Serena sat with Penny and Kate next to my parents and Daniel. I’d been surprised my dad had decided to show up to the game, but ultimately, I was glad he’d come.
The other team’s shortstop ended up with a torn ACL during the fourth inning, and it seemed like all the momentum had swung to our side after that. We ended the game, winning seven to two. Coach pulled me in during the seventh inning to pitch, and while it wasn’t a perfect game by me, I was just happy with the win.
It took forever for us to line up to receive the trophy and awards from the state athletic director, but I kept glancing up at Serena. She met my gaze each time, and I thought about the two of us together. I could bet no one would have ever pegged us for liking one another, the shy guy and the fiery volleyball player.
After all the celebrations, we packed up and headed out to where families stood waiting for each player. Daniel came bounding up and pulled me into a big hug. “You were awesome, Benny!”
I laughed and hugged him tight.
My mom took over with a hug after Daniel let go, and then my dad held out his hand. I gave it an awkward shake before giving him a hug. I was too excited to care about anything at that moment. We’d taken the championship, something we’d made a goal to do at the beginning of the summer season.
“We’ll meet you in the car,” my mom said and smiled back at Serena as they walked in the direction of the parking lot.
“That was so amazing!” Serena said, beaming. Her beautiful eyes were open wide, and her smile caused my eyes to focus on her lips too often. She threw her arms around me, and I got a whiff of strawberry from her hair.
When she pulled back, our faces were only inches from each other, close enough to kiss. I glanced down at her lips one more time, wondering what they would taste like, but the knots in my stomach brought me back to reality.
I’d claimed to have kissed a girl when the guys asked, but the truth was, I’d never had the courage to do anything like that. And now that I was this close to a girl I liked, I wished we weren’t in a mob of people, that we were alone.
“So, how about that date?” I searched her eyes and face, waiting for the response. My stomach tightened, preparing for rejection.
“I’m in. My schedule is pretty open for the summer. Besides therapy and hanging out with friends here and there.”
“Um, how about Monday after I get home from work? I can pick you up around six or seven.”
She nodded, a shy smile on her lips. “I can’t wait.” Her voice was airy, and there was a moment where I almost leaned in to kiss her. But the sound around us amplified and a bunch of other people came up and slapped me on the back, saying congrats and good game.
Serena stepped back and smiled. “I should probably go find my ride before she takes off. Penny decided to drive. Text me later?”
I stared into her blue eyes and couldn’t believe someone like her could like a stuttering, awkward guy like myself. “Will do.” What we were going to do was still a fuzzy concept, but I had some good direction. With a little help from Jake, I was sure it would be a date to remember, or at least I hoped it would.
She disappeared into the crowd, and I talked to a few other people before making my way to the parking lot, ready for a shower and bed.
I threw my bat bag in the back of my dad’s SUV and slid into the back seat, grinning at Daniel as I got in. “Thanks for coming, little brother.”
He held out his shirt, and for the first time, I actually read what it said. #1 Ben Fan.
“That’s an awesome shirt. Where did you get it?”
“Mom got it for me. But she said it took longer than she wanted.” Daniel bounced against his seat belt, trying to sing along with the song on the radio.
My mom turned in the passenger seat. “He saw it a few weeks ago, and we ordered it then. Something must have happened with the sellers because it got canceled and then just showed up yesterday. He’s been trying so hard to keep it a secret.” She turned her attention to Daniel, and I followed her gaze, ruffling his hair with my hand.
“At least you got to wear it for the last game of this tournament,” I said, sliding down in my seat.
“There were a lot of recruiters there, Ben. A lot of people said good things about you too,” my mom said.
I turned, curious what my dad’s opinion was. He’d been silent since I’d gotten into the car.
“Uh, thanks for coming, Dad.”
He nodded, looking both ways as he drove out of the lot. “Good game, son. It was fun to see you win the whole thing.”
I stared at the back of his head, wondering if my father had somehow been abducted by aliens. He’d never said something complimentary about my favorite sport, and I wasn’t sure what to say to that.
“Is there something going on between you and that girl?” He glanced into the rearview mirror, making eye contact for a few seconds before focusing on the road again.
I shrugged, my mood changing from shock to defense. “We’re good friends.”
“Keep it that way, son. You don’t want to ruin your future.”
My stomach dropped like a ten-pound weight. “What do you mean, ‘ruin my future’? Serena’s a good girl.”
“Isn’t she the daughter of Stephen Gates? I’ve heard things about her, and I think you should stay away.”
Ben knew Serena had a sort of reputation as a rebel, that she’d gone through numerous relationships within just the last year. But from everything he’d learned about her, she just needed someone to listen, to pay attention to her, to care about the things she cared about.
Anger surged. “She’s a good girl, Dad. She just needs someone to take the time for her. Her parents hardly come to support her in anything.” Like you, Dad, I wanted to say.
After that, the ride was silent except for Daniel’s karaoke. The more I thought about the conversation, I wanted to hit something, which was unlike me. My dad was just like Serena’s parents, only coming when it was convenient for him and not caring about my feelings.
