Page 44 of The Change Up
“Vanilla milkshake, chicken shack sandwich, bacon and cheddar fries, please?”
Quinton repeats our order while tacking on his order—two double shack burgers—but instead of individual fries, he orders a box of cheddar and bacon fries. Brynn eyes him, and he just shrugs his shoulders. These two will clean out the house when they’re high. It’s quite comical to watch because the next morning they feel like shit from all the junk food, so they spend hours at the gym working it off.
Once our order is placed, I pull out my phone and find the blue money-sharing app. I thumb out a quick payment to Q, even though he’s going to object to the idea of me buying my own meal.
There’s a notification from the university’s Twitter account.
Central Texas Eagles baseball suffered a frustrating 9-1 home loss to Lafayette. Eagles are back in action tomorrow at 1:00.
Yikes. The team managed to give up two more runs after we left.
I let my eyes drift shut as I rest my head against the window. The drive home isn’t long, but I’m not in the mood to listen to Brynn & Quinton’s verbal foreplay. So I let my mind drift away to a summer sunset on the beach and a cute boy’s arms wrapped around me.
“Thatta baby!” I hear Ty cheer from beside me as Hudson smacks a hit resulting in a triple. We are halfway through Saturday’s day game, and the boys look so much better than they did last night.
The energy inside the dirt-floored dugout is vibrating. I can’t keep the smile off my face from the guys whooping and cheering each other on. Coach Weber is even dancing. I’m so glad I didn’t talk myself into skipping today’s game.
The Eagles are up five to one in the fifth inning. Even though Cody won’t be pitching today, Coach is punishing him for yesterday’s shitty game, his vibe is motivating the team to be better than yesterday.
My eyes keep drifting from the turf and dirt field in front of me to the dugout where a boyish grin keeps calling to me. He’s light and vibrant, joking around with his teammates.
And damn, does his baseball cap do things to my insides. Not to mention the way those baseball pants mold around his muscular legs.
Today the guys are wearing my favorite uniform color combination: powder blue pants with a red belt, a matching powder blue shirt with Eagles in red script writing, and a red flat bill baseball cap with CTU across the front. The red hat makes the green and gold flecks of Cody’s hazel eyes pop, and I keep finding myself in a trance watching him high-five his teammates.
Maybe I can find it inside to forgive him.
Luke Danners steps up to the plate, and after the third pitch, he nails a line drive blooper in between Lafayette’s second baseman and center fielder. The hit results in Hudson scoring, putting us up by another run. I watch as Hudson practically skips down the stairs as he enters the dugout doling out high fives. There’s been tension between Hudson and Cody, I could feel it all day yesterday, but as Hud tries to bypass Cody, Codyslaps him on the ass causing both of them to crack up. A huge smile breaks free as I watch the two go through the same celebratory handshake I’ve been watching them do since the summer before we started college.
I can’t help the laugh that escapes my lips. I try to keep quiet so I’m not a distraction to the team, but I fail because Cody’s eyes seek me out immediately. Chills break through my body, and a pit settles in my stomach.
As we stare at each other, I watch his lips curve at the ends. My lips mirror his, and I feel a blush rise in my cheeks.
Cheering from the crowd interrupts our stare down, and both of our heads snap to the field as Nolan, who is the team’s catcher, launches a bomb out over the left fielder’s head. The ball continues to sail until it lands over the fence resulting in a three-run homer.
The dugout clears as the guys rush out to home plate to wait for Nolan to round the bases. While the guys are all out on the field, I climb the steps and position myself with my camera to capture the celebration.
Arms fly and cheers erupt as Nolan steps on home plate. I click away at the camera as I capture the celly dances, high fives, and rowdy energy the team exudes. Heads turn my way as the guys start their journey back to the dugout. I don’t stop clicking the camera, wanting to catch it all.
Bringing the camera down from my face, I let it hang around my neck when some of the guys start coming toward me. With their hands in the air, they wait for me to slap them. Another smile breaks free as the overwhelming feeling of belonging warms my soul. I feel like a part of the team.
“Yeah, boys!” I yell as my body breaks out in a little shimmy.
“Chloe!” Coach Weber calls from behind me as dread pools in my stomach. Turning on my toes, I find Coach standing at thetop of the stairs high-fiving the guys as they come back in. “Did you just do a little dance?”
Making my way over to him, a laugh breaks free. “Yeah, I did.”
He points his finger at me. “Every out-of-the-park home run, you do a little dance!”
“You hear that boys?” Ty yells. “Chlo’s going to dance for every out-of-the-park homer.”
Cheers and claps fill the air as embarrassment paints my skin pink.
“I’m glad you’re a part of the team,” Weber says as I hop down the stairs.
I return to my spot at the end of the dugout when Ty sidles up next to me. He runs a finger down my arm where my skin is exposed thanks to the sundress I’m wearing today. “Sorry if I embarrassed you.”
“It’s all good, Ty. Just remember, payback is a bitch.” I bump my shoulder with his as his eyes widen.
