Chapter 6

I mademy way over to the crowded keg, hoping a refill would take my mind off Reese. I waited impatiently in the long line, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, checking the time on my phone again. It was 15 minutes before the line started creeping forward. When it was finally my turn, I struggled to work the tap, and it slipped from my grip, thudding to the floor. Foam spewed up as I scrambled, dropping my empty cup. It rolled away in the process while I cussed under my breath. Before I could get a handle on the tap, a pair of rough, powerful hands grabbed the other end.

"Here, let me help with that," a smooth voice said.

I glanced over to see Reese, with an amused smile playing on his lips. He stole an empty cup from the next person in line behind me and expertly filled it to the brim with beer before he handed it over.

"Thanks," I said, a bit flustered. Up close, his green eyes were even more mesmerizing.

"So, enjoying the party?" he asked, leaning against the wall beside us.

"Yeah, it's... lively," I said. An understatement, given the pulsing music coming from the other room, drunken laughter, and the couple currently making out on the couch nearby.

Reese lifted his chin. "Lively. I like that."

I smiled hesitantly, unsure what to make of his sudden friendly demeanor.

"So, your brother Parker's going to be my new catcher this summer," he said casually, while taking a sip of his drink.

I blinked in surprise. "How did you know Parker was my brother?"

"I asked around. I wanted to get all the details about my teammates," he shrugged, putting a hand in his pocket. "Seems like he's got a cannon for an arm. I like that in a catcher… Didn't realize he had such a cute sister though." His eyes trailed down my body.

My cheeks grew warm at the unexpected compliment, but I kept my expression neutral and glanced away while taking a sip of my drink. He was just trying to make conversation, I told myself.

"Whatever guy left you alone at this party must be crazy," he added, his voice lower now.

No, he wasn't making conversation. He was definitely flirting. Was he seriously trying to flirt after basically ignoring me earlier? I scoffed. "What makes you think there's a guy? Maybe I came alone."

"A girl like you?" One corner of his mouth quirked up flirtatiously. "Not a chance."

I bit my lip, unsure how to respond. Reese's confidence irritated me, no doubt about it. But the way he just looked at me made my heart race faster than I cared to admit.

"If you say so," I said dryly.

"Come on, lighten up," he urged. "It's a compliment."

I opened my mouth to respond, but suddenly Blair appeared at Reese's side, slipping her arm through his. "There you are! I've been looking all over," she flashed me a tight smile before turning to Reese. "Ready to take a shot with me, babe?"

Reese glanced between us, an eyebrow raised. "Yeah. See you around, Hartford." With a wink, he allowed Blair to lead him away, her grip possessive on his arm.

I stared after them, my heart pounding against my ribs. What just happened? And the way he looked at me… Shaking my head, I turned and hurried off in the opposite direction. Was he just trying to be friendly now, and that was his way of showing it?

Willow made the rounds, introducing me to various people at the party. Their names seemed to slip from my memory as soon as I heard them. Eventually, I walked outside to the backyard where Parker and Boston were deep into an intense beer pong game. They had been at it for a while, going shot for shot on five cups in a triangle formation.

"Come on, Boston! Make the shot!" A teammate cheered enthusiastically as he jumped up and down. Caroline and her friends hollered, egging the boys on. I took my phone out to distract myself. Their shrieking was closing in on my last nerve.

I took a seat on the pool deck while Parker and Boston continued to play best-out-of-five. The flickering lights from the tiki torches were casting shadows on the water's surface, and laughter resonated through the air. After a while, the wind started to pick up, blowing my hair into my eyes, so I used one hand to push it back. Hugging my arms around myself, I tried to ward off the chill that clung to my skin.

"You look cold. You want my hoodie?" Reese's voice came from behind me, startling me out of my thoughts. I turned to find him standing there with his signature smirk, his eyes bright with amusement.

Then, he effortlessly shrugged off his sweatshirt, which seemed too easy for someone his size. The fabric slid up as he pulled the garment over his head, revealing a glimpse of what was underneath—his abs teasingly made an appearance, taunting me.

"Thanks, but no thanks," I said, trying to sound indifferent. "I'm fine."

