The Perfect Game: A Young Adult Romance (Rosemont High Baseball Book 2)

by Britney M. Mills

  After the coach’s closing remarks, I took off my cleats and ran inside to get my bag, knowing I needed to hurry back to Pecan Flatts. My stomach was tied up in a ball of anxiety about how I would find Serena. I just hoped she’d be able to forgive me for missing her party.

  Twenty-Nine

  Serena

  A text came through from Ben, but his words did nothing to comfort me. I was in a bad mood and had locked myself in one of the bedrooms in the basement of Kate’s house. I could still hear most of what was going on, but I needed a few minutes where I didn’t have to fake being happy.

  Ben had told me the camp ended in the afternoon. So why wasn’t he here? And why hadn’t he sent me a message earlier? I guess I had to be grateful nothing major had happened to him since I talked to him the other day, but that still didn’t take away the pain of betrayal running through me.

  Hot tears ran down my cheeks, and I was sure my heart was breaking.

  The hopeful side of me pulled up scenario after scenario of what could have happened to him, that he’d stayed longer because he was getting some kind of scholarship offer. But my rational side told me he’d forgotten about me, just like my parents had. The only messages I’d gotten all day were from Penny, Brynn, and Kate, and it hurt that the three who were supposed to support me the most, my parents and my boyfriend, hadn’t said a thing. Until this message from Ben anyway.

  I dried my eyes, knowing I needed to be grateful for the friends who were there no matter what, the ones who’d thrown me a surprise party. Walking out of the bedroom, I tipped my head back, trying to fake a smile. It was hard, but I would socialize because I was thankful for all they’d done.

  The party wasn’t huge, and I was glad of that. People played videogames on the nearly floor-to-ceiling television, danced to music, or just stood by the food table and ate.

  “What do you think?” Kate asked, grinning at me.

  I reached over and gave her a hug, holding a moment longer than normal. Hugs weren’t usually my thing, but it was more refreshing than ever, and I needed to draw some strength to make it through the rest of the night.

  “It’s awesome, Kate. Thank you,” I said, taking a step back.

  She gave me a pout. “I’m so sorry about Ben. Penny called to tell him about the party on Tuesday. Do you think he forgot?”

  I shook my head, lifting my phone in the air. “No, I got a text from him a few minutes ago. He was at baseball camp still.”

  “Really? I thought the camp ended this afternoon.”

  “You and me both.” I tasted the bitterness and scrunched my nose, trying to hold back another wave of tears. Crying in front of the whole room of people here for my birthday wasn’t something I wanted to dwell on for the next several years.

  Kate placed a hand on her hip and tilted her head to the side, searching my face for something. “What are you going to do?”

  I threw my hands up in the air. “I’m not sure yet. He’s been so weird the last couple of weeks, and I’m just not sure I can keep putting myself through this. I mean, I’ve already put up with at least ten years of my parents forgetting me and all the little events in my life. I don’t think I can do that for a third person.”

  Kate drew me back in with another hug and whispered, “You’ll figure it out. Just listen to his side of the story before you decide anything.”

  I nodded, wiping at my nose with the back of my hand. What I would’ve given to hit a volleyball right then.

  Thirty

  Ben

  It was nearly midnight when I got back to town, and I drove over to Serena’s house, hoping I could at least talk to her and make up for not being at the party. I’d stopped at a store right before closing and grabbed some flowers and a few of the snacks I knew she liked. They weren’t great, but I hoped it would buy me enough time to set up a makeup birthday dinner for tomorrow.

  The house was dark, and I looked for any signs of the family being home. I wasn’t sure if Serena parked in the garage or not, but I needed to try.

  Are you home? I’m outside.

  I hoped the emoji would help my cause. My heart beat in my ears as I stared at the screen.

  Just before it turned black, a message from her popped up. It’s late.

  What did that mean? Like, go away? Or that I was too late to say I was sorry?

  I know, but I brought you something. Can I just talk to you for a minute?

  Another long pause before she sent, You get one minute.

  My stomach dropped, knowing she must be angrier than I thought. I stepped out of the car with the flowers and the small bag of treats and walked up to the front door.

  The door cracked, and Serena slid out, pulling on a zip-up jacket. Her hair was in a high ponytail, and her eyes looked a little puffy, but the roof of the porch blocked the moonlight, making it difficult to see clearly.

  “I know I’m really late, and I’m sorry for missing your birthday tonight. The camp went longer, and then they announced there was a scrimmage game after. Did you, uh, did you have a good day?” I needed her to say something, to help me figure out how I could make it up to her.

  “It was all right. The party was kind of fun.” She paused, glancing down at her bare feet for a moment and then back up to me. “I just wish you’d been there.”

  Nodding, I said, “I know. Me too. I was trying to get here as soon as I could. I got you a couple of things and want to take you to dinner tomorrow. Are you free around six?” I stretched the flowers out to her in one hand and the treats in the other, smiling as wide as I could with the tension around us.

  Serena shook her head, her lips pressed together like she was about to cry. “I can’t, Ben. I don’t think I can do this right now.”

  “C-can’t do what?” My stutter was coming back at the worst time ever.

