10. WYATT

10

WYATT

"If you keep throwing heaters, I'm going to need a new glove," Koa says, removing his catching gear. We just retired the side and are waiting for our turn at bat in the dugout.

I'm already dreaming of icing my shoulder when I get home. It's hurting like a bitch thanks to all the fast balls I've been throwing today—they are my go to pitch when I'm irritated.

And boy am I irritated.

Wren and Charlie are at the game today. I royally messed up last week at their place. I let Wren get in my head.

And she's doing it again today.

Because what is she wearing?

Thomas, our second baseman's jersey.

Not mine. Her best friend.

Yes, I'm claiming that role. We text, FaceTime, eat lunch, do laundry, and study together. We do everything together. Not everything. Because if we did everything I'd probably be a lot happier at the moment .

Most of her free time is spent at my place organizing something and leaving sticky notes all over the place. And she has the audacity to show up in his fucking jersey?

"Sorry, man. I'll switch it up next inning," I lie. I'm too mad to throw anything else.

"Don't worry about it. I know you're trying to impress Charlie. She's here because of you, right?" Koa leans forward, attempting to get a glimpse of the girls in the stands. It's almost impossible to see them from this angle.

I can't really see them when I'm pitching either, but I can feel them. I can feel her .

"Yup. That's what I'm doing." Do I sound convincing? I don't even believe the bullshit that is coming out of my mouth anymore. I don't expect my friends to either. They know me better than that.

Hart scowls in my direction. "You need to pick," he says once he's done assessing me.

"You need to get ready to bat." I ignore his statement completely. There's nothing to pick. It's painfully obvious Charlie isn't interested and Wren…she was never an option. She's practically engaged to another man.

"Who is he picking between?" Koa asks, his brows furrowed under the rim of his ball cap.

"Wren and Charlie," Hart answers.

"But I thought he liked Charlie? What does Wren have to do with anything?" Koa and Hart continue to talk about my life like I'm not sitting here .

"Wren's been coming over to the house almost every day. You wouldn't know because you haven't been around much, have you?" Hart's accusatory tone doesn't faze Koa.

"Where have you been?" I ask.

"Nowhere you need to worry about," he grumbles.

"No need to snap at me, Mr. Sensitive." I wish he would tell Nash he's in love with Sydney already so he'll stop being a grouchy asshole. I've known these guys most of my life, and Koa has always had eyes on that girl.

I would be surprised if Nash didn't already know. If Koa and Sydney think they are being secretive, they're idiots. It's probably why Nash keeps reminding us Syd is off limits. Because he isn't blind or stupid.

Oh goody, Thomas slides up next to Hart and taps him on the shoulder. "Who are the new girls sitting with Lauren and Sydney?" he asks.

Hart doesn't answer him.

"The cute brunette is wearing my jersey. Think she's into me?"

"Absolutely fucking not," I say with a scoff.

He turns toward me. "How would you know?"

"Because she has more than two brain cells in her head." I scowl at him.

"That's too bad. She looks fucking phenomenal with my name on her back." He smirks. Fucker . He won't be smiling when I put super glue in his body wash.

"Choose," Hart says, as he puts on his batting helmet and leaves the dugout.

Thank fuck he takes Thomas with him.

Does Hart know something I don't? Is Wren talking to Lauren? They do have their weekly lunches. Maybe I need to crash one of those again and get some intel.

Koa stands and grabs his helmet. "When did you become the dating type anyway?"

"I didn't. Hart don't know what he's talking about. And if you think you're going to give me advice on my love life, be prepared to hear my thoughts on yours."

Koa frowns and grunts before leaving the dugout to go wait on deck. That's what I thought .

"Rivers," Coach Lawson calls out to me.

"Yes, Coach?" I walk over to where he's standing near the dugout entrance.

"How's your arm holding up? Do you have another inning in you?"

"I'm good."

"There are a few scouts in the stands," he says, never taking his eye off the field.

