I try to bite back a laugh and fail. “Your brain is a scary place.”
“Shhh. You’re ruining it.” He presses a finger to my lips and keeps his gaze on the ceiling.
I swat his hand away and he finally breaks out of the trance. “Shorts and tennis shoes.” He sighs dramatically. “But keep the orange bikini and pink heels ready for date four.”
Well, that sparks my curiosity, but he heads off toward the bathroom. The shower starts as Tanner’s phone begins ringing.
“Your phone’s going off,” I yell to him.
“Can you answer it for me? It’s my sister. She’s been calling every day to make plans for the Fourth.”
I grab it off the bed and take it to the open bathroom door. “Here.”
He pokes his head out of the shower curtain. “My hands are wet. Answer it and tell her I’ll call her back.”
I hesitate and he adds, “Otherwise she’ll just keep on calling. She’s annoying like that.”
He disappears back into the shower. Silently clearing my throat, I put the phone to my ear and answer. “Hey, Tara. It’s, uh, Sydney. Tanner’s in the shower.”
“Sydney. Hi.” There’s an awkward pause. “I didn’t realize you were still there.” She sounds less friendly than I imagined, but I figure that’s to be expected since she called her brother and someone else answered.
“Oh, yeah, hey,” I say cheerily. I’ve never met Tara or even spoken to her and this is not how I pictured it. “I hear you’re coming to the lake next week. I’m so excited to finally meet you.”
“Yeah, uh, you too. Can you have Tanner call me when he gets out of the shower?”
“Definitely. He wanted me to tell you that.” My face warms and I feel awful for reasons I can’t quite pinpoint. Maybe I expected her to be more excited? But I have no idea how much Tanner has told her about me.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Good to finally meet you or talk to you,” I babble on feeling determined to get some pleasantries out of this girl that seems awfully put out by having to talk to me. “You know what I mean.”
She doesn’t budge, though. “I do. Bye now.” Her tone isn’t hostile, but incredibly bland and detached.
“Bye.” I step back into the bathroom and set his phone on the vanity. “She wants you to call.”
“Cool. Thanks.”
“I’m going to get ready,” I say to the closed curtain and duck back out.
I replay the call as I get dressed for our date. Perhaps it was unrealistic to think Tanner told his sister anything about me. They’re just so close that I guess I assumed that my name came up occasionally if only in passing.
I’m still trying to shake the uneasy feeling as Tanner drives to our second date. He looks as gorgeous as ever in navy shorts and a gray V-neck. He hangs a right off the main road in town. “Ready?”
He comes to a stop in front of a large outdoor sports complex.
“Which one are we doing?” From the car I can see go karts, bumper boats, and paintball.
We get out of the car and meet in front. “All of them, if you want, but we’re starting at the batting cages.”
“Glad I didn’t wear my bikini and heels.”
“It’s a real great visual, not going to lie, but I thought you might not appreciate being ogled while trying to hit my fast ball.”
“You’re going to pitch to me?”
He nods, a charming boyish grin on his face. “Mhmm. Don’t worry, I’ll let you warm up with the machine first. I throw much harder.”
Once we’ve paid, I stand behind the cage while he warms up with the machine. He takes cut after cut, hitting the ball into the net on the opposite end. I could watch him like this all day. Totally in his element and showing off for me.
“Hey, batter, batter,” I say through the chain-link fence.
“Are you ready to give it a try?” he asks, briefly looking over his shoulder before hitting the next ball. The machine stops and he backs out of the cage. He takes the helmet in my hand and forces it onto my head, then kisses me. “Yep, a bikini would have really made this fantasy complete.”
“Your mind really is a scary place, isn’t it?”
He winks and motions with his head to the cage. “Get in there.”
I grab a bat inside and hit the button to start the machine. I haven’t swung a bat since… high school gym class maybe? I’m giving myself a pep talk when the first pitch comes flying by me. I swing, but it’s almost too late and I only get a small piece of the ball sending it off to the right.
