I focused on his words and realized I’d been standing like a statue for several awkward seconds. “Right this way.”
We walked over to the large gray bins we used to collect the dirty dishes. “Take this,” I said, tugging one of them free from the stack. “You’ll also need a rag to wipe off the tables after you clear them.”
Outside the kitchen, I pointed to two tables next to each other littered with several plates, glasses, and napkins. “Go ahead and clear all those dishes into the buckets and then wipe the tables off. I’ll go check on my tables and be back to show you how to wash the dishes.”
He stared at the tables as if in disbelief that this was how his afternoon would end. I left him there, seeing several glasses that needed to be refilled and several small requests from the customers. Once I’d caught up, I walked into the kitchen to find two heaping gray buckets of dishes sitting next to the large sink.
Jake stared at me, a slight hint of a smile on his lips.
This was not good. I’d managed to avoid him for the three and a half years since he’d betrayed me, and now just being around him was cracking the shell I’d built around myself when it came to him.
I pulled several of the dishes out of the bin, setting them in the bottom of the sink. “Put all the paper napkins, straws, and straw papers in the garbage,” I said, grabbing several of the items and turning to drop them in the large black can behind me. Resuming my position, I pulled a scrubber from behind the faucet and turned the water nearly to hot. “Then just make sure to scrub these as best you can before placing them in the dishwasher.”
“Why bother to wash them first?” he asked, taking the scrubber from me.
“Because this thing is ancient,” I said, tapping on the washer, “and when it goes down, you’ll have to wash and dry everything by hand to make sure it’s all sanitized. It’s really no fun; I promise.”
His face softened, and I turned away, feeling the intensity of his gaze. “How long have you worked here?”
I turned back, surprised by the question. Instead of some sarcastic retort, I went with the truth. “Since the week after my mom left. I knew Dad wasn’t going to be able to pay for all the extra activities when he had the mortgage and food to worry about.” My throat felt tight, talking about something so candidly with the one person I should’ve been able to rely on this whole time.
He touched my forearm, the wetness from his fingers sinking into my skin and the warmth there causing my stomach to flip. “I’m sorry, Pen. I’m sure it’s been hard without her.”
Raising my chin an inch or two, I shook my head. “We’ve managed just fine. If my mother preferred the lavish lifestyle and a new family, we’re better off without her.” My heart knew I was lying as much as my brain tried to convince it otherwise.
Jake opened his mouth to reply, but Sara came in saying that one of my tables needed something. I nodded at Jake and left the kitchen, feeling more vulnerable than I had in months, years even. How was I going to work with him and keep my focus on the future rather than dwelling in the past?
I’d just have to make sure I kept my eyes on the prize: a scholarship to anywhere but here.
Chapter 10
Jake
It took several minutes for my hands to adjust to the stinging hot water. But it somehow didn’t compare to the feeling I’d had while I watched the emotions on Penny’s face as she talked about her mother’s betrayal. No doubt she felt the same about me, and the thought caused my stomach to sour. I’d messed up big time when it came to her. But would she ever accept my reason for turning my back on her in her time of need?
I didn’t get a chance to think on it too long as the other waitress came in and said there were four other tables that needed to be cleared as soon as possible. I walked out with my gray bucket and saw several people sitting and waiting near the entrance to the diner. I thought about dropping the bucket and making my way out of there, but Penny would probably have to clean up the mess, and then where would I be at getting her forgiveness?
But why did I suddenly want her to forgive me? I thought through it as I got to work on the tables, but I didn’t come to any firm conclusions.
It took nearly ten minutes to clear everything and wipe it down, having to retrieve more gray buckets a few times to hold all the dishware. By the time I was done, I sighed, knowing I still had a lot to do on the other end.
I passed Penny a few times, and the lightness in her voice, her laugh even, made me long for those simpler times when we would hang out in the treehouse in my backyard or play catch for an hour or two. Even as I listened to her joke with the customers, something pinged around in my chest, making me feel the guilt even deeper. I’d screwed things up back then, but maybe there was time to fix it.
I’d loaded several batches of dishes through the washer and was surprised when Penny came into the kitchen and stood near me.
“How’s it going? Looks like you’re getting the hang of it.” There were no traces of the sarcasm I’d been met with for the past two days.
“I’m surviving. It’s actually not too bad, and I kind of like it.” The words surprised even me, as I’d been able to escape life so far without a job of any sort. I thought back to her retort yesterday when I’d mentioned needing a new car.
Penny folded her arms across her chest, her expression bordering on triumphant. “It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it, right?”
I dipped my head, raising an eyebrow as I asked, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just that. You have so many talents if you’d just apply yourself. One of your friends said you aren’t planning on going to college.” There was no trace of sarcasm in her voice, only a hint of disappointment. Much like my own mother’s opinions.
“I never said that. But maybe college isn’t the route I’m meant to take.”
Reaching her hand out to emphasize her words, Penny said, “Right, Jake. Just give up like you do everything else.”
