Melanie: Will do.
She tucked her phone back in her purse. “She and Avery are still at Gabby’s.”
“Good. So we have lots of time.”
While that was true, she had to make it clear that this was only lunch between friends, not a date. “Time enough to eat, anyway.”
His smile faltered. “Right.”
Frustrated that she was so set on friend-zoning him, Gage tried not to frown. A few moments later Clarissa set their food in front of them.
“Looks delicious,” he said to her, giving her a bright smile.
“Only the best for you, Gage,” she said as she rested a hand on his shoulder. Clarissa’s gaze went to Melanie before settling back on him. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
“I will.” Gage looked at Melanie and for a split-second it seemed as if she’d frowned. What was that all about?
Clarissa walked away, and Gage focused on Melanie, his eyes flicking to her bandage before meeting her gaze. She really was a trooper.
“That shake looks good,” he said. “I might need to try it.”
One side of her mouth lifted in a smile. “I suppose that would be all right.”
They began eating, but after a few minutes Melanie pushed her shake closer to him. “Have a taste.”
Was this what friends did? He and his buddies never shared food, but maybe it was something women didn’t mind doing. He glanced at the table, looking for a spoon, but he didn’t see one.
Melanie must have figured out what he was doing, because she said, “It’s okay. You can use my straw.”
Really? Okay. He pulled the tall glass closer and sucked on the straw. Cool, creamy mint with bits of chocolate slid over his tongue. Mmmm. He pushed the glass back to her with a smile. “Yep. It’s good.”
Her lips lifted in a smile. “Mint chocolate chip is the best.”
“I can’t deny that I liked it, but I’m kind of partial to berry shakes.”
Her head tilted. “Well, I guess I can forgive you for that.”
They laughed, and as they continued eating they chatted about softball and other things, and when Clarissa brought the check, Gage picked it up.
“I’ll pay for my half,” Melanie said.
That hadn’t been part of his plan. “What?”
“Why should you pay for my meal?”
He heard the unspoken part of that sentence: Since we’re not on a date. Thanks for the reminder, he wanted to say, but instead, he said, “No. It’s my treat. You can pay next time.”
Melanie sighed. “Fine.”
Did that mean there would be a next time? He hoped so.
Melanie appreciated Gage’s chivalrous nature, but she had to keep both of their minds focused on the fact that they could never be more than friends. Was it weird that she’d had him drink out of her straw? Maybe, but she hadn’t been able to resist the idea of having his lips on the same place hers had been. What was up with that?
When they reached her house and Gage turned off the engine, Melanie said, “You don’t need to walk me to the door.” It wasn’t a date. Which meant no chance for a kiss. But that was a good thing, right?
His lips pursed, but then he smiled. “I hope your head doesn’t bother you too much.”
She reached for the bandage. She’d almost forgotten about it. “Thanks. And thanks for taking me to lunch. Now I have another place in town that I know has good food.”
He laughed. “All the places in Emerald Falls have good food. Especially a certain bakery I know.”
Smiling, Melanie opened the passenger door. “I’ve heard that.”
“See you at Monday’s practice?”
“I’ll be there.” With that, she climbed out of the car and went into the house.
The moment she walked in, Avery ran to her with a big smile. Melanie had texted Ashleigh as her meal with Gage was wrapping up. Kneeling in front of Avery, Melanie held her arms out for a hug, but Avery pointed to the bandage on her head. “Mommy has an owie?”
“Yes, baby girl. But it’s okay. It doesn’t hurt.” Then she drew her into a hug.
“Tell me all about your lunch date,” Ashleigh said as she walked into the room.
Melanie released Avery and stood up. “It wasn’t a lunch date, just a…well, lunch with a friend.”
Ashleigh’s eyebrows scrunched up. “What? Last night you went on a date with Gage, so what happened today?’’
Avery slipped her hand into Melanie’s. “Let’s play, Mommy.”
Melanie smiled at her daughter. “Do you want to play dollies?”