Tanner doesn’t comment or offer any advice. I don’t look back, but out of my peripheral, I can see his arms overhead, fingers hooked into the fence as he watches on. I narrow my focus and concentrate hard. I’m able to make contact with each pitch, but they look nothing like his perfect hits straight down the line.
Is it ridiculous to be frustrated that I can’t hit a baseball as well as a division one college baseball player? Yes. Am I anyway? Also yes.
I don’t realize how tightly I’m gripping the bat or how sweaty I am until strong arms wrap around me from behind. “Easy, killer. This is supposed to be fun.”
I loosen my hold as I watch one go by. “Yeah, yeah, I just want to hit one really good.”
“You’re swinging too late.” He steps back. “Get ready. I’ll tell you when.”
Letting out a deep breath, another ball flies by while I prepare.
“This one’s yours, babe. You got this.”
I nod. His words light up something inside of me that my own pep talk didn’t. The ball appears along with the sound the machine makes as it releases each pitch.
“Now,” Tanner says.
It feels too early. I want to hold back, but my body is more cooperative than my brain. I swing, connecting with the ball and sending it sailing straight down the middle. A zap of pride and joy shoots through me just like when I make a perfect serve in volleyball. There’s no other feeling like it.
I turn to him while practically bouncing with excitement. “I hit it!”
“I saw.”
“Like really hit it.”
His blue eyes are twinkling with laughter, but he holds it in. I go to hug him and forget about all the accessories. My helmet bangs against his and I nearly get him in the groin with the end of the bat.
“Oops, sorry.” I step back but I’m still giddy. “That is amazing. I want to do it again.”
We move from the machine to an area where Tanner can pitch to me. He stands behind a safety screen per the rules, but it’s almost laughable because I don’t stand a chance of hitting anything he sends my way. And actually I don’t mind. Not much.
He looks too good to complain. He’s carefree and happy.
“All right. This one is for you.”
“What were the last twenty?”
He holds the ball up. “Me showing off for my date.”
He throws a couple much slower pitches until I get a few good hits. Back outside of the cages, we return our bats and helmets.
“Now what?” I ask.
“Your pick.”
We wander past the cages. The different games are set up in a semicircle that arcs around the parking lot.
“I feel like I should get credit since they do have mini golf here,” I point out as we pass the course with bright colored obstacles and fun water hazards.
“I avoided anything where we had to play against one another for a reason. Tell me, when you’ve gone on dates with guys what did they say when they saw sweet, beautiful Sydney turn into the gold-medal monster?”
“I may have played it down. It wasn’t easy.”
Chuckling, he squeezes my hand. “You don’t have to hide anything from me.”
My heart rate speeds up and my stomach flips. “What about you? Do you let girls win on dates?”
He doesn’t answer right away and looks a little guilty.
“You totally have!” I smack his arm playfully. “I did not think you were th
e type. You’ve never let me win anything.”
“You’re different. I’ve never dated anyone like you.”
“I don’t know how to respond to that. I can’t tell if that’s a compliment or if I should be worried.”
“Definitely a compliment.”
We make a complete circle before deciding on bumper boats and get in the line to wait our turn.
“Did you talk to your sister?” I lean back against the metal railing.
“Yeah, I called her while you were getting ready.” Nothing about his body language suggests she said anything about our awkward encounter.
“Everything good?”
“She just wanted to talk about the Fourth. She and her friend Corinne are coming down and it sounds like a few of her teammates might too. We’re going to have quite a houseful.”
“I never really asked, but is it cool that I’m here crashing your summer plans?”
“I invited you, remember?” One brow quirks up.
“I know, but doesn’t your family take issue with some freeloader they’ve never met staying at their fabulous lake house all summer?”
“No.” He steps forward as the line moves. “Tara never comes without Corinne or one of her other friends. The lake is much more fun when you can enjoy it with other people.”
