Extra Innings

by Michelle Lynn

  “Fucking shit. Lay your hand on her again—” Brax’s voice is rising to the girl who now looks like she’s a minute away from crying.

  I rush over, pulling on his arm, and he easily comes with me while warning the girl with his eyes.

  The girl moves forward with her friend and walks off. Yeah, I committed that curly red hair to memory for next time.

  “I don’t envy you guys,” Ella says.

  Brax shoots her a shut-the-fuck-up look.

  “It’s not you; it’s the girls. Diamond girls are fierce and catty. Even if you were her best friend, she’d probably cut you for dating Brax.” Ella smiles, as though that should offer me comfort.

  “Okay, El, share time is over,” Brax says, his hands on my shoulders as his eyes travel down my body, double-checking that I haven’t started bleeding or a lump hasn’t formed in the last couple of minutes.

  “I’m just saying.”

  Ella seems sweet, but I agree with Brax; it’s time for her to stop talking.

  Brax pulls me into his arms and kisses the top of my head. It might be the first time he’s done a maneuver that won’t lead to him getting me undressed. It’s a sweet side, and I like it.

  “I’m meeting Crosby at the student center. You guys interested in joining?” Ella asks.

  Brax is quick to shake his head, his chin sliding side to side on the top of my head. “Nah, we’re going to celebrate.”

  Ella giggles. “Celebrate. Is that the new word for it?” Her hand rubs my back before she walks away.

  “I’m sorry,” he mumbles into my hair.

  I draw back. “For what?”

  “For catty bitches.” His hands plant on the sides of my face. “I’d like to say we’re done with them, but more than likely, we’re not.”

  I nod. “So, that would be on the con list of dating Braxton Brentwood?” I smile.

  He doesn’t. “Ainsley, I wish I came without baggage, but those girls seem to think they own me or have some kind of stake on me. Ones I’ve never even met. That is my baggage.”

  “It’s not like I’m coming with all sunshine and roses in my past.”

  The tips of his lips turn up.

  “They only get what they want when they get a reaction.”

  He nods.

  “And I’ve been protecting myself for a long time. I can handle them.”

  He nods again. “What if I like protecting you?” he half-whines.

  “If you protect me, they’ll only come after me more. I have to protect myself.”

  He nods. “Let’s agree to disagree.”

  I straighten my lips and stare him down.

  “Fine. We’ll play it by ear.”

  I shake my head. “You’re a lost cause.”

  “When it comes to you.”

  “Look at your sweet side coming out.”

  He shrugs, like it’s an everyday thing for him to behave so boyfriendish.

  “You want to hear the good news?” I tilt my head up, so I can meet his eyes.

  “You aced the test?” He doesn’t seem surprised.

  I cross my fingers and hold them up in the air. “I think so, thanks to my new tutor. He’s inventive in his tactics, but they seem to work.”

  “And you swore us off during the week.”

  He shakes his head, and I giggle.

  “You might just need to be my fixture every day of the week.”

  “Sign me up.” He swings his arm around me. “Now, let’s celebrate.”

  “What do you have in mind?” I waggle my eyebrows as he guides us in between the buildings and to his truck.

  “Surprises, sweet thing. Surprises.”

  It turns out, Brax’s idea of a surprise is bringing me to his practice. I thought it would be some playtime in his truck. Not that we didn’t have a heavy make-out session. But the burn between my legs was never extinguished. He said he played better when he was horny. Like there’s a time when he’s not.

  So, I’m sitting on a folding chair with Olivia at my right.

  “Hey, I haven’t seen Ariana lately?” she asks.

  My best friend—or really just a friend or more like an acquaintance now. Who seriously leaves their unconscious friend in the hands of a man she only knows as the baseball god of Ridgemont?

  “Well, she’s actually studying abroad right now, but I wasn’t really talking to her before she left.”

  Ariana didn’t seem to understand why I was mad the next day. And the more time I spent with Brax in the summer, the more upset she seemed to be. Eventually, our friendship just faded, and although I missed her at first, I realized I was better off.

