The guys are about to head out to warm up and I’m standing just between the player-only area where the locker room is and the field.
“I have a little surprise for you.”
“Oh yeah?” His excitement is clear—the guy loves surprises and big gestures, he’s a total hopeless romantic. And he’s turning me into one.
Grabbing his hand, I pull him one step onto the field and point to the Valley section. Blair and the rest of the Chi O girls stand when they see us and lift their signs and scream.
“Holy shit, we’ve got a cheering section.” Travis smiles as he takes the field. The rest of the guys jog out behind him and I swear their chests lift a little more when they see their new fan club.
“You got a sign for me?”
“You’ll just have to wait and see.” I lean in and kiss him. “Good luck.”
“I don’t need luck when I’ve got you cheering for me.” He winks and the whole thing should make me want to gag, but it doesn’t, which is just another sign I’ve completely fallen for him.
“Hey, wait,” I call as he starts to run out to join his team.
He comes back without hesitation and kisses me hard. I get lost in his possessive hold on my hip and the feel of his lips smashing into mine. It isn’t until he’s racing off again that I remember why I called him back in the first place.
“Number twenty-two.” He looks over his shoulder and I get nervous and say something entirely different from what I planned. “Nice ass.”
He shakes his head, winks, and continues out onto the field.
I make my way to the girls sitting in the stands as the guy’s head to the dugout.
“V, this sign is…” Blair looks it over with brows furrowed and then up to me and that look of horror for my ugly artwork turns to optimism and admiration. The kind of artwork only a mother could love—or in this case, an incredibly supportive friend. “Well, it’s clear you worked very hard on it.”
“I think it’s perfect.” I hold it up where it can be read from the field and wait for Mario to look my way. Doesn’t take long before he steals a glance my direction and I lift it over my head as I scream the words (in case he can’t read the damn thing because it really is that bad), “You’re MY Hero #22!”
“I swear, I never thought I’d see the day.” Blair’s smug smile mocks me as we sit and wait for the game to start.
Rolling my eyes, I sit back and play it cool like I have no clue what she’s talking about. “See the day that what?”
“That you fell in love with a college guy.”
I place the sign at my feet.
“Not even going to deny it, are you?”
“Watch the game, brat.”
You’d think it’d be hard to get excited about Mario’s team winning since both teams are Valley, but you’d be wrong. Very, very wrong.
I’ve never cheered so hard for anything in my entire life. And my man plays well, so there’s a lot to cheer for.
“Are you coming?” I ask Blair as we stand with the rest of the girls, gathering our signs. The boys are having people over to the baseball house to celebrate.
She shakes her head. “No, I think I’ve had all the excitement I can handle for one night. My ears are ringing from you screaming next to me for the past two hours.”
“Not even for a little while?” I whine, hating the thought of her going back to our room alone. I’ve been staying at Mario’s quite a bit lately and the image of her sitting in there by herself with no one to talk to makes me incredibly sad. Not that she wants to talk about it even when I am around. She’s dealing with it in her own way, and I get that.
“Go. Have fun with your man.”
“You’re okay? Really? You’d tell me? Because you’re still my number one. If you need me, I’m always here. You know that, right?”
“I do.” She tilts her head to the side and that big, optimistic Blair smile soothes my worry. She’s going to be all right.
By the time Mario and I get to the baseball house, the small living room is packed.
“Be right back. I’m gonna take my stuff to my room,” Mario says as he drops a kiss to my shoulder. His freshly showered wet hair tickles my skin.
He races up the stairs and I head toward the kitchen to grab a drink.
“Hey, V,” Travis calls as I approach. He lifts a red cup in salute and takes a drink before asking, “Can I get you a drink?”
“Got any Sprite Zero?”
His lips twitch at the corners and he lifts a two liter that has VANESSA written in big black Sharpie letters. “Mario’s got you covered.”
A puff of laughter escapes. “He’s so…”
“Nice? Amazing? Considerate?”
“All of those.”
“Ya know, it’s a trait of the sport. We’re all really amazing guys.”
Clark, one of the freshmen on the team, picks this moment to join us in the kitchen, grab a beer, nudge Travis, and say, “Dude, you gotta see the rack on this chick outside.” He makes a gesture with both hands like we need a visual and hustles back out.
“Charming,” I tell Travis.
He shrugs and gives me a sheepish smile as he follows two steps behind Clark.
Familiar arms wrap around my waist and Mario’s head ducks to my neck where he drops a kiss. “Who’s charming?”
I turn in his embrace to face him. “None of your teammates.”
“They’re good guys deep down.”
“Real deep.” I motion with my head to the array of liquor bottles and beer. “Want a drink?”
“Maybe later.” He pulls me behind him through the living room. He gets stopped every couple of seconds by people saying hi or telling him good game. He takes it all in with a humble smile and a genuine thanks. So damn likable.
The porch wraps around the side of the house and he follows it to a quiet corner and backs me into it. His hands frame my face, holding me in place as his lips take mine possessively. I melt into him, running my hands over his shoulders and down his arms, enjoying every muscle and ridge and the warmth of his skin under my touch. My body screams for more when he’s close, my heart demands it.
With a final chaste kiss, he pulls back, leaning his forehead against mine. “If I tell you that I love you, are you going to freak out?”
Panic courses through me—not because he loves me but because I think I love him too. I nod. “Definitely.” He rubs my shoulder absently and tenderly. I stare up at him, chest expanding and heart growing three times bigger like the freaking Grinch. “Aren’t you scared?”
Translation: why the hell aren’t you freaking out like me?
“Absolutely terrified,” he says with an earnest chuckle that relaxes me.
“It’s probably doomed to fail,” I say jokingly.
“Probably.” He steps back and extends his hand. Neither of us mean it, but there’s something oddly reassuring about speaking your fears and accepting that whatever happens, it’s worth the risk anyway.
“Be my date tonight, anyway?”
I slip my hand into his. “Definitely.”
THE END
* * *
I hope you enjoyed Mario and Vanessa. They continue to pop up throughout the rest of the Smart Jocks series and you can read Blair’s story in The Assist!
Also From Rebecca Jenshak
Smart Jocks Series
The Catch (Mario & Vanessa)
https://smarturl.it/j6decy
The Assist (Wes & Blair)
https://smarturl.it/3ocpdk
The Fadeaway (Joel & Katrina)
https://smarturl.it/m41ilf
The Tip-Off (Zeke & Gabby)
https://smarturl.it/uxh61s
The Fake (Nathan & Chloe)
https://smarturl.it/21kbsk
Campus Nights Series
Secret Puck (Heath & Ginny)
https://smarturl.it/7ne0er
* * *
Standalones
Sweet Spot (Lincoln & Keira)
https:
//smarturl.it/m5he8y
Electric Blue Love (Court & Bianca)
https://smarturl.it/48c20z
Jilted Jock (Finn & Adele)
https://smarturl.it/71u8rd
If Not For Love (Brecken & January)
https://smarturl.it/ibecvz
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much to the following people for their help with this book: Anelise, Becca, Ellie, Kara, Meaghan, and Rochelle.
And to all my awesome readers – this is the best job in the whole world because of you.
The Catch (Smart Jocks #0.5) Page 6