Something about her words burned me, and anger rushed to the surface, heating me all the way to the tips of my ears. Doing my best to keep my voice even, I said, “Just because things got a little complicated in my life doesn’t mean I give up on everything. Look at baseball. I’ll still be on the all-state team no matter what happens.” I omitted the state of my grades as I didn’t want another emotional kick to the gut. My coach had mentioned something about getting my grades up or I would be on the bench more than on the field. But I couldn’t let Penny’s words get to me.
“Is that all you want? Because you have the talent, and the arrogance, to go much further than that. The way you swing the bat, scouts would be killing themselves for you to play in the higher leagues.” She licked her lips, which drew my eyes to them. They looked so full and pink. If someone had told me a week ago that I’d be thinking about kissing Penny right now, I’d have thought they’d lost a few screws.
I shook my head and went back to the dishes, her words playing on a loop in my mind. “I’m not cut out for the majors.”
She sighed, and when I looked over, I saw her eyes roll. “Right. If you’d just try, you might surprise yourself.”
I couldn’t tell her that the thought of being too far from home for an extended amount of time caused such a fear to grow inside me that it left me almost paralyzed. Leaving my mother and twin sisters alone with my father when he came home from one of his drunken binges was not something I could consider. I’d had too many nightmares that he’d hurt them beyond repair.
After a few minutes of silence, her voice came out a bit softer. “How’s Nate? Did he come to practice today?”
I reflected on seeing Nate at lunch, and the same wave of guilt flooded me as it did then. Nate had been good-natured about it, with bandages covering part of his forehead and down the side of his face where the stitches were. He’d been told to take a week off from any physical activity, but if everything looked good, he’d be able to play in the home opener. I was alread
y suspended from that game, and the only reason I hadn’t been kicked off completely is because Nate and the other guys vouched for me. At least Nate didn’t hold a grudge.
“He’s good.” I watched her expression, curious if Nate could be her mystery crush. I shrugged off that idea as I remembered a conversation with Penny in the treehouse out back about how she would never be in a relationship with someone younger than her.
Deciding to explore the subject, I asked, “What about you? Are you seeing anyone? Have a crush on someone special?”
Her cheeks flared red, and she bit the side of her lip as her eyebrows cinched together. “No. To all of the above.” She turned and grabbed several plates from under the warmer, setting them on the large brown serving tray.
I couldn’t let it go. “But what about your notebook? It seems you have a crush on someone.”
With her eyes closed and her face tipped toward the kitchen ceiling, she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Just leave it be, all right? That’s ancient history.”
I took a few steps toward her, wiping my wet hands on my apron. “So, it’s true. The tomboy has a crush.”
“Had a crush,” she said harshly, baring her teeth at me. “He isn’t worth my time anymore.”
Without another word, she picked up the tray and turned to the door, not glancing back once.
I’d hit a nerve, which only caused my curiosity to grow even more. I’d have to watch her at school and see if there was anyone she paid particular attention to. The fleeting thought that I wished it was me caused me to chuckle out loud. She’d always been the tomboy next door, the girl I could talk to about anything until my family’s problems escalated to the point where I couldn’t have anyone over when my father was in town.
But the memory of her lips drew me in, and I went back to the dishes. There was no way she could like me, not with how badly I’d hurt her back in middle school. But there was a whole school full of options for her. I’d just have to see which guy drew her interest.
Chapter 11
Penny
That week and the next passed with little fanfare, and I was ready for our first game against a team from the next town over. Coach Ambrose had been working us hard, and as much as I loved to hone my skills and reach the crazy goals I’d set for myself, I was sick of running like a track star.
Walking out to the field, I caught sight of Jake on his field taking grounders from his coach. It had been a while since I’d seen him put in the extra effort, even with the thing he loved the most. Maybe my conversation about him going further than one more year in high school had had some effect on him.
I continued in the direction of the softball field, my thoughts running from one thing to the next. Jake had surprised me with his work at the diner. He’d always been the one to let everyone else do all the work, but he actually stuck with it through the shifts I’d trained him without complaint.
He hadn’t given up his quest to figure out who I had a crush on, though, and that was the most frustrating part. He was a dog going after a buried bone, and I knew that any conversation over two minutes would eventually move into that territory. Even at school, he’d taken to saying hello and walking with me to the classes we had close to each other.
The thirteen-year-old me would have been ecstatic to have him there, even romanticizing the walks as though he returned the crush. But I’d been jaded for too long when it came to him, and I had to stop myself from thinking there could ever be anything between us. Even if the little voice in my head still held out hope.
It took two batters to get my head in the game, but I only gave up one hit and we got the win. The team’s goal was to take the state championship, and in Texas, that was something to aspire to with all the teams that worked for the same opportunity. Each win would help.
Derrick had come to the game, saving a spot for my dad, and each time I heard them cheering, it fueled me to do better, pitch faster and hit harder. I didn’t notice Jake standing behind the outfield fence until after the Varsity game ended and the JV team was warming up. I had to go shag the balls for the JV girls and turned to see him smiling at me only a few feet away.