“I’m nervous about meeting her,” I admit.
“Don’t be. Aside from being a giant pain in my ass, she’s cool. You two will get along.”
He’s right. I don’t know why I’m letting one weird phone call freak me out. I’m excited to finally meet his sister, and if she’s even half as amazing as Tanner, I know I’ll like her just fine.
18
Tanner
“Got you two a present.” Jonah tosses a heart-shaped raft into the pool. It has two hearts and they’re connected in the middle. He’s got a smug look on his face and his eyes crinkle up at the corners with humor.
“Jokes on you. This thing is baller,” I say as I heft myself up onto the bigger heart.
Sydney looks reluctant but with a shake of her head, she gets on the other side.
It took all of five seconds for Jonah to figure out things had changed between us. I’m actually surprised he didn’t notice the other night at his party, but I guess that’s because he was focused on Richard.
“That’s fucking precious.” Jonah stands on the side of the pool and holds up his phone like he’s going to take a picture.
I lean over and take Sydney by surprise when I press my mouth to hers. We spent all morning lying in bed kissing. My lips are chapped and I’m more frustrated than I’ve been in my entire life, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
“So,” Ollie says as he swims over to us with a giant, mocking smile. “What’s date number three?”
I look from him to Jonah to Sydney. “What? How? You told them?”
She shrugs and tries to look sweet and innocent.
“Don’t hold out on us,” Ollie begs.
“Holding out is sort of your new thing, huh?” Jonah jumps in. He runs a hand through his wet hair, slicking back the dark red strands.
“You told them that?!”
Sydney grimaces and looks over at me with apologetic brown eyes. “I thought you’d already told them.”
Playing both sides to get more information. I should have known. Classic Jonah.
“Tell us! What’s date number three? I’ve got my money on karaoke.” Ollie looks so certain and I have no clue where he’d get such an idea.
Jonah laughs. “No way. I’ve heard Shaw sing. I’m going with the movies. Sharing a bowl of popcorn, their fingers touch in the dark…”
“No,” Sydney pipes in. Three heads swivel to her. “You’re both wrong. It’s something more romantic like a candlelight dinner on the boat or a picnic, also with candles.”
“So, your guess is he planned candles?” Jonah asks with a smirk. “Shaw? Which one is it?”
“I do like candles.” I kick my foot along the water sending a spray of water at Jonah. “I’m not telling.”
“Come on!” The three of them take turns whining and trying to get me to tell them.
“We should do a double date. Nay, a triple date.” Ollie elbows Jonah. “You could invite Richard and maybe Jade?”
“Oh no, if you didn’t close that last weekend, then you’re on your own, but I would love to see this date. Come on, Shaw, let us crash.”
“A group date could be fun.” Sydney smiles. That smile makes me want to give her anything she asks for. “Does that work for what you had planned? If not, we could do another bonus date.”
I don’t answer right away, torn between admitting the truth and making up something on the spot.
“Well?” Ollie asks. “What’s date three?”
“Movie theater,” I grumble.
Jonah and Sydney crack up and I hide behind my shades.
“Good call. Someplace you can’t talk too much and screw it up.” Ollie nods in understanding. “Plus, popcorn.”
We go to the late show and I must admit that going with a group was more fun than I expected.
“Where’s Richard tonight?” I ask Jonah. Sydney and Ollie are walking ahead of us as we head to the ice cream place next door to the theater.
“He and the band are in California for some festival.”
“Is he coming back?”
“Maybe.” Jonah shrugs his big shoulders, hands in his pocket.
“Sorry, man.”
“It’s cool.”
I’m not convinced, but I leave it alone.
“Why five dates?”
I was waiting for him to give me shit for this. Surprised it took this long.
“When we first met, she’d been burned by this guy and had a rule that she wouldn’t sleep with a guy until they’d been on five dates.”
“And you weren’t willing to wait? That doesn’t seem like you.”
