The Perfect Game

“I told you.” She smirked and shrugged her shoulders. “Well, he’s clearly gotten over you already. Look.”

She pointed toward an open window where Jack was attached at the lips to a scantily clad blonde. One of his hands gripped her backside, while the other pulled at the back of her head. I shook my head in disgust at his public display of man whoredom.

“And then what? He’ll just never talk to her again?” I asked, trying to figure him out.

Melissa turned to eye me, curiosity lurking behind those baby blues. “No. They’ll talk. I mean, unless she gets all pissed off at him for…being him. But he won’t ever hook up with her again. He never hooks up with the same girl twice.”

“And the girls…they know this?” I was shocked. Seriously, do these girls have no self-esteem?

“They know.”

“Pathetic.” I frowned and looked back at Jack just in time to see him leading the girl away by the hand, a smile plastered all over her perfect little face.

*****

And that was my first introduction to Jack Carter.

Jack fucking Carter.

The next big thing in the world of baseball. Word has it he throws somewhere between ninety-three and ninety-four miles per hour when he’s on the mound. That’s fast. Real fast. Especially for a lefty. And you can’t teach speed. You either have the ability to throw that fast or you don’t.

And apparently he had it.

On and off the baseball field.

*****

Two days later I walked into the student union, scanning the area between the bowling lanes and the bar for Melissa. Everyone on campus seemed to congregate there since it’s where the lone pizza restaurant was located. When it came to college and college students, pizza seemed to be on everyone’s diet menu.

She spotted me and waved her tanned arms frantically above her head. Melissa looked like a lunatic and it made me laugh out loud. I waved back, then grabbed a tray and bought my lunch before weaving my way through a crowd of other students toward her table.

“Kitten.”

The deep, sultry voice stopped me in my tracks as my smile faded. I turned toward the source of the voice with revulsion. “You know, I don’t even like cats.” I lifted one brow and fixed Jack with a fierce stare.

He fiddled with his baseball cap before putting it back on his head and tucking his dark hair underneath. I felt almost mesmerized as he ran his fingers absentmindedly across the white stitching of our school’s initials. I found myself noticing the way his dark blue shirt fit snugly against the muscles in his arms and shoulders. I hated how good-looking he was.

“Actually, I didn’t know. But I’m glad I do.” He smiled and I swear part of my heart melted right then and there at the sight of his dimples.

I totally suck.

I tried to walk toward Melissa, who eyed me with piqued curiosity, but he stood his stupid gorgeous body in my path. I quickly moved to the right, but he hopped to his left to block me. I took another step to the left and he quickly moved too.

“What do you want, Jack?” I said, the anger in my voice taking us both by surprise.

“Are you always this hostile?” His smile told me he was teasing, before forcing his dimples to reappear and my body to flush with heat.

“Only to guys like you.”

“So tell me, Kitten, what’s a guy like me?”

“Not worth my time.” I shoved my tray into his gut and when he let out an ooof, I scurried past him, trying not to spill my soda.

“You’ll come around,” he shouted.

“I wouldn’t hold your breath.”

I rushed to our table, throwing down my tray of food.

“Nice scene.” Melissa’s eyes were huge as she fought a grin.

“Huh?”

“Look around.” She waved an arm, gesturing toward the crowd.

I glanced around the bar and the other tables. All eyes were either on me or Jack. Great. The last thing I wanted was the entire school thinking I was Jack Carter’s latest conquest.

“Is he always that obnoxious?” I ripped the top off my raspberry yogurt.

“I don’t know, Cass. I’ve never seen him act that way before if that’s what you’re asking.”

“I don’t know what I’m asking.” Irritated and annoyed, I scanned the room for Jack’s face. He sat at a table surrounded by giddy girls, tossing their hair, pawing his muscles, and laughing obnoxiously at whatever he said. His eyes briefly met mine before I turned away, and I felt my heart beat a little faster.

“Jesus. How have I never noticed this spectacle before?” I wondered out loud.

Melissa chuckled. “I honestly don’t know. Happens every day.”

“Those girls have no shame. I’m almost embarrassed for them.”

“You know they all want to be the one he actually falls for.” Melissa sounded sympathetic as she removed the crust from her slice of cheese pizza.

“Good luck with that, ladies!” I gave the gawking girls a fake salute, then turned my attention to attacking my yogurt.

Curiosity got the best of me when I heard shouts and the sound of slapping high-fives. I looked back to Jack’s table to see a boy about Jack’s height and build sitting down next to him. “Who’s that?” I asked Melissa, nosy in spite of myself.

“The one who just sat down? That’s Dean…Jack’s little brother. He’s a freshman.”

“How the hell do you know that? You’re like a freaking college directory,” I teased.

“He’s in one of my classes.”

“Wait,” I said, putting one hand up in the air. “How do you have a class with a freshman?”