  “Us,” she said, pointing a finger and waving it between the two of us. “We have a lot going on, you with baseball and me with volleyball just starting up. Maybe it’s better if we just say we had a good run and leave it at that.”

  I took a step back as if her words had physically hit me. Was this just how she was? I know I hadn’t been the best boyfriend, but I wasn’t ready to end things.

  “I don’t want to be done, Serena.” My voice broke on her name, and I turned my head for a moment, looking out at the lawn while I tried to get it under control. “I think we’re really good together.”

  “Go home, Ben. I’ll see you at school.” She crossed her arms and turned back to the door, slipping inside without a backward glance.

  My limbs were paralyzed, and I stared at the door for longer than I can remember. School didn’t start for another two weeks. When I could finally move, I left the flowers and bag on the front porch and walked out to my truck.

  It had finally happened. I’d ruined our relationship by worrying so much about the things I thought I could control that I’d pushed Serena away. I’d let my need to prove my dad wrong drive the doubt she had about people not supporting her even deeper than when I’d first met her.

  For the first time, instead of wishing I had more time to practice my pitches, I wished for a way to go back and fix the things I’d messed up. Because moving on from Serena Gates didn’t seem possible right now.

  Thirty-One

  Serena

  “Are you ever going to smile again?” Penny asked, punching me lightly in the shoulder. The four of us were at Lou’s diner, and she’d sat down next to us on her break.

  It had been ten days since my surprise birthday party and breakup with Ben, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever be okay again. I hadn’t seen him since, but with school starting next week, I knew I was bound to.

  I’d been surprised when he’d shown up so late, and I wanted to talk to him about it, to tell him how much I’d wanted him to be there at the party. But when he tried to hand me the gifts he’d brought, it was like he was trying to buy back my affection, just like my parents. I was done with people who wouldn’t even put in the effort
to be with me.

  I gave Penny a fake smile and picked up a fry, slathering it in ketchup before sticking it in my mouth.

  “That doesn’t count, girl,” Brynn said, chucking a balled-up straw wrapper in my direction.

  “I’m fine, you guys. Or I will be. Eventually.”

  “Would you be happier if Ben were here?” Kate asked, her eyes pleading for some answer to solve the problem.

  I leaned my head back on the top of the booth and sighed. I’d told them all about what had happened after the party, and as much as I said I wanted to move on, they seemed to be having a harder time of letting go of Ben than I was.

  Or so I told myself.

  There were several times where something small would trigger a memory of Ben, and I pushed them out of my mind as fast as they came. It was easier than really feeling the betrayal.

  “I don’t think so, Kate. You guys are the only ones who actually listen and care about me. Who support me in my life. I just—I don’t want to end up with someone who thinks he can just bring me gifts to make up for not spending time with me, you know? And don’t say that it was one night, Brynn, because it started before that night. I want him to do well in baseball. I want him to succeed and get a scholarship because I still care about him. But I don’t want to go through the rollercoaster of emotions every time we’re supposed to do something and he has to get something perfect before we can hang out.”

  Penny wrapped her arm around my shoulder and gave me a side hug. “I can understand that.”

  The topic changed, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Ben was a good learning experience when it came to relationships.

  My parents had tried to make up for forgetting about my birthday on Friday with tickets to Europe over Christmas. As much as I’d always wanted to go there, I refused. I didn’t want huge gifts to sway my sympathy. I wanted time. Time spent doing things together. I just hoped they would figure that out before I left for college.

  The girls talked about Kate getting asked to homecoming already, and a pang of envy hit me that I wasn’t going. I mean, we hadn’t even started school yet and guys were fighting over her. I guess that was a perk, or a curse, of being the student body president. There would be other dances, and I just had to get past this last heartbreak before I could focus on all that. With volleyball in full swing, I had plenty to keep me occupied during the day. It was the night that was the hardest.

  Thirty-Two

  Ben

  I’d been a wreck the last two weeks. Having to dress up in slacks with a button-up shirt and tie to sit behind a desk all day was probably the most boring thing I’d ever done. When I got home, I’d spend the rest of my awake time outside throwing pitches against the net. I’d managed to throw enough balls in the right spots to help my brain somewhat, at least enough to make it through each day. Baseball would always be there, or at least for the next few years, even if Serena wouldn’t.

  And now I stood on the mound in the championship game of the biggest tournament of the summer, the excitement of my teammates coursing through me as we took on one of the top-ranked teams in the state.

  I’d made it through the first three innings without allowing anyone on base, thanks to a couple of key plays by Jake at short and a diving catch from Logan out in left. We were up to bat, waiting for a player on the other team to get checked out after a line drive to the knee.

  “Did you ask Penny to homecoming?” Colt asked, leaning on the top of the bar separating the dugout from the field. He was staring at Jake, and I turned, curious of the answer. Jake had a fear of dances since one of his good friends had died in a drunk-driving accident after prom eighteen months before.

  He shook his head. “I haven’t yet, but I’m going to. What about you guys? Are you asking anyone?” He looked at Colt and then me, raising an eyebrow in question.

