“Hey, Shel. How are you?” Samantha’s voice sounded happy. It always sounded like that these days. It was nice.
“Great. Good. I don’t know. What do you know about softball?” Shelly turned up the Bluetooth volume on the steering wheel and clicked on her blinker.
“I know lots of hot ladies play softball. But the high socks are a total turnoff. The face paint-y stuff is kinda sexy though.”
“So, I did a thing.” Shelly glanced around to find parking. She was surprised by the number of cars at the field.
“I’m listening.” Samantha laughed on the line.
“I sort of asked Claire if she was busy tonight and she invited me to come by and see her softball game. There may be drinks and dinner later. With or without someone else. She mentioned a we, but she told me she was single a few weeks ago. Do you think she has a girlfriend?”
A clicking noise sounded and suddenly Samantha’s voice was closer. “Sorry, you were on speaker, and I thought I misheard you. Did you just say you asked Claire out?”
“Well, not exactly. I sort of inquired as to what she was doing later and agreed to be in the same place that she would be.” Shelly pulled into the open spot at the edge of the field, slightly hidden by an overgrown shrub.
“This is new and exciting. Tell me more.”
“She came by the office late last night. We were working on the Expo thing and I was demonstrating one of the new products, but I shut the lights off in the room and put on a little fireworks display and I think we almost kissed.” Shelly shut off the ignition and checked her mascara in the rearview mirror. She had sprung for mascara and some pink lip gloss today, casual but clearly intentional. That was her aim tonight.
“Ooh, this is juicy. Like, are we talking about a literal fireworks display or a figurative one?” Samantha teased.
“Literal. Well, holographic. Not pornographic. But maybe it could have led there. I wore the dress shirt with the braces.”
“Say no more. I have excellent taste. And you look great in that ensemble. I assume she noticed?”
“She tugged on them before she left and told me I looked good in them. Then she kissed me on the cheek and thanked me for the fireworks.”
“The literal fireworks? Or the figurative ones? One would assume both at this point.” Samantha’s voice was smooth, contemplative. “I think this is good news.”
“Right. Me, too. So, I’m sitting in the car at the edge of the softball field second-guessing my decision to come by, but I’m on to something, right? She must like me, a little.”
“I’d say it’s worth a shot. Anything else I should know about?”
“She didn’t bat an eye when I told her I used to date that barista downstairs. She seemed excited by the information.”
Samantha sighed. “Well, I’m glad something positive came out of that. You know how I feel about the bean girl.”
“It was a moment of weakness. Lesson learned. I will not stray from the path you have laid out for me again.” Shelly nodded, properly chastised.
“Well, so far I’m batting a thousand. Is that a softball or a baseball term? Couldn’t tell you. I’m more into dancers, myself.” Samantha had that dreamy air in her voice again.
“So I’ve heard. How’s the wedding planning going?” Shelly unbuckled her seat belt and checked her hair in the mirror, just in case it had moved from two seconds ago.
“It’s good. We’re almost done. Just the countdown now. Well, that and the dreaded seating chart. Any interest in sitting with my mother?”
“Uh, sure.” Shelly knew how Samantha and her mother struggled to see eye to eye. She had been surprised when Lucinda had let it slip that the mother was coming to the wedding at all. There had been a little concern that she might make a stink.
“I’m kidding, Shel. I wouldn’t subject you to that kind of crazy. She can sit with my brother’s brood and my father. In the corner, by the bathrooms.” She laughed again, that boisterous carefree chuckle that was so charming. Shelly smiled at the sound.
“I’m so happy for you two. Truly. This is exciting stuff.” She meant it. Lucinda and Samantha were just so right for each other. It gave her hope.
“Thanks, Shelly.” Samantha sounded genuinely touched. “And just so you know, I have you down for bringing a plus-one. Keep me posted on tonight’s events.”
“Will do. Catch you later.” Shelly disconnected and took a deep breath. She could do this. She could be totally normal and sit in the stands and watch Claire do her athletic thing and it wouldn’t be weird. At all. Right?
*
“Why do you keep looking over at the bleachers?” Jamie elbowed Claire in the ribs before adjusting his batting glove.
“I’m not.” Claire totally was. But whatever. She didn’t need him pointing it out.
“You are. Who’s here?” Jamie did a mini squat and stretched his leg out along the bench. He was up at bat next.
She had spotted Shelly at the top of the third inning. She was seated along the rear of the bleachers, high up and to the center. She noticed that Shelly was wearing the space glasses. They had briefly made eye contact when Claire hit a double at the bottom of the fourth. Shelly gave her a cute little wave and a smile. Claire was glad to have performed so well, though she was aware she wanted to impress Shelly. She’d sort out those feelings later.
“You’re staring. Who are you staring at?” Jamie was leaning so close to her that she jumped. Why didn’t she notice him creeping up on her? Because she was staring, that’s why.