I kept my mouth shut the rest of the drive, watching out the window to calm the irritation bubbling up because of him. I was going on a date with Serena Gates in two days, and he wasn’t going to interfere with that.
Sixteen
Serena
It had taken a while to get to sleep the night after the baseball game. I was more excited than ever for our date Monday, and I kept coming up with scenarios of what we’d do.
The more I thought about it, I’d never actually been asked out by anyone. Not on a real date, anyway. James had asked me to come chill at his house, hoping for a makeout session probably. That’s where I’d gone wrong. I’d picked the guys who would rather not talk. Now, I’d never been more relieved that kissing had been the only thing I’d done.
Ben’s text Monday afternoon said to dress comfortably, so I picked out a pair of Bermuda shorts and a tank top with sparkly beads. It was one of my mother’s creations, and I hoped to make it out of the house before she saw me wearing it. Otherwise, she’d hound me for the next two weeks when I walked around in exercise shorts and t-shirts.
I grabbed a jacket and headed downstairs, my heartbeat pumping in my throat.
The doorbell rang, and for once, I was glad my parents weren’t around for introductions, even though they’d met Ben the night he’d brought me home from therapy.
I opened the door and grinned. He was dressed in jeans and a button-up plaid shirt. It was the first time I’d ever seen him without a ballcap on and with his hair done. I was tempted to reach up and kiss him.
At the baseball game, we’d been so close when I hugged him, and I thought he was going to kiss me. I’d felt a little hurt when he didn’t, but then seeing all the people around us, I didn’t want to have an audience for a first kiss with him.
“You clean up well,” I said, stepping through the door and turning to lock the deadbolt.
When I turned around, Ben was smiling. “You look amazing.”
I did a littl
e curtsy and laughed. “Okay, Benny, where are we off to?” Using the nickname his brother called him caused him to pause, and I worried I’d said something wrong. But then the corners of his mouth turned up, and the air rushed back to my lungs.
I walked next to him for a few strides until we came to the several stairs to the driveway. Without warning, he grabbed my hand, his focus on something straight ahead, like it had taken all the courage he possessed to do it. He steadied me going down the stairs. John had let me out of the large boot at the last appointment, and I had relished that first drive in my little car.
“We’re going on a picnic.” He stole a glance at me and then focused back on the stairs.
“A picnic?” Surprised, I looked at him for more details. I must have been expecting something more than that.
His face fell a bit, and I tried to force some more enthusiasm. “That sounds like fun.”
He opened the door to a newer car than his truck. “Did you get a new car?”
Shaking his head, he chuckled. “I wish. My mom let me borrow hers.”
“I like it. Kind of sporty but still functional.” A lot more realistic than driving around in a Lamborghini like my dad.
“Yeah, she’s never been a minivan-driving soccer mom, so this has been her ride for the last eight years or so.”
“Before Daniel, huh?”
Ben turned to me, his eyes studying me before he shifted into drive. “How’d you know that?”
“I just guessed. Daniel is seven, right?”
He nodded and turned to reverse out of my driveway. “My dad bought my mom this car after the last IVF treatment failed. Six weeks later, she was pregnant with Daniel. I think she’s afraid to trade it in because of all it meant to her during that time.”
“I’ve been on the side of receiving a car to cheer me up, and while I want to say it didn’t help, it definitely did. And now that I can drive again, I have my freedom back.” Freedom from what, I wasn’t really sure. It wasn’t like my parents kept a tight grip on my day-to-day life.
Ben drove through several of the major streets, and we weren’t going in the direction of any parks.
“Are you sure we’re going on a picnic? Didn’t you just pass Pecan Park?” I pointed behind me, hoping he’d give me a little hint of where we were heading.
He flashed me a mischievous grin, and I frowned. I wasn’t always a fan of surprises, as it usually meant my parents were making up for lack of time spent with me—or having to do something uncomfortable like model for my mother’s clothing line. That one hadn’t gone over well. Aside from the outfit I was wearing now, my mother’s style was different from what most teens wore, and I had more curves than the average model she used for her shows.
Ben turned up the radio a bit, tapping his hands on the steering wheel. When he turned into the parking lot for the reservoir at the other end of Pecan Flatts, I looked between him and the water, curious as to what this could mean. Feeding seagulls?
He got out, and I followed, meeting him in front of the car. When he walked away from the vehicle, I was more confused than ever.
“Don’t you need food for a picnic?” I asked, waving my hand toward the car. If he was teasing about food, I was going to have to get my own food. My stomach had already grumbled more than it should have with it being so early.
“Nope,” Ben said, his eyes bright. It looked like he was trying to hold back a laugh, and I made a fist, punching him in the upper arm. “Ow, what was that for?” He still had humor in his expression.
I scrunched my nose in response. “For not telling me what’s going on. I don’t know what kind of girls you usually date, but this one likes to eat real food. Not stuff we pretend to have.”
That got a good chuckle out of him, and after a few more strides, we walked around the big building on the edge of the reservoir. He pointed in the direction of the water where a large boat sat.
He watched my face as I took it in. A picnic on a boat. That was definitely original. We walked up to it, and I recognized the colors and shape of the thing.
“Did you borrow Nate’s boat?”