  Then, came Delaney and her obsession for the baseball guys that rivaled Ariana’s tenfold.

  “Oh.” Olivia truly seems surprised by the fact that I lost my best friend.

  “Sometimes, you have to cut the ones who aren’t good for you, and Ariana wasn’t good for me.”

  My eyes fixate on Cade and Brax with two other catchers in the far right corner. They’re stretching up and down and then crouching from side to side. That burn that Brax ignited in me moves up a level. He catches my eye and winks.

  “Hey, I didn’t know you guys were going to be here.” Ella walks in with her messenger bag swung over her shoulder.

  “I was coerced,” I answer.

  She laughs, finding a seat on the other side of Olivia. “Hi, I’m Ella.”

  They shake hands.

  “Olivia.”

  “Olivia is my brother’s girlfriend,” I introduce.

  They smile at one another.

  “Another baseball girl. Will any of us learn?” Ella drops her bag to the floor, and Crosby runs out of the doors.

  “Babe?” He starts her way, and then she tosses his glove to him. “You’re the best.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  He winks, and a smile encompasses her entire face, one that would make the richest man jealous.

  She turns to us. “See what I mean? He leaves his glove in the truck, and lucky for him, I grabbed it.” A mischievous smile turns on her lips. “But I bet he was sweating in the locker room until he figured he’d come out here and ask me to go to his truck.”

  I laugh, and so does Olivia.

  “You’re mean,” Olivia says.

  Ella shrugs. “Or brilliant. Now, I look like the best girlfriend ever.” She nods to Crosby, who’s stretching while catching glimpses of her. She raises her hand in a small wave.

  “Ha-ha. I’ll have to remember that,” I chime in.

  She waves her hand in the air, as though she were shooing me away. “You’re in the early stages. He’s so hot for you that you being here is enough.”

  She turns her head to Brax, and Olivia and I follow to find him staring at me from the corner of his eye. After he sees us, he winks.

  “See?” Ella says.

  I don’t believe for a second that Crosby and Ella’s early stages are that far removed. Nor do I believe she needs to bring his glove in for him to think she’s the best girlfriend.

  “We’re having fun.” I lean back in my seat and stare on at the practice, which is really boring.

  Ella looks at Olivia. “So far today, they’ve ‘celebrated.’” She puts the last word in air quotes. “And they’re just ‘having fun.’” Again with the air quotes. “Sounds like someone doesn’t want to say ‘dating.’” She puts her hands up again with the air quotes.

  Olivia laughs like Ella is the guest star on Saturday Night Live. Ella’s awesome, but she’s making me question my hesitancy to calling Brax my boyfriend way more than I should.

  The practice is long, and other than seeing Brax’s ass in a squatting position, I’m not longing to go to another one. Right at the end of practice, a blonde rushes in and sits down next to Ella, like she didn’t make a spectacle of herself.

  “Jen,” Ella sighs.

  “Sorry.” The blonde pulls her hair back into a fist and waves her other hand on her neck.

  “Where are they?�
� Ella’s sweet side has a demanding one, and we’re witnessing it.

  “They’re in the hallway. What was I going to do? Drag them in here before it’s over?”

  I like Jen already. She doesn’t take any shit.

  “Okay.” Ella looks around, and then her eyes widen when she sees me. “You probably don’t know.”

  “Know what?” I ask warily. Please don’t tell me the blonde is Brax’s ex.

  “It’s Brax’s birthday.”

  14

  Ainsley

  My heart plummets into the darkness of my stomach. “I’m sorry, what?”

  Olivia’s eyes shoot to mine, and she cringes.

  “I’m so stupid. I should have said something.” Ella glances to Jen, who shrugs. “I guess I assumed you’d gotten to those details.”

  Sure, if we ever cared to discuss them. Brax might have said something in passing last summer, but if he told me his birthday was in February, I didn’t expect I’d be around.

  “Why don’t you take the cupcakes from the hallway, go into the locker room, strip down to your panties, frost your nips, and jump out when he comes in?” Jen smiles. She fits the bill of someone who would do that.