“I still have a couple of lower-level classes to take and he’s in one of them. He’s really sweet. Not like Jack at all,” Melissa added with a smile and a faraway look in her eyes.

“Oh my God, you like him!”

“I do not!” Melissa whispered defensively. “I barely even know him! I’m just saying he’s nothing like his brother, is all.”

“Okay, calm down. Jeez. It’s okay to like Jack Carter’s little brother.” I glanced back at Dean, admiring his smile, but noting the lack of dimples his brother wore so well. “He is cute.” I poked her shoulder.

“He is, right?” She eyed him from a distance.

“At least you like the good one.” I smiled, turning back to see the brothers throwing their arms around each other’s necks.

“As if I’d like the other one! Jack’s disgusting.” She pretended to stick a finger down her throat and made gagging noises.

“So you keep saying,” I said, taking another spoonful of yogurt.

“I swear to God, Cassie. If you end up falling for his shit, I don’t want to hear it. I’ve watched him the last two years before you got here. I’m telling you, he’s the ultimate playboy.” She silenced her rant with a quick chomp at her banana.

“I hear you. Okay? Steer clear of Jack Carter. It shouldn’t be that hard, considering I don’t want to go anywhere near him.”

We both smiled, momentarily satisfied with my promise.

TWO

The sun warmed my body the moment I stepped out of the three-story Communications & Arts Building. A gentle breeze swept across my face as I observed my fellow students. Some rushed to get to class, while others fought for sunny areas on the lawn. I smiled as I passed a long-haired kid playing the guitar. He played under the same tree every day, and I started to wonder if he was a student at all or if he just liked being on the large, sprawling campus.

I passed by the university bookstore and shops, making a mental note to pick up two scantrons for my upcoming tests. Herds of people milled in and out of the student union entrance as I walked in. My eyes immediately fell on Jack and his harem of fans. I couldn’t get over how I’d never noticed it before, but now it was all I saw. He flexed his muscles for a couple of girls who screamed when they grabbed on to his bicep. I heard him say, “Hold on,” as he lifted them into the air. I frowned with disgust as he demonstrated his pitching motion in slow speed, much to the delight of the squealing girls.

“He is such an attention whore.” I slammed my body down in the seat across from Melissa.

“Then stop paying attention to him.”

“It’s sort of hard not to when he’s always creating a spectacle.” I waved my arms toward the gaggle of girls following his every move.

“Hi, Melissa.” A deep voice interrupted my Jack-bashing.

“Oh…hi, Dean,” Melissa responded, her voice all soft and sweet. I shot a quick glance at her under my eyelashes, and smiled to myself.

“Would you mind if I sat with you?” Dean smiled when he asked and kept his hazel eyes locked on Melissa’s.

“No. We’re much better company than your brother’s table anyway,” she teased, poking him in the ribs.

He glanced in Jack’s direction, shaking his head. “It just gets old sometimes, you know?” He placed a slice of pizza on the table and sat down.

“Hi, I’m Dean.” He stretched his hand across the table.

“I’m Cassie. I’m Melissa’s roommate.” I grabbed his hand and squeezed.

“It’s nice to—”

“Dean! What are you doing over here?” Jack’s sultry voice echoed throughout the student union, and I felt my stomach lurch. I lifted my gaze to find him staring at me, so I pinched my lips together, hoping my annoyance would be loud and clear.

“Oh, Kitten. I see you’ve met my little brother.” Jack winked before placing his hand on Dean’s shoulder and squeezing.

“Thank God he seems nothing like you. I might actually be able to tolerate him.” I tilted my head and smiled sharply before taking a bite of my turkey sandwich. I noticed Melissa and Jack sharing an amused glance, and I wanted to kick Melissa under the table. The last time I did that it left an ugly bruise on her shin and she didn’t speak to me for days, so I restrained myself.

“You need me to work some of that aggression out of you?” Jack offered with a sexy smile.

My mouth was full, but I didn’t let that stop me. “I’d rather eat dirt.”

“I almost want to see that.” Jack chuckled and one dimple appeared on his cheek.

“You would. Go torture someone else,” I begged, nibbling at my sandwich before looking away.

“But I like torturing you.” He grinned and moved to sit next to me.

“Uh, no!” I shouted before throwing my bag right where he was about to plop his perfect little ass. He stopped short and stood back up.

“Why so angry, Kitten?”

“Why so annoying, jackass?” I mimicked his tone.

I had just taken a bite of my pickle when Jack’s warm breath in my ear stopped my chewing. “You’ll come around. You’ll see. You can’t resist me forever.”

I suddenly had the urge to spit my half-chewed food all over his arrogant face. The thought of doing it made me laugh, and I accidentally inhaled a little of what I was chewing. As I choked and struggled to swallow, he walked away smiling.