Nodding with enthusiasm, Avery said, “Uh-huh.”
Melanie threw a smile to Ashleigh, then let her daughter lead her to her bedroom where they sat on the floor and took out several dolls.
Seconds later Ashleigh sat beside them. She picked up a doll and a set of doll clothes and began dressing the doll. “How’d it go at Urgent Care?”
“Fine. I just needed three stitches, so it wasn’t too bad.”
“That was nice of Gage to take you.”
That reminded her… “I don’t remember Hannah saying she had something else going on today.” She looked at her sister, who had a guilty look on her face. Melanie pursed her lips. “You made that up, didn’t you?”
Ashleigh’s lips stretched into a fake smile. “Yeah. I kind of did.”
“Why? So I would have to go with Gage?”
“Maybe.” Ashleigh’s voice had risen an octave. Then she grinned. “But, hey. You got lunch out of it.”
She needed Ashleigh to know that there was no future for her and Gage. “I told him we could never be more than friends.”
“What? Really?” She scowled at Melanie. “Why, Mel?”
“Because it’s true. I told you I’m not looking to date. My luck with men has been…well, bad is kind of an understatement. So, the safe choice is to not date. Period.”
“I can’t believe you’re ready to give up on love.”
If anyone knew what she’d been through, it was Ashleigh. So why was it so hard for her to understand? “You know how much my heart’s been kicked around over the years. I just can’t take that chance anymore.”
Ashleigh’s lips pursed. “Fine. If that’s how it is, then that’s how it is.”
Glad her sister was finally getting it, Melanie said, “That is how it is.”
Chapter 19
At practice on Monday night, Melanie tried not to admire Gage as he did his thing while looking hot, but it was hard not to notice. And when he pretty much ignored her—okay, maybe he just didn’t pay any more attention to her than to anyone else on the team—she kind of hated that.
As she and Ashleigh drove home afterwards, she confessed her feelings to her sister.
“You’re an enigma wrapped in a puzzle, Mel.”
“I know. But it’s actually not all that difficult to figure out. I do want love. I just don’t want to get burned while I search for it.”
“News flash. No one does.”
Melanie laughed as she shook her head. “Right.” She parked in the driveway and they both climbed out and went into the house. After Hannah left, Ashleigh suggested they go out to dinner.
“I’m not in the mood to cook,” Ashleigh said. “Are you?”
“No. Where do you want to go?”
“You said you liked Eats & Treats. I like it too.”
An image of Clarissa being friendly with Gage flashed into her mind. Just because they were friends didn’t mean there was anything romantic going on. “Yeah. Let’s go there.”
The three of them trooped out to Melanie’s car, and after she strapped Avery in, they drove off. When they went inside the diner, Melanie immediately looked to see if Clarissa was there, but she didn’t see her.
They sat in an empty booth—near the one she and Gage had used the previous Saturday—and picked up their menus.
“Do you want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with chocolate milk?” she asked Avery.
Avery’s ey
es widened as she nodded.
Melanie laughed. “I could make that at home for free.”
“I know,” Ashleigh said. “But it’s the adventure of eating out, right?”
“Yes.” She set her menu down. “What do you know about Clarissa, the owner?”
“I don’t know her at all. Why?”
Because she’s beautiful and was friendly with Gage. “Just curious.”
Ashleigh’s phone rang. “It’s Amethyst.”
“I don’t mind if you get it.”
“Thanks.”
Melanie helped Avery color on the paper placemat while she waited for Ashleigh to finish her call.
“I hope you’re not busy on Friday night,” Ashleigh said as she tucked her phone in her purse.
“You know I’m not. Why?”
“Because Amethyst is throwing a barbecue.”
“Will Gage be there?” Why did that slip out of her mouth?
Ashleigh’s eyebrows bunched. “I don’t know. Probably. Will that be a problem? You don’t have to talk to him if you don’t want to. Although that would be rude.”