  “Jen,” Ella sighs, shaking her head.

  “Ainsley, I’m sure he doesn’t expect you to know.” Ella looks out to the guys, who are now in a huddle with the coach.

  “Nah, not egotistical, selfish Braxton Brentwood.” Jen shoots me a condescending smile. “Never.”

  “Jen,” Ella sighs again. Then, she focuses her attention on me. “Don’t mind her. She’s snarky because of our shortstop.”

  “Shortstop?” Olivia asks.

  I wonder if she understands Cade’s games when she goes.

  “Yeah, Tyler Saucedo. They dated.”

  “Dated?” Jen interjects. “We fucked, and I fell in love while he continued to test-drive pussies.” She crosses her arms. “And I wouldn’t be here with cupcakes if Brax wasn’t such a good friend.”

  I look her over without meaning to.

  “Relax, sweetie. Brax and I”—her nose scrunches—“never. We have more of a sibling relationship—hate and tolerance. It’s his birthday, so I’ll put myself in the same room with the dipshit Saucedo for a half hour.”

  “You know he’ll want to talk,” Ella says.

  Then, the whole conversation detours into another direction.

  “Doesn’t mean I want to.” Jen’s eyes focus forward, and a guy next to Crosby keeps glancing back.

  Ella shakes her head, while rolling her eyes. “I’m sure you’ll think of something to surprise Brax with.” She smiles, and her eyes twinkle a devilish gleam. “Come help me set up the cupcakes.”

  I follow her out the door and to the hallway. I have no idea how Jen got all these boxes in on her own. There are six boxes of cupcakes, two trays of cookies, and a balloon bouquet.

  Brax is loved by a lot of people.

  A few minutes later, we have the boxes open, and Ella pulls out a candle from one side. She places the double-chocolate cupcake with chocolate shavings on top of the plate and puts a candle in it.

  I’m watching her movements, and it triggers the realization that she knows Brax better than I do.

  “How long have you and Brax known one another?” I ask.

  She smiles over at me. “Since I fell in love with his best friend.” She raises her eyebrows. “Ainsley”—she walks over—“how close are you and Brax?”

  I think about it. He can get me to orgasm in two seconds, and I seem to give him the same reaction. We’ve briefly talked about him going to the pros and me becoming a doctor. I didn’t know his birthday, obviously, nor did I know that he must love chocolate, given the cupcake Ella picked out. I don’t know his favorite candy or song or music or movie. A light bulb flashes in my head. I know nothing about Braxton Brentwood. I’m no better than those girls who walk about campus like they own him. They’ve at least probably read some article where he listed all his favorites with his stats, like in the old Teen Beat magazines.

  “Relax,” Ella says, her hand warm on my arm. “Brax shelters himself. The three of us…” She pauses, swallowing, and her eyes look up and then back to me. “Brax should tell you, but we lost two close friends our senior year in high school. Since then, he’s kept everyone at arm’s length.”

  Brax is the outgoing one, the partier, the fun-loving guy.

  She must notice my confused expression until the reality dawns on me. Maybe the Braxton Brentwood everyone on this campus knows isn’t the true Braxton Brentwood.

  She nods, and her fingers squeeze around my arm. “Give him time. I only know these things about Brax because I knew him before.”

  Before I can question her further, thudding footsteps echo down the hallway, and soon, Crosby is pushing a blindfolded Brax into the room. He takes off the bandanna, and his eyes search me out. An unbelievable smile crosses his face, one that suggests it doesn’t matter if I know his favorite cupcake.

  “What?” he says, shaking his head with a pink tinge coloring his skin.

  I’ve never seen Brax look embarrassed.

  Crosby slides by him to Ella, and she hands him the lighter. All the guys, the high schoolers and the college team, file into the room. Crosby lights the cupcake, and Ella carries it to Brax.

  Everyone starts singing “Happy Birthday,” but Brax’s eyes don’t leave mine, making many of the guys check to see who has his attention.

  After we finish, he holds his hand out to me.