“No. I was, I did, but I wasn’t clear about it. We hung out real casual and I assumed that was enough. I was so used to girls just throwing themselves at me that I guess I didn’t take it all that seriously. The more time that went by, the more I liked her. I was waiting for some sort of sign that she was ready, that I’d put in enough time for her to trust me, all the while she was waiting for me to make a move. Eventually she started dating other people, and I realized I fucked-up, but it was too late, the moment had passed.”
“Brutal.”
“Yeah.” I look ahead where Sydney’s smiling at Ollie, the two of them are carrying on like old friends.
“Five real dates to make up for the ones you didn’t take her on two years ago. That’s pretty romantic, Shaw.”
“Well, she deserves it. Better late than never.”
“For what it’s worth, she knows how much you care about her. I think she even knows how much you regret two years ago.”
“I know she doesn’t need five dates to prove that I want her. She’s told me many times, but I want it to be perfect for her. I want to make up for everything I should have done. Two years…” I rarely let myself go down the what could have been road because it ends with this pit in my stomach full of disgust and remorse. “I could have kept her from dating a whole slew of douchebags, shielded her from the pain each time things didn’t work. I could have made her happy.”
“Regret is a funny thing. It often makes us do things for all the wrong reasons, chase ideals that don’t matter, and all for ourselves. Regret is selfish.”
“What are you saying?”
“She just wants you, man. She doesn’t care about the regrets you have. She has her own and the only thing they have in common is that you want to be together now. Nothing either of you do now is going to change the past.” He claps me on the shoulder before we catch up to Sydney and Ollie.
“Are you ready?” Jonah asks Ollie. He motions with his head to the parking lot. “I thought we could go by The Cove and catch last call.”
“Now? We’re just about to order.”
&nbs
p; Jonah laughs. “I think we’ve crashed enough of this date. Come on, I’ll buy you a beer.”
With a sigh, Ollie steps out of line. “Baller date three, Shaw. I would have definitely put out.”
“Thanks, man. It was fun.” I wrap both arms around Sydney’s waist from behind. “See you guys later.”
At the counter, she orders a vanilla cone and I get mint chocolate chip in a bowl. Circular tables are set up on the far side of the building, and I lead Sydney to one of the unoccupied ones. We sit side by side eating in silence. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail, but the wind blows the blonde strands into my face.
“Sorry,” she says as she takes the end and twirls it around in her fist and holding it to the other side as she continues to lick the sweet dessert in her other hand.
The number of times I’ve thought about fisting her hair just like that are far too many to count. I’d like to kick myself for not doing it years ago. How different might the last two years have been if I had?
“What?” Sydney asks.
I realize I’m staring at her while lost in my thoughts. I don’t want to bring the night down with talk of the past, though.
“What are your plans for after graduation?”
“I don’t know. I’d like to do something with volleyball, maybe coach a youth team or even just volunteer. The volleyball coach at my old high school is retiring after this year. They’ve all but offered me the job, but I can’t see myself there.”
I can’t picture her there either. I can’t picture her anywhere but with me, wherever I am.
“Where do you see yourself?” I ask.
“I’m not sure. I like the city but being close to the beach would be nice. Maybe traveling. I like the idea of jumping around a bit, seeing the world.”
“I can picture you doing that.”
She lifts one shoulder in a small shrug. “Well, it isn’t exactly a plan, but I’ll have a degree in graphic design and I can do that almost anywhere. There are a lot of contract and remote jobs so I could live wherever I want. What about you? Have you decided yet?”
“No. I promised myself I wouldn’t spend the summer obsessing about it and that’s been pretty easy with you here. Am I crazy if I want to continue to do both sports?” She’s the only person I’ve really asked their opinion. Everyone else has asked mine, given me advice, but not Sydney, she’s made it clear that she’ll support me no matter what, but she’s never told me what she thinks I should do.
The Pass (Smart Jocks Book 5) Page 12