23. Ellis

CHAPTER 23

ELLIS

"A what?!"

"A double date. We can make it a triple date though, if you change your mind about coming with us." Elliot looks at me hopefully, waiting for me to do more than gape at him. He's desperate to know who it is I've been sneaking around with. His current bets are all on Sean, because he assumes correctly that I'd be into the big, athletic type. But since I won't tell him, he keeps teasing about setting me up with his friend from the baseball team. "I could invite Tripp," he taunts, waggling his eyebrows. I think he'd like to see me date his teammate, but I also think he enjoys how annoyed Gabe gets when he brings it up. He has no idea just how much Gabe hates Tripp or why, he just thinks it's funny.

I'm having a harder time than usual to find his teasing humorous, though, because I can relate. Jealousy, hot and thick, bubbles up my throat like bile.

"Don't look at me like that. You're the one that's bailing on me on our birthday. We always do something together."

"I already have plans," I remind him. "But you're welcome to come with us after your date," I add, not wanting to be a complete jerk .

Elliot wrinkles his nose. "Not really my scene. Clubs, I mean. Not because it's gay." I wave him off, because I already knew that and didn't expect him to want to go.

"Who is Gabe bringing?" I blurt.

"I don't know, actually. Some girl from his chem lab, I think? Might be on the gymnastics team? Maybe cheerleading? I can't remember. You know how he is." Oh, hell no.

Elliot keeps talking, completely oblivious to my shitty mood. He's excited for his girlfriend to visit. Their spring breaks didn't match up, but it ended up working out for the best, because he could go visit her, and now she can visit him. Blah blah blah. I don't give a damn. Ashleigh is nice and all, but I'm not invested in who my brother is dating. I am, however, very invested in who Gabe thinks he's dating.

Ellis: What's this I hear about a double date next weekend?

Gabe: Don't start. You know I don't have a choice.

Ellis: Who is she?

Gabe: Don't.

Ellis: …

Gabe: It's just a cover. What am I supposed to do?

Ellis: Tell him no. That you don't want to go.

Gabe: I tried that. He's excited, has this whole thing planned out. You know how he can be.

Elliot can be single-minded. He's my twin, I know exactly how he can be. But I also know that Gabe is a stubborn motherfucker when he wants to be, so why is he going along with this?

Gabe: I was worried he'd be suspicious.

Ellis: Well, it's going to be real suspicious when all your nice clothes are torn in half.

Gabe: Don't be like this.

Ellis: Don't be like what?

Ellis: Maybe I'll take him up on his offer to invite Tripp.

Gabe: You wouldn't.

He's right that I won't. I'm not going to risk leading Tripp on. He's a nice guy, he really is. But he's a bit clingy. We were texting for a while, just being friendly, but Gabe keeps catching him watching me at games. Which, I thought he was just being his possessive caveman self, but once I started paying more attention, I noticed too. Now Tripp smiles at me every time I catch him looking, and I keep having to remind Gabe how suspicious it would be if he, and I quote, ‘ gouged out his eyeballs and shoved them up his ass ,' for no reason.

So no, I'm not about to invite Tripp on this date. But that doesn't mean I won't let Gabe stew.

Tripp accepts the batting helmet I hand him, taking his place on deck and warming up with a couple of practice swings. It absolutely doesn't escape my notice how he's attempting to show off, giving me a wink after he whips the bat through the air a few times. I want to roll my eyes, but Gabe is close by, taking his own violent practice swings while he waits for the other team's catcher to come back from the pitcher's moun d. The bases are loaded, and there are two strikes on the board. The game is tied, and there's only one inning left, so Gabe's at bat could either make or break the game. He's one of our best batters, and they know it. It doesn't occur to me to be worried over whether we'll be several runs ahead by the end of his turn.

I'm not exactly flirting with Tripp, but anything other than ignoring him is considered attention in both his and Gabe's eyes. Gabe's been playing sloppy today, too concerned with watching every interaction between me and his teammate. Coach already had to pull him to the side and tell him to get his head out of his ass and in the game. When he marched up to the plate, the opposing team backed up, expecting him to unload whatever anger he's holding onto the first good pitch. The tension in his shoulders as he readies himself for what will probably be a busted ball sent far over the back wall is sexy as fuck. I should tease him more often.