“No, I’m not really sure why Nate had to show up. We’re actually farther down the dock.” Ben’s tone sounded more irritated than I’d ever heard, and I smiled. At least he had a few flaws here and there, because I’d been wondering whether or not he had some. Although, I’d noticed the perfectionist tendencies Penny had pointed out over the last week.
We kept walking hand in hand, a constant stream of what felt like electricity pulsing through them. A wave of relief washed over me. A picnic on a boat would have been way too romantic for a first date. I liked the guy, but I wasn’t planning marriage or anything.
A light breeze blew as we stepped onto the dock. It had been a couple of years since I’d been there, but nothing had changed. The same weathered wood for the ramp and the same small hills in the landscape.
A blanket had been laid out on the end of the dock, and a bag from what looked to be the local sandwich shop sat on top of it. I smiled and looked up at him. His eyes were wide as he wrung his hands in front of him.
“Looks like fun. Are those your fishing poles?” I asked, pointing to the rods leaned against the railing.
“Yeah, I thought we could fish. Something low-key.” He stuck his hands into this pants pockets and shrugged. His stare made me wonder if he was awaiting my approval. While the idea of fishing wasn’t in my top ten things to do, I figured I might as well give the guy a chance after he’d made the effort for all this.
“Okay, but just know I’ve never caught a fish before. If we don’t catch anything, I don’t want to hear any whining that it was my fault. Full disclosure.” I raised my hands in the air like I had nothing to hide, and he laughed that deep belly laugh again.
He motioned for me to sit down, and he knelt next to the bag, pulling out two half-sandwiches and two bags of chips. “We’ve got ham and American cheese or turkey and provolone. Which do you want?”
“Turkey. And I’ll take those barbecue chips,” I said, snagging the items from his hands. As I opened the sandwich, I asked, “Do you come here often?”
Ben shook his head, swallowing the bite he’d taken. “Not as much as I used to. Baseball takes up a lot of my time, and then when you add in the clinic it doesn’t leave a lot of time for other stuff. What about you? Do you work somewhere?”
I rolled my lips in, feeling the shame of not having a job. I’d been thinking about taking one lately, even though I didn’t need one with the allowance my parents gave me. With all my friends working and pure boredom at home, it might be a good idea.
“I don’t have one. I’ve been thinking about how you already know what you want to do with your life, going into physical therapy, and I wish I had some idea of what I wanted to do.” I looked down at my sandwich, feeling vulnerable and wishing I could go back and not say anything.
Ben shrugged, finishing a chip in his mouth. “Well, you don’t have to stick with what you’re doing right now. Sometimes you just need to try a few things out before you know what it is you like or are passionate about.” He turned his head, his eyes staring out at the water, a calm presence taking over him.
We chatted about little things for a while, and when we finished our meal, he stood, reaching for my hand. “Are you ready to fish?”
I forced a smile, not wanting to fish but also not wanting to offend him. “Sure.”
He handed me a pole and helped unhook the line so it wouldn’t be tangled. “Okay, how much fishing experience do you have?”
“Well, my grandpa took me once when I was five. I think I frustrated him with all my questions and whining, so he never took me again.” I’d started the sentence with a smile, but by the end, I wanted to run back to the car and drive home. Even my grandfather hadn’t wanted to spend more time with me.
I glanced up at Ben, wondering if he would feel the same way—if, once he got to know the real me, he’d leave or just avoid time with me at
all costs.
“Okay, so press this button,” he said, his thumb over mine on the release button. “Swing the hook back here like this and then throw it forward, releasing the button.” He was close to me now, his hands on my wrists, helping to guide the line out onto the water. For some reason safety coursed around me and all thoughts of my grandfather and parents left.
When everything was set, we sat at the edge of the dock, legs dangling in the water.
“Where’d you learn how to fish?” I asked, taking in Ben’s relaxed posture.
“My dad taught me when I was younger, back before he started his own law firm. He had a lot more time then, and he was more patient with my quirks. He’d bring me here when my anxiety would flare up.”
The fact that he was so open about it made me want to know more. “Do you still have problems with it?”
He bit his bottom lip, his eyes narrowing on the water. “I think it’s morphed into something different. I feel like I’m always having to prove to him that I’m a good son, or that my interests are important. And I think that drives me to work on things more, obsess over the little things. Just like the play. I didn’t necessarily have to go to it for my grades, but I wanted to go from a B+ to an A-, hoping it would please my father.”
“That seems like a lot,” was all I could think to say. I hadn’t tried to please my parents in at least five years, but that was probably because there was no use in actually trying. They weren’t home enough to even notice when I put in the effort.
“I try not to worry about it, but I think it’s something I’ll have to keep working on. It’s even worse when it comes to baseball just because my dad has no interest in it or thinks it’s a waste of time.”
I smiled, reaching over to touch his arm. “Well, I think you’re pretty amazing at it. If it’s something you want to pursue through college, why not? And then from there, you can decide if you want to be in the big leagues or not.” My smile grew wider, tears pricking at my eyes from the look of surprise on his face.
The Perfect Game: A Young Adult Romance (Rosemont High Baseball Book 2) Page 9