Sighing at her sister’s assumption that she would possibly be rude, Melanie gave her a look. “He’s my friend now, so it’s fine. I don’t know why I asked if he’d be there.”
Smirking, Ashleigh said, “Because you like him. Why won’t you admit it, Mel?”
Did she like him? “I don’t know how I feel about him.” Although she did find him super attractive, sweet, smart, and caring. And his kiss was pretty powerful too.
“All the more reason to give him a chance.”
A chance to break her heart, maybe. She shook her head. “For now, friendship is enough.”
“All right. But you’ll come to the barbecue, right?”
“Sure. Sounds like fun.”
“Good.”
At Thursday’s game, Gage worked as hard as he had at both practices to keep his attention away from Melanie, but his gaze kept going to her all on its own. And when they were both in the dugout, he found himself hyper-aware of whatever she was doing. She’d gotten her stitches removed and she looked as gorgeous as ever—not that the stitches had marred her beauty.
Tomorrow night was Amethyst’s barbecue, and as far as he knew, Melanie would be there. It would be more difficult to avoid her in such a small group. Then again, maybe it would be his opportunity to spend time with her, to get to know her and for her to get to know him.
Pushing down his thoughts—he had a game to focus on—Gage turned his attention to Kirk, who was the first one at bat. They were tied at three runs each, and it was the top of the ninth, so they had to make this happen now. Gage stood near first base.
“Come on, Kirk,” Melanie yelled from the dugout.
Gage’s eyes slid her way before he turned back to watch Kirk. Evidently she’d turned Kirk down too. Somehow that made Gage feel better. Maybe it wasn’t that she didn’t find Gage attractive, but rather that she really preferred being single.
Kirk hit a line drive and made it to first base. Travis was up next, and then Melanie.
Travis hit the ball, but got out at first, although Kirk made it to second base. Then Melanie approached the batter’s box.
The team called out encouragement, and Melanie forced herself to tune them out as she focused on the pitcher—a big man wearing a serious expression. After the last game she’d been discouraged, but so far in this game she’d made it to first base one time, and hit a fly ball the other. The game was almost over and the team was counting on her.
Concentrating on the pitcher, and trying not to let his intimidating stare rattle her, she felt the weight of the bat in her hands. She could do this. She knew she could.
The pitcher wound up and released the ball. She swung.
“Strike one,” the ref called.
Inhaling a lungful of air, then slowly releasing it, she held steady. The pitcher wound up and threw the ball. As she swung the bat, she knew this was it. She could feel it. The bat connected with the ball with a satisfying thwack. She dropped the bat and raced down the first base line. Gage was the first base coach and he yelled at her to “Go go go!” while gesturing wildly toward second base.
Not slowing down, Melanie rounded first base and ran with all the speed she could muster to second. Glancing toward the outfield, she saw the centerfielder throwing the ball toward second, so she dove for the base and made it just before the second baseman tagged her.
“Safe!” a ref yelled.
Grinning broadly as she jumped to her feet, she brushed the dirt from the front of her shirt and pants and listened to her teammates and the crowd cheering. That’s when she saw that Kirk had made it safely home. They were up by one.
Beaming with pride, Melanie watched as the next player walked into the batter’s box. He hit a line drive and was tagged out at first base, but Melanie made it to third. They had two outs, and Gage was up.
Remembering how well he’d done at the batting cage led to thoughts of him kissing her that same night. Her lips tingled in memory, and without thinking, she brushed a finger across her lips.
Focus, Mel. Focus.
She turned her attention to Gage. His form was perfect, his body athletic and strong, his face handsome. Who was she kidding? She was attracted to him like crazy.
His first swing was a foul ball. His next swing was a strike. If he struck out, they would only be up by one going into the bottom of the ninth.
The pitcher wound up and released the ball. Gage swung…and connected. Not waiting to see where the ball went—it was fair, so there was no reason to wait—Melanie blasted off third base and toward home. Moments later she ran across the plate and heard the ref shout, “Safe!” Only then did she look to see what was happening. Gage had made it to first and they were up by two.