  Colt grimaced. “I’ve been thinking about taking a girl from one of my classes last year. I kind of wish homecoming wasn’t so early this year. Two weeks after school starts isn’t enough time to get to know people.”

  I laughed at Colt’s look of frustration over something as simple as a date.

  “What about you, Clark? Are you going to ask Serena?” Jake stared at me, no hint of teasing in his tone or expression.

  “I can’t do that. She broke up with me. Wouldn’t that look clingy if I ask her now?”

  Jake slapped my shoulder. “No, if anything, maybe she’ll see how much you still like her.”

  “I don’t.” The lie tasted sour on my tongue, and I turned toward the field, watching as the trainer helped the second baseman stand.

  “Just keep telling yourself that, Ben.”

  We were out on the field after a fly ball hit by our first baseman, and I zoned in, digging down into all the practice sessions I’d had over the past couple of weeks.

  Pitch after pitch aimed at the right spots, and I was on my way to a career high number of strikeouts. With two outs in the seventh inning, I breathed deeply, trying to let go of the pressure. I hadn’t let anyone get a hit the whole game, and I just needed to finish it off now.

  The batter fouled off the first two pitches. I threw the next pitch just off the plate for a ball. As Dax gave me the sign for a slider to the outside, I took in a deep breath and threw. Time slowed down, and the ball seemed to inch toward the plate. The batter leaned over and swung, missing low. I waited to see if Dax still held on to the ball, meaning it was the third and final out of the inning and of the game.

  My teammates rushed to the mound, piling on top of me and yelling.

  “Dude! A perfect game! You threw a perfect game!” Jake was yelling right into my ear.

  I finally made it out of the pack, excited about the achievement that few pitchers record.

  As we waited for the awards to be given, I stood on the third baseline, staring into the crowd. I saw my mom and dad, with Daniel clapping right next to them. My mom looked like she was crying, and for once, my dad’s smile in my direction looked genuine. But the one person I wanted there, sitting next to my family and cheering me on, wasn’t.

  “What’s wrong, man?” Dax asked out of the corner of his mouth. “You were lights out. I bet you’ll remember this forever. I know I will.”

  I glanced over at him before turning my eyes back to the announcer, trying to figure out what to say. With a nod, I forced a smile. “I’m just…” I let the words trail off, still unsure of how to phrase it. This was one of the moments I’d worked so hard for, to achieve something like this, and yet, it still didn’t feel like enough.

  After all the hours of practicing, all the time spent thinking about how to get better and what drills I needed to do, all to get to this moment. It didn’t have the same thrill I thought it would, and the disappointment was so strong, making it hard to breathe.

  But as I raised my gaze to look back into the stands, the weight of the quest for perfection pressed down even more. I’d given up a job I excelled at and a girl I loved to chase this dream, and now I understood how much I’d lost because of it. And it needed to change.

  There was no way I would ever be able to live up to my dad’s legacy of valedictorian and all the other things he’d accomplished in his life, but I didn’t want that. I wanted to go back to playing the sport I loved but in a way that didn’t consume all my free time. I missed working at the clinic. Sitting behind a desk for the rest of my life was not something I could do day after day.

  And I wanted to get Serena back, needed to get her back and tell her that I’d been an idiot to think that perfection was the only way she’d accept the real me.

  “You miss her.”

  “Huh?” I turned to look at him.

  The corners of Dax’s lips twitched upward as he focused on the reporters. My buddy wasn’t one I’d felt comfortable talking to about my relationship with Serena. He’d always seemed more like a big goof that avoided responsibilities of any kind, especially when it came to girls. “You’ve seemed off since the two of you broke u
p. I never thought I’d say this to anyone, but I think you need to get her back, man.”

  I chuckled softly as they started giving awards at the beginning of the line for our team. “When did you get so sentimental?”

  He folded his arms, trying to puff his chest out to look more masculine. “Believe it or not, the Daxinator can change. Maybe I envy you for all you’ve gone through with this girl, how you got over your stutter and asked her out.”

  “You’re saying if I get back together with Serena, you’ll get the guts to ask out a girl? Don’t you go out with girls all the time?”

  He shrugged and opened his mouth to say something, when the presenter handed each of us a small medal. I stared at the engraving on the back. First Place. I’d need a lot more than a medal to win back Serena, but for the first time in almost two weeks, I grinned. I’d channel the need for perfection into a plan that would win her back.

  Thirty-Three

  Serena

  “I go! I go!” I called out, running to get under the ball. I set the ball behind me, the perfect shot for Sasha to slam it down onto the court. We were playing our first home game of the season on the second day of school, and while the gym was never packed like a guy’s basketball game, it seemed like more people were there than usual.

  We’d lost the first game of the night, but this second one we were playing together better.

  We rotated around the court, getting into position as Courtney served the ball. It zipped over the net and landed in the middle of three players. I clapped and cheered, checking the scoreboard.

  Game point.

  Courtney served again, the ball moving faster than the girl on the other side was prepared for, and a pass came back on our side. Sasha passed it to me, and I was ready to send it back, when I spotted a hole out of the corner of my eye. Doing my best to fake it to my teammate, I tipped the ball over, landing it just behind the blockers.