"Suit yourself," he nonchalantly placed the hoodie beside me on the deck just in case I changed my mind. Then he sat down next to me, leaving only a whisper of space between us. "You really don't like me, do you?"

"Is that so hard to believe?" I tried to keep my gaze focused on the beer pong game instead of his intense stare. "You haven't exactly been a saint when it comes to Boston and Parker."

My thoughts drifted back to last summer. My phone had buzzed relentlessly in my pocket then, Parker's name flashed on the screen.

"We're gonna need a little help," he huffed, sounding embarrassed about the words that were about to come out of his mouth. "Reese and his entourage pulled a prank—they swiped all our clothes from the locker room."

"Wait, what?" I remembered asking him, unable to stifle my own chuckle. "All of them?"

"Every. Single. One." Parker sighed. "Boston's fuming, and dude, we've got nothing but our gloves and cleats!"

That mental image had me biting my lip to keep from laughing out loud. Imagining them in this predicament was both startling and oddly satisfying. It was uncalled for and cruel, but I knew that since we were still in the area from the game, they had us to bail them out of this unfortunate predicament.

"Are you serious?" I managed, wondering how Reese even pulled this off.

"Dead serious. They snatched everything when we were in the shower. The rest of the team left already."

"Alright, Mom and I are coming," I'd said, shaking my head as I quickly threw away the meal I was eating. But nothing had prepared me for the sight that greeted me at the front doors of the recreation facility.

Boston stood there, completely exposed by his lack of attire. He wore a scowl that clashed with his usually cheerful nature, and then I noticed it—a baseball glove was clutched strategically over his nether regions. It was so absurdly comical that I couldn't help it—I snickered.

"Laugh it up," Boston grumbled, his cheeks tinted with the slightest hint of pink, betraying his embarrassment even as he tried to maintain his dignity. "Just wait till I get my hands on Reese."

"Hey, this is a good look on you," I teased, tossing him the gym bag filled with spare clothes that Mom had fortunately brought along. He smiled and rolled his stormy eyes.

"Thanks, Chandler," he said, his voice softening. "We owe you one."

"Fair enough," Reese agreed, leaning back on his elbows, looking completely at ease. "But people can change, can't they?"

"Maybe," I admitted, my thoughts reeling as I tried to determine what his angle was. "But not without good reason."

"Maybe you should make up your own mind about me. I could be different from what you think," he said, turning to face me, all traces of cockiness gone from his voice.

"I guess so… but," I hesitated, searching for the words to explain my reluctance before turning to look at him. "From what I've seen and heard, it seems like you're a jerk and you weren't too friendly when we met earlier."

A beer pong ball bounced off the table and rolled to a stop by my foot. Reese reached down, picked it up, and held it between his fingers. His eyes never left mine.

"Maybe I wasn't the friendliest earlier," he admitted, twirling the ball in his hand. "But then again, you said I was overcompensated. That's a pretty bold statement for someone who barely knows me."

"Is that your way of asking me to take it back?" I asked, allowing a half-smile to form, knowing that my comment may have struck even the faintest of a nerve.

"Let's call it an invitation to reconsider," he suggested, tossing the ball back toward the beer pong table without looking. It landed in a cup, causing a small cheer to erupt from the group. "Can we be even?"

"Even?" I echoed, as I pretended to consider. His charm was like a current, trying to pull me under, but I remained afloat, skeptical yet intrigued. "Fine," The word escaped before I even had a chance to think about it. "We're even."

Reese looked down, biting his lip as if contemplating something. His hand reached out, gently touching my chin and tilting it upward until our eyes met. He leaned in closer, his voice a seductive whisper. "I may be a jerk, but I'm good at other things, you know," he said huskily. "Go ahead, kiss me, and find out for yourself."

I couldn't help but laugh out loud at the audacity of his words. It was no secret that he was someone I should probably stay away from, but there was something about Reese's boldness that made it impossible not to be intrigued by him.

"You're unbelievable," I said, shaking my head. "Do girls actually fall for this charm of yours?"

"They do," Reese replied confidently, his eyes never leaving mine. "And it's just a matter of time before you come around, too."

I let out an uncontrollable laugh. Reese's smirk faltered briefly and he seemed a little hurt by my reaction, but soon enough, he couldn't help but smile.