The next batter struck out, and Melanie’s team took their turn on the field. The other team scored one run, but when the game ended, Melanie’s team had won five to four. After shaking hands with the opposing team, Melanie gathered with the rest of her team to congratulate each other.
“That last inning was awesome,” someone said.
“Melanie,” Kirk said with a grin, “your hit made all the difference.”
Brimming with pride, she smiled. “Thanks, but if Gage hadn’t batted me in, we would still be tied.” Credit where credit’s due.
A smile stretched across Gage’s face. “It was teamwork, guys. All of us together. And we rock!”
Everyone laughed and high-fived.
“We should celebrate,” Chloe said.
“Great idea,” Gage said. “Ice cream on me at Eats & Treats.”
“You’re on,” Travis said with a grin.
When their boisterous group arrived at Eats & Treats, they took over the back section of the diner. Clarissa came out and headed in their direction.
“Don’t tell me,” she said to Gage as she looked at everyone in their uniforms. “You won tonight.”
“That’s right,” he said with a grin.
Smiling, she threw her arms around him and he embraced her as they swayed together for a few moments.
Melanie watched with growing jealousy. Gage had kissed her the previous Friday, so who was this woman to hug him so openly? Wait. She and Gage were only ever going to be friends, so who was she to have an opinion on who Gage hugged? Still, seeing him so happy with another woman stung in a way that surprised her.
“What are you gonna get?” Ashleigh said beside her.
She turned to her sister with a frown.
One of Ashleigh’s eyebrows was arched in question, and Melanie knew the question wasn’t about her choice of ice cream.
“Mint chocolate chip, of course.”
Ashleigh’s lips quirked. “Right.”
They were standing on the edge of the group. “What?”
“Come on, Mel,” Ashleigh said, her voice soft. Then she looked toward Gage and Clarissa, who were no longer hugging, but who were chatting about the game.
“What?” she said again, this time with irritation lacing her voice.
A look of compassion filled Ashleigh’s eyes as she rubbed Melanie’s back. That was too much for Melanie, and to her mortification tears jumped into her eyes. Meeting her sister’s gaze, she shook her head, then she turned and hurried to the bathroom where she could gather her emotions.
Staring into the mirror, she wiped at her eyes. What is wrong with me? Why am I getting all blubbery?
Moments later the door to the bathroom opened, but to Melanie’s relief, it was just Ashleigh.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Melanie was about to nod, but then she shrugged. “I don’t know why I’m crying. This is stupid.”
“Do you want to go home?”
Would it be more awkward to have to explain why she left, or to stay when her eyes showed evidence of tears?
Needing to get herself under control and go out there, she inhaled sharply, held her breath for a moment, then exhaled through her mouth. Then she splashed some cool water on her face before patting it dry with a paper towel.
“Okay. I’m ready.” She forced a smile onto her lips. “Let’s have some ice cream. We earned it.”
Ashleigh smiled. “That’s my tough big sister.” Then she hugged her.
That was almost enough to bring the tears back, but Melanie held herself together, and a moment later they walked out of the bathroom and back to their teammates.
Chapter 20
There she is. Gage had noticed Melanie’s disappearance and had feared she’d gone home. But as she and Ashleigh joined the rest of the team, his heart lifted. She looked his way. Taking that as an invitation, he excused himself from talking to Travis and Cody and walked over to Melanie and Ashleigh.
Her expression seemed a bit downcast, and he wondered what was going on. Not sure if he should ask, he smiled at her.
“I ordered a mint chocolate chip shake for you,” he said, glad he’d known what her favorite was. “That’s what you wanted, right?”
A smile curved her mouth, and her expression seemed to brighten. “That’s right. Thanks.”
He turned to Ashleigh. “Sorry. I didn’t know what you wanted.”
Chance Encounter: Gage and Melanie (An Emerald Falls Romance, Book Three) (Companion to the Over You series) Page 10