You and Everything After

“Crazy how that whole Chandra thing blew up, huh? The way those pictures found their way online?” I say, looking at Paige, calling her bluff.

“Yeah,” she says, everything about her expression disinterested, as if she couldn’t care less. But her eyes—they’re just narrowed enough, and I read her loud and clear. “Definitely...crazy,” she says, her lips careful with that word.

She stands up and tells Houston that she’s thirsty. She steps around him, and looks back at me one last time as she walks up the ramp. Her nod was just slight enough, not enough for anyone else to notice. But I know what she did for her sister. And I’ll keep this secret for her—because damn, I’m impressed.

We get through the National Anthem, the play-ball kid and the first pitch, and by the time Nate’s up to bat, Cass is back sitting next to me, Rowe on my other side. And they’re both crossing their fingers, holding their breath. They get it. No fussy fuss.

After he hits for a double with one RBI, I lean over to Cass and kiss her cheek. She sweeps her hair behind her ear when I do, then turns to me, her cheeks a little pink from the warm spring sun.

“What was that for?” she asks.

“Nothin’,” I shrug. “Just proud of you, I guess.”

I turn my attention back to the field, cheering loudly as my brother steals third, but Cass keeps her eyes on me. I can feel the heat of her stare, and I grab my hat from her head and tilt it to the side to block her view, because wow, I’m getting a little inspired by her attention.

She grabs my hat back and puts it on her head, where it really belongs, then puts her hands on my face, pulling me to her lips, stopping just short of a kiss.

“You know I love you, right?” she says, and I smile and pull her the rest of the way in until her mouth crashes into mine. I kiss her longer than I should at a baseball game, and I totally miss my brother sliding into home. I miss the next two batters too, and I don’t stop until I’m sure every single guy at the stadium has seen me kiss this girl.

This girl.

My sexy Ninja Princess.

The only girl I need to know…anywhere.

THE END