"Is that so?" I teased after the laughter subsided, still grinning from ear to ear. "Well, I think it might take a bit more than a few smooth lines to change my mind about you. Like, maybe you being nice to my brother and Boston this season."

Reese grinned. "I'll keep that in mind. I'm cool with your brother—he's been guilty by association, but Boston I'll have to think about… Anyway, I better get back to the party but put my sweatshirt on. I know you're cold. It gets a little windy sometimes at night since we're so close to the lake."

"Bye, Reese," I whispered softly, watching as he walked away. There was no doubt about it this time, he was flirting with me. The interaction left me with a strange sensation—butterflies and guilt. I knew I couldn't entertain it. He had a girlfriend, and it was Reese. But still, there was an unexplainable sense of ease and familiarity in his presence. What was it about this infuriating boy that made it so difficult for me to ignore? And why did a part of me secretly hope he would succeed in winning me over?

Reese walked away and I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. It was Boston and Parker—their eyes both locked on me and narrowed—which only added to the guilt gnawing at me.

The buzz I heard was subtle but interrupted the awkward moment, only to realize I'd missed Kristina's call during my conversation with Reese. A soft groan escaped my lips as I tapped the voicemail icon and brought the device to my ear.

"Hey, it's me," Kristina's voice crackled through with a blend of excitement and frustration. "I had such a long day but wanted to catch up. I've got loads to tell you! Why aren't you picking up?"

I could almost see her animated gestures, the way her eyes would light up with excitement. My heart warmed at the thought of her enthusiasm, even as I felt a twinge of guilt for not answering her when she called.

"Met this guy I'll be rehearsing with," she continued, her words picking up speed. "Oh, and he is really cute. Learning heaps already. I'm going to bed but can't wait to share everything with you?—"

I felt a familiarity at the mention of this cute new boy, and I couldn't resist taking another peek at Reese, who was engaged in conversation with a group of people, before glancing back at Boston, who was watching me with an unreadable expression.

"Anyway, gonna try to catch you again soon," Kristina's voice pulled me back, "Love you!"

"Love you too," I whispered to no one, the screen already darkening as the voicemail ended.

As we got back into Willow's car to head home, Parker shot me a death glare like the sweatshirt I had on was more than inconvenient for him. "Seriously, Chandler?" he whispered. His voice was low but barely hid the disappointment. "Not cool."

"It's not a big deal—" I huffed.

On the way home, Boston didn't say much. I knew he was probably annoyed that I was wearing Reese's sweatshirt, but he never brought it up—he didn't need to. As he headed to my room, he flashed me a half-smile, but the moment had an uncomfortable edge that left me feeling uneasy.

Just after I slid into bed, restless fingers found my phone. With little thought, I began searching for Reese on Instagram. "Baseball, of course," I whispered to myself, as I continued to scroll through his Instagram feed where action shots of him on the field began to populate. And then, there it was—a photo that made me pause a little too long. Reese, shirtless by the lake. "Definitely a thirst trap," I whispered, chastising myself for lingering.

My thumb had already betrayed me, swiping to the next photo—a series of pictures with Blair. They looked like a picture-perfect couple from a magazine, always smiling and taking photos together at gatherings or on ski trips, and family events.

I found myself scrolling further and deeper until I landed on Blair's Instagram. Blair was stunning in every photo—whether she had make-up on, or was just lounging around in sweats. She had that natural glowing skin beauty, too.

"Okay, I need to stop," I whispered, as a few more rows of photos populated. And then, a catastrophic disaster struck in the form of a heart icon, suddenly glowing red beneath a photo from 2012. It was an innocent picture of her dog, a bulldog with a lopsided smile that almost seemed to mock me from the screen.

"Shit!" The word escaped my lips before I could fix the situation. "Undo, undo, undo!" I screamed, tapping furiously on the screen, hoping that the notification would somehow vanish into the air before Blair ever laid eyes on it. The un-hearted image stared back at me, making me realize that I needed to go straight to bed.

With a long sigh, I locked my phone, and the light extinguished along with the images. I went to sleep wearing Reese's sweatshirt, inhaling his scent—comforted by the woodsy smell of his cologne clinging to it, as I re-played his smile in my mind.