"I'm aware, sir." Despite my focus being split between the game and Wren, I haven't lost sight of the bigger picture. Making a good impression with the scouts is vital.

Thomas ends up striking out, sorry not sorry , leaving Hart and Koa on base and ending the inning. Time to get back to work.

On my walk out to the hill, I keep my eyes locked on Wren. She's sitting up straight with her hands clasped in her lap. She's looking up at the scoreboard where my photo and stats are on full display.

The breeze blows a piece of hair out of place and she tucks it back behind her ear. Charlie whispers something to her and Wren's attention moves to the field. To me .

I clasp my mitt under my arm and readjust my ball cap. My hair is starting to get long enough it's becoming more of a nuisance than a good luck charm. I rake my fingers through the waves and tuck everything back into my hat.

I put my glove back on my hand and run my thumb over the elastic band I wear on my wrist. I haven't taken it off since the day I removed it from her hair. With one last look at Wren, I turn back to the batter and get in the zone.

I have a girl, I mean scouts , to impress.

Sydney, Lauren, Charlie, and Wren are all waiting for us outside the stadium. This is the first time I've had someone waiting for me that wasn't a blood relative or a cleat chaser. I didn't think I wanted it, but seeing Wren bobbing her head around the crowd looking for me has me walking on water.

As soon as Lauren sees Hart, she runs and jumps into his arms. " Cari?o ," he says into the side of her neck.

"Congratulations!" Charlie cheers. "It was a great game. "

"Thanks, Charlie. I'm glad you had a good time. What did you think, Wren? Did you have fun at your first game?"

"I did. I can see the appeal." Wren smirks and all four girls start laughing.

"Is that so?" I know exactly what they find appealing. Hart has overheard Lauren and Sydney more than once talking about our ‘ equipment ' when they would come to our practices.

"Yep. I might be persuaded to come to another one."

Not in that shirt you won't.

"What's everyone doing after this? Anyone want to grab a bite to eat before Lauren and I have to go to work?" Sydney asks with her eyes on Koa.

"When are you going to quit that place?" Koa practically growls. Someone pass me the popcorn because Syd's about to hand Koa his balls on a plate. I move out of their way and bring Wren with me.

"Trust me, you don't want to get in the middle of the two of them arguing," I say when she tries to fight out of the grip I have on her wrist.

For a moment, I'm tempted to slide my hand down and hold her hand. How incredible would that feel? And why am I getting hard at the thought of holding a girl's hand? Because it's not just any girl.

"Whenever I'm damn well ready to." Syd crosses her arms over her chest and dares him to say something else. Koa's a smart man and keeps his thoughts to himself .

"Well, I would, but I was going to ask Wyatt if he wanted to go out," Charlie says to the group. "What do you say, want to go on a date with me to celebrate your win?"

My vision blurs momentarily. A date? Is she serious? This is what I wanted. A date with Charlie that leads to a night with Charlie. I should say yes. I should want to say yes. Then I glance at Wren and my gut plummets.

Would she even care? She's not making eye contact with anyone. Her eyes are glued to the gravel below her feet. The movie date was an epic fail. No one's fault but my own. I didn't anticipate Wren tripping me up the way she did.

Maybe that's the problem. If Wren is out of the picture, I can concentrate on Charlie. Would Wren care? Wren isn't exactly objecting to the idea. Why do I want her to tell me not to go? Or to ask to come along like she always does. Instead, she's avoiding me.

"Sure, Charlie. Let's do it."

"Great. I rode over with Wren. Do you mind driving?" Charlie takes a few steps in my direction, pushing Wren further away. The new arrangement makes me feel uneasy.

"Yeah, of course," I say. Charlie takes my hand in hers. Where is this coming from? Did Wren say something to her? I don't understand. The last time I saw Charlie she barely took the time to say goodbye.

After the movie ended, she grabbed a bag of chips and went to her room. I must have done something right, because now the girl I want is holding my hand. Keep telling yourself that .