“Done with practice so soon?” I asked. When he grinned, I nodded, turning back at the sound of a ping off the bat and scooping up the ball that rolled in my direction. This was the first time the baseball coach had let them out at a normal time since that first day of tryouts.
“Coach Maddox figured we could use the rest after yesterday’s win. Nice game today.” He pointed to the pitcher’s mound where I’d been playing several minutes before.
I looked down, dragging my cleat along in the dirt of the warning track. “Uh, thanks. It felt good to get that first game over with.” For that moment, I felt like I’d been sent back in time and had my best friend back.
“One suggestion,” he said, pausing to see what I’d say. And there went the good feelings just as fast as they’d come.
My gaze moved to his face, trying to decide if I wanted his advice or not. I finally nodded, and he said, “I can see your change-up from here. You need to mask it a bit more. Make it not as noticeable to the other team.”
I frowned, knowing I shouldn’t have let him say a thing. “What are you talking about? I struck out at least five girls on it.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Same old Penny. Getting defensive when I try to point things out. You fidget an extra couple of seconds and then show your grip of the ball to the world before you start rotating your arm around.”
I bit my tongue, reflecting on a few of the instances I’d thrown the slower speed pitch throughout the game. He was probably right. He’d always been right about things like that, able to pick up on the littlest things just by seeing them once.
“You might be right about a few of them, but you weren’t here the whole game,” I said, my defenses rising.
“I’ve been here since the third inning. I told you Coach let us out extra early today.” He rested his arms atop the chain-link fence and gave me a half-smile, the one that seemed to add a few more cracks into the wall I’d built against him.
“Why would you come to a game and stay that long? I’m surprised you don’t have some girl hanging off your arm, waiting for you to make out with her in public.” It was petty and childish, but I’d seen him locking lips with a fair share of the girls at our school.
Something passed over his eyes, and I couldn’t tell if it was anger or hurt, but it was gone soon enough, leaving the cocky Jake behind.
“Most girls don’t want to watch other girls playing a sport.”
“Oh, and you do?” I asked, walking toward him, hoping my voice sounded more like the challenge I wanted it to be rather than the warble I heard in my ears.
“Davis, get in here! We’re about to start the game!” Coach Ambrose’s voice broke the tension I felt as I stared into Jake’s dark brown eyes.
I turned and ran back to the dugout, trying not to think about him watching me. Once I stopped, I couldn’t tell if my heart was beating so quickly because of the short jog or because of the brown eyes still burned into my mind. I tried not to look in his direction, but it was like a magnet kept pulling me that way. He’d moved to the stands, and after talking to a few of the spectators, he walked up the road that led back to the parking lot.
Jake White was an anomaly, and if I wasn’t careful, I’d be crushed just as much as when he left the first time.
Chapter 12
Jake
The rest of the guys called me crazy for wanting to stay and watch the softball game after practice. Sure, I had a million other things to do before working at the diner that night. It was the first night Penny wasn’t working the same shift, and I felt the draw to see her.
When I mentioned the one negative I noticed in her pitching, I’d neglected to tell her how much she’d improved over the past few years. Her speed and precision with each pitch was something I marveled at, knowing where she’d started when we were kids. And li
ke the fiery girl she was, she was offended for a few seconds before silently agreeing with me.
It had always been like that. She’d get mad when I told her she needed to fix something, saying it was good enough. But then she’d focus on it almost to obsession until it was perfect.
I considered that while walking back to the Jeep. As I thought about our conversation that first night at the diner, I realized she’d been doing the same thing for me. Telling me to step it up, that I was better than just a kid who played baseball in high school but didn’t go further.
I was only a junior. I still had time to think about all that, but I’d spent so much of the past three and a half years knowing I couldn’t go far from the house that I’d pretty much crossed off college from my list of future opportunities. My mom was fragile from the last time my father had hit her, and I didn’t want it to escalate.
Penny’s curiosity about the girls I hung out with told me she cared, at least a little bit. So she hadn’t been completely blocking me out all this time like I thought she had. There were so many layers to that girl, and I seemed to like each one even more than I had when we were younger.
“Jake, I didn’t expect to see you here still.” Coach Maddox’s voice caused me to come back to the present.
I lifted my head and smiled. Pointing a thumb behind me, I said, “I just stopped by to watch the girls’ game for a few minutes.”
“I hear their pitcher is pretty good this year. Coach Ambrose was talking about some of the contacts she was working to come and check her out this season. It would be good to have a few kids head off to college in the next few years. Yourself included, Jake.” Coach Maddox gave me the typical look a person of authority does when you aren’t quite meeting your potential.
“A few people have mentioned that lately. We’ll see. I’d need to work on my grades a bit for that.”
The Perfect Play: A Boy Next Door Young Adult Romance (Rosemont High Baseball Book 1) Page 5