Elliot's girlfriend cheers for Gabe in the stands, and the girl sitting next to her claps and cheers alongside her. The two of them lower their heads together to giggle about something, and I glare daggers at them. Krysta and Ashleigh get along really well, so that gives her a reason to be around all the time. It's bad enough that Gabe and I have barely been able to catch any quiet, stolen moments while Ashleigh is here, but we can't even get a moment alone. You'd think Elliot and his girlfriend would want to go on some private dates together or something, but they insist on inviting Gabe and Krysta everywhere with them. The four of them meet up for lunch, Krysta and Ashleigh come to watch every practice, and they hang out every evening. I'm always invited, because Ashleigh is a sweetheart and wants to make everyone happy. She doesn't know that her matchmaking attempts are tearing my heart out .

Krysta is gorgeous. Tall with long, tan, shapely legs. She has shiny strawberry blonde hair and blindingly white teeth. I hate her, and I hate how obvious it is that I hate her. Every time she smiles at me and tries to include me in a conversation, I'm rude as fuck to her and that's not the kind of person I want to be. I only hate her because she's perfect for him. She's hot and at least pretends to be interested in baseball well enough to hold a conversation. He can take her places, hold her hand in public, fuck her without being afraid to do something wrong. I overheard her tell Ashleigh that she's been trying to get Gabe's attention since being lab partners last semester. She's shooting her shot, and I can't even blame her.

The pressure is getting to me, and it's turning me into a jealous, clingy mess.

I'm starting to rethink my refusal to go to the double date so I didn't have to look at them. I'd already agreed to go to a club with my friends, though, and I doubt I could get any of them to go with me. Antoni is the only one that knows about Gabe, and he doesn't exactly approve. I seriously doubt I could convince him to skip an actual fun night out to glare daggers at some pretty girl making eyes at my man. Especially not on my birthday.

Tripp speaks and pulls my attention back to him. "How'd you do on Jong's pop quiz this morning?"

I give Tripp a pained smile and shrug. "Not great, but could have been worse. You?"

"I bombed it," he says with a grimace, which makes me laugh. Tripp's wide grin covers his face, his eyes twinkling, genuinely pleased that I find him amusing.

There's a commotion behind us, and I turn back around to face the game. Half the crowd is standing, the rest wide eyed and worried as the other team's catcher scrambles back, throwing himself on the ground, mitt outstretched. The ball lands in his mitt, and the spectators let out a collective groan .

Tripp curses under his breath. "Rodgers tipped it." He pats my shoulder as he moves around me to head back to the dugout, where the rest of the team is cursing and griping. Coach is trying to pull their focus, letting them know the game isn't over yet.

During the commotion of both teams jogging into their respective dugouts to get ready for the next inning, I feel his glare. I chance a look over my shoulder as I pick up some discarded bats and helmets, but he looks away from me, swiping a hand through his hair. Something in the stands gets his attention, and I follow his gaze to where the pretty girl is standing near the fence, beckoning him over.

I'm probably not inconspicuous at all as I line up bats and helmets, staying within hearing distance. They're speaking low, but I can hear her apologizing for distracting him. Forgetting to pretend I'm not listening, my head snaps their way. He's leaning against the fence, one hand gripped in the chain link. From anyone else's perspective, it looks like he's into her. Even knowing all his tells, like the tense set of his shoulders, or the polite but tight smile he gives her, it bothers me. He cocks his head, unsure what distraction she's referring to. She says something about wanting to get a closer look. He nods absentmindedly, and she looks so pleased about it I feel sick.

Why would it please her that her distraction could have cost Gabe a major play? How fucked up and conceited is that? Also… Is that what happened?

Her hand touches his knuckles where they're gripping the chain link, and I'm pretty sure I might actually puke. I told him I was cool with sneaking around and hiding this, but not to this extent.

I quietly let Coach know I'm not feeling well on my way through the dugout and get far away from the field before Gabe notices me missing. The assistants can manage the equipment for one afternoon. I need to get some distance before I do something stupid, like cry.