  Ella stands in front of him with the cupcake and lit candle. “Make a wish,” she says.

  He waves me over, and I reluctantly go to his side where he puts his arm around my waist, closes his eyes, and blows out the candle.

  The group claps, and he bows in gratitude.

  “Happy Birthday,” I whisper.

  He smiles that one that says, I know you didn’t know. “It’s just another day,” he says.

  I shake my head. “Your birthday isn’t another day. We need to celebrate you.”

  “Double chocolate.” Ella hands him his cupcake.

  “Thanks, El.” He leans down and kisses her cheek.

  She smiles, wrapping her arms around his neck. I take the cupcake from his hand, and he tightly pulls her into his body. Just as I’m about to get jealous, Crosby comes over and wraps his arms around them. It’s enough to make someone envious of their close relationship.

  “Happy Birthday.” Crosby takes his knuckles and rubs Brax’s head. “This is going to be a good year,” he says.

  Brax nods his head, but he says nothing.

  The three of them part, and Ella wipes her eyes, making Crosby pull her into his chest. Her fingers fist his T-shirt, and he whispers to her as he guides her out of the room.

  I’m so confused.

  Brax takes a deep breath and looks over at me, plastering on a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes.

  “What’s your favorite cupcake?” he asks, taking the double-chocolate one from my hand.

  “Um…I don’t know.”

  Truthfully, am I supposed to let what I just witnessed go?

  Fun. Right, we’re having fun.

  I’m not exactly forthcoming about my past, and Brax doesn’t have to share his with me. But why do I want to know why they cling to one another so badly, as though they’re all they have?

  “Well, Ella went crazy, as she always does.” A smile peaks up the corner of his lips.

  “You really like her,” I whisper, not really meaning what I think he’s assuming. It’s just…I’ve never witnessed a relationship as close as theirs without underlying feelings.

  He stops his movements and stares over at me. Saying nothing, I let him mentally process whatever he needs to.

  “She’s my best friend. She and Crosby.”

  I nod. “That’s nice.”

  I’m a tad jealous—that is, if I half-cared about a future with Brax.

  “So, cupcake? Your favorite?” Brax changes the subject, wh
ich I’m thankful for.

  “Vanilla,” I answer, pointing to the one with sprinkles.

  “Boring,” he jokes, taking it out of the box and placing it on a plate.

  “Brentwood!” one of the other players calls him over.

  Brax looks back and forth between them and me.

  “Go. It’s your day.” I nudge his shoulder.

  He looks down to me for a second. He shakes his head. “It’s not my day.”

  Without another word, he walks over to the group, and moments later, he’s laughing and joking.

  I lean on the wall, suddenly feeling completely out of place.

  Ella and Crosby sneak into the room, still melancholy. Her eyes are red and swollen, and she looks over at Brax, who’s now the life of the party with a permanent smile and the loudest voice in the room. Her eyes flick back to Crosby, who softly smiles, and they both nod. She snuggles into the hold of his arms.

  I wonder what the hell I’m missing because this seems like anything but a happy day.

  15

  Brax

  I’m a prick. A grade-A asshole prick who doesn’t deserve what he’s taking from Ainsley Winslow.

  I left her standing by that wall after I coerced her to come to practice in the first place. I had known Ella would plan something for my birthday, but I’d thought she’d wait until I got home.

  Ever since we came to college, she’s been planning elaborate ways to celebrate a day I don’t care to. She knows it, I know it, and Crosby now knows it, but still, there we were, in a room filled with people to celebrate my birthday.

  There was something in Ainsley’s eyes when I asked her about her favorite cupcake flavor. The simple question warranted a simple answer, but as she contemplated vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, or the other ten options, her eyes were questioning.

  Then, there was the guilt I felt for being close friends with Ella. I’m not making excuses for that closeness. I’ve dealt with questions about Ella since I started Ridgemont. People assume we’re those friends who secretly love each other. Crosby gets the uniqueness, but then again, he lived the nightmare of Noah and Kedsey’s death right along with us. More so than either Ella or me.