15. Cleo

15

CLEO

I rolled my eyes. "Your shoulder isn't the only problem with your game."

"Yeah, right." She quipped, immediately annoyed.

Walking closer to the edge of the Bear Mountain cliffside, I peeked down. "So you don't want my help?"

As I walked past her, I felt her eyes exploring me. Down from deep brown hair to my legs, clad in tight leggings. She lingered on me, in a way that I hadn't felt in years. My chest tightened under her gaze. A part of me had craved her like that.

Lifting a finger, Cat shook her head. "Not what I said. Explain yourself."

I didn't need to think about my answer – there was no point protecting her feelings at this point. "You're impatient and too focused on what comes next. When an inning is going your way, you start to flop. Your pitches get weaker and more inaccurate because you're so concerned with keeping up the momentum."

There was a silence as she thought about it. But she moved closer to the edge of the smooth rock that overlooked the New Winford valley. "So you have watched my games?"

"Only when they're on in Cricket's." I shook my head. It was a lie, but she didn't need to know that. The last thing I needed was for my ex to know that I'd been following her career for years, that I'd read every tabloid article about potential girlfriends and late nights out.

How embarrassing, to have spent so many years pining after the woman who had ripped my heart out just to end up standing next to her, unable to stop myself from blushing?

Biting my lip, I continued. "You've always thought a lot about the future. You'd picked out the best college to be a pro by the time you were twelve. Now, you're going to have to be right here, right now."

I turned to meet her green eyes, the yellow flecks in them drawn out by the yellowing leaves behind us.

After a moment, she nodded. "Okay. But I want something in exchange."

"Are you in a position to bargain?" I laughed.

"Of course I am," Cat winked as she stepped closer to the edge, even with me now. "You have to start thinking about the future."

Crossing my arms, I shook my head. "My future is already set. I'm good."

Cat scoffed. "Bullshit. You've always just let the river carry you – let me pull you in the direction I was headed."

She was right. Even when I knew I didn't really want to be a professional softball player, I just followed Cat's lead. She was smart and driven, it was hard to be in her orbit and not know where I was going. So instead, I just let her gravitational pull guide me.

But she knew she'd won when I didn't fight back. "It's settled then," she stepped closer to me. The smell of her swear was carried on the crisp fall air. "We're going to help each other."

Just a couple of feet away from each other, my mind started to short-circuit. I wasn't sure I'd ever be this close to Cat Collins ever again. My blood boiled at how easily she could win me over again.

Shaking myself out of it, I steeled myself. I'm not falling for that charming swagger again.

Instead, I turned on my heels, leaving Cat and the view behind me. "Tomorrow morning at Vanderkill Park, 6 am. We'll start then."

I knew Cat's jaw had dropped. "Are you kidding?"

Looking over my shoulder, I chuckled. "Do I look like I'm kidding?" Sure enough, her mouth was gaping open with shock. But that's why she hunted me down, she knew I wouldn't let her get away with slacking. Not now, not after everything she'd put me through.

It was typical for Cat to assume that everyone would do things her way. That was exactly why our relationship stopped working, it became the Cat Collins show. And there was no room for me.

Cat's vision for her life was crystal clear. And mine… well mine was still a bit cloudy. More like driving without a glasses prescription than an all-knowing oracle.

But more than anything, I knew I needed to get her out of this small town as quickly as possible. The longer she was here, the worse the longing brewing in my chest would grow. And I couldn't afford to risk my heart in Cat's hands ever again.