And Wren is staring at it with a mix of shock and hurt in her eyes.

"Why don't you go to my truck? I'll meet you there," I say to Charlie.

"We'll walk with you," Lauren says.

"Catch you later, bro." Koa fist bumps me.

Once they're all out of ear shot, I can deal with my little birdie.

"Any idea why Charlie is suddenly asking me out on a date? Seems kind of out of the blue. Did you say something to her?"

"I'm as shocked as you are. Maybe she bumped her head and has amnesia. She's forgotten how annoying you can be." The side of her mouth curls slightly.

"Funny." Damn, I like it when she's mean to me. There has to be something wrong with me to get turned on by all the strikes she sends my way.

"I thought so." She lets out a sigh. "You better go. It's rude to keep her waiting."

"Of course it is." Wren and all her rules. "Thanks for coming today."

"No problem. That's what friends do."

"Wait, are you admitting that we're friends?" I feign shock. She rolls her eyes.

"It seems to be the case."

"I agree. And as your friend, I have to tell you that I hate your shirt," I say. Then start walking backward toward the parking lot. "It's hideous." Wren looks down at her clothes in confusion. I hope she doesn't put two and two together and figure out I hate it because it isn't my name on her back.

Charlie pushes her plate to the edge of the table next to mine.

We've kept ourselves entertained with small talk about our classes and Sandra Bullock movies.

If this is what dating is like, it isn't terrible. I can't help myself from wishing Wren was here instead. Charlie is nice to talk to but it's like talking to myself. Every time I say I like something she says ‘ me too '.

In theory, it's cool to have things in common, but I miss the verbal battle. I miss the glares and the cheap shots. I send Wren a quick text under the table.

ME

Charlie hasn't picked on me once.

It's nice.

She actually likes the same things as me.

WREN

Good to know you both have terrible taste. You're made for each other.

I chuckle in my head but I can't stop the smile from etching my face.

"How is she?" Charlie asks. I must look confused because she says, "Wren. You're texting her."

Oh. She noticed.

"It's fun to annoy her."

"Right. You like her. Yet, you're sitting here with me. Why?"

I huff a laugh. Wren asked me the same thing weeks ago. She wanted to know why I was still sitting with her instead of chasing after Charlie like I wanted.

Now I'm sitting with Charlie wishing I was with Wren. Oh, how the tables have turned .

"You asked me out. I wanted to give it a shot. We're having a good time."

"Is that why you're texting Wren? You're having so much fun with me? Come on, Wyatt. You and I do not have chemistry. We're admittedly good looking people, but there is no attraction. No spark. Every time we've hung out you've had your eyes on Wren. So, tell me again, why are you here with me?"

I drop my head and sigh. "I can't get your voice out of my head. I thought if we hooked up your voice would be gone and my brain would function normally again."

"My voice?" Her eyes are wide in shock.

"Yes, your voice. I heard you singing, and it re-coded my brain." I wave my hand dramatically around my head.

"When did you hear me sing?"

"Months ago, when I came over to get you and Wren for Syd's game night, but I only left with wine."

Charlie's smile grows manic. "That was Wren singing. I can't carry a tune to save my life, I'm afraid."

"No, it was you. You were the only one home."

"You know Wren better now. Probably better than I do. What do you think she did when she knew someone was about to force her to leave the comfort of her room and be social for a night?"

She hid. Of course she did.

It dawns on me.

"It's been her the whole time," I whisper.

"It's been her the whole time," Charlie agrees.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not. You're good for Wren. She's been different since the two of you became friends. But Wyatt." Charlie's face drops. "She's still supposed to be getting married."

"I'm aware."

"I don't like it either if it makes you feel better."

"It doesn't." I sigh.

"What are you going to do about it?"

What am I going to do?

Isn't that the golden question?

There is only one option.

I've got to figure out a way to make her mine.