a sharp cat eye.
