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“Go Jude!” I clap, and he turns to me, winking.
“You guys are the real thing, huh?” Walker asks me.
“Yes,” I answer without taking my eyes off Jude.
He slides the bat along the home plate and gets in his stance, his ass out and strong arms up, holding the bat. A pitch comes in and is way right. Not even close to being over the plate.
Walker makes a noise as if it’s breezing by.
The next pitch comes in, and it almost hits Jude.
Walker groans. “Not sure they should be in our league.”
“It’s not the majors,” Laurel says. “It’s recreational softball.”
“All sports are competitive. That’s the whole point.”
“Apparently because you have nothing better to do than scout a team you’re playing next week.” Gillian lobs the insult over her shoulder.
“Exactly.” He smacks his gum.
I miss the pitch but hear the bat connect to a ball. I look up as the ball drops between center and left field. Jude gets on base with a double.
I’m on my feet in an instant. “Woohoo! Go, Jude!”
Emmett steps out of the dugout. “Calm down there, Sadie. The real Noughton is up to bat now.” He scans the bleachers and stops on Briar for a beat longer than everyone else.
“I hate cocky guys,” Briar says, leaning back to rest her arms on the bleacher behind her.
The first pitch comes across the plate. Emmett swings and misses.
“Thanks for the breeze, Noughton,” Walker shouts.
Emmett doesn’t look up, shaking his head. The dugout cheers him on, Lottie’s voice the loudest. The second pitch comes in, and he swings and misses again.
“That felt good,” Walker continues to razz him, and all of us give Walker a dirty look.
Emmett gets ready again, swings, and misses on the third pitch, striking out. He hammers the bat on the ground and heads back into the dugout. Brooks pats him on the shoulder, stepping into the warm-up box while Ben walks to the plate.
Ben looks at Gillian. “Home run?”
“Or nothing,” she says.
They both laugh.
“Ew, was that some kind of sexual reference?” Briar asks, her nose scrunching.
Laurel and I laugh.
“One day you’ll get it.” Gillian pats her knee and swings her arm around her, pulling her in.
The game continues, and by the fourth inning, Plain Daisy is slaughtering Horses Haven. We’re all bored, even the players.
“I’ve got nothing to be worried about.” Walker stands and steps down the bleachers. “See you guys later.”
We all share a look, happy he’s leaving. Then Scarlett comes up to bat. The poor girl doesn’t get a lot of hits, but she might be the most competitive player.
“Actually.” Walker sits down on the bottom bleacher. “Eye on the ball, Scar.”