Claire ignored him and tried to look at anyone but Shelly. Too bad he caught her.
“Cute girl in the glasses. Dark hair. Holding a tablet. Who brings a tablet to a softball game?” Jamie squinted in Shelly’s direction, a look of recognition washing over his face. “Ha. That’s Fireworks, isn’t it?”
Jamie had been calling Shelly Fireworks since their little discussion at the froyo shop earlier. Claire had taken a half day at work and spent the remainder of the day tasting all her brothers’ new flavors. When Shelly texted her asking what she was doing later she had nearly knocked over Jerry’s orange cream cup. Since she had admitted to Jamie that she liked Shelly, she had been on her mind. The text felt serendipitous. Not that she believed in that sort of thing.
“It’s Shelly. Please don’t call her Fireworks—I’ll die.”
Jamie was called up to bat and Claire thanked the softball gods because she knew she was blushing. He just gave her a wink and headed to home plate with an exaggerated strut. To her horror, he turned toward the bleachers and pointed to Shelly, before pointing toward the sky and mimicking a little burst with his hand.
“I’m going to kill him,” Claire mumbled as Jamie widened his stance and waited for the pitch.
Strike one.
The bleachers booed. Jamie’s home run streak was attracting fans. Tonight was mild, and the sun was setting later and later as the season progressed. There was a good crowd. Shelly was in that crowd.
Strike two.
Jamie stuck his tongue out at the opposing team’s pitcher and wiggled his shoulders, waiting for the pitch. Second and third had runners on base. Their team was winning, but only by two runs. They needed to put this game away.
The pitcher shook her head once, twice, then nodded. She wound back and Claire was on her feet, her teammates cheering from the little park’s home team dugout.
Boom. Contact was made and the ball flew past the infield and off to the far right. Claire’s team leaped into action and Jamie flew around the bases, sliding into home after the other two runners just as the ball soared over the pitcher’s mound in his direction.
Claire high-fived her teammates and slapped Jamie on the butt as he jogged by. She looked up to see Shelly standing and clapping, giving her a little wave. She was up at bat next, but it didn’t much matter. Jamie had clinched the win, and she just had to finish up clean.
*
“Shelly!” Claire called out as the bleachers started to empty. They had won 9–5 by the end of the game. She dusted herself off from her race into home and tried to brush back any flyaways that her hair might be doing.
“Hey. Great game.” Shelly flashed her those perfect teeth and swept her hair behind her ear.
“Thanks for coming.” Claire couldn’t figure out why she was a little nervous. Shelly had never made her nervous before. But that was before she realized how kissable her mouth looked with that lip gloss on last night. Which she noticed Shelly was wearing again today, in the daylight, right in front of her.
Shelly walked down the steps and paused, almost hesitating. After a moment she stepped forward and embraced Claire in a soft hug.
“I probably stink, sorry.” Claire squeezed her back, but not long enough for Shelly to find out if that assertion was true. She had some pride, after all.
Shelly brushed a little dust off Claire’s shoulder and leaned against the railing at the bottom of the bleachers. She had on dark jeans and low-cut boots that she’d paired with a gray and black softball shirt and a leather jacket. She looked…delicious.
Claire reached out and tugged on the bottom of the softball shirt. “Do you play?”
“Play what?” Shelly’s gaze was on the hand still holding the fabric of her shirt.
“Softball.” Claire tugged a little more, mostly to see what Shelly would do.
“Oh. No. Honestly, I picked this up on the way here—I had no idea what one wears to these things. In fact, I think the tag is still on it.” She shifted in her jacket and pulled the collar away from the skin on her neck. “Help?”
Claire laughed and stepped forward, reaching up to extract the tag that was indeed still attached. She braced her other hand along the curve of Shelly’s shoulder to break the tag without disrupting the fabric of the shirt. “This is a very soft shirt,” she commented absentmindedly as she pulled out the plastic tag attachment and smoothed the material, her fingers dancing along the skin at the nape of Shelly’s neck.
“That’s why I bought it.” Shelly’s voice disrupted her from her examination of the silky baby hairs on the back of Shelly’s neck, at the base of her hairline. When she looked up, she realized how close they were standing. Shelly smiled, her voice low. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I do.” Claire became aware that her hand was still at the back of Shelly’s neck, gently caressing the skin. She mentally slapped herself to stop and straightened Shelly’s collar, sliding her hand along the sleeve of Shelly’s leather jacket. “You look nice.”
“Thank you.” Shelly reached out and squeezed her hand as it reached her cuff, but dropped it quickly as Jamie’s voice sounded behind Claire.
“You must be Shelly.” Jamie wiped his hand on his pants before extending it toward her. “I’m Jamie, Claire’s big brother.”
“Littlest big brother.” Claire elbowed him in the side, simultaneously annoyed and relieved he interrupted her roaming hands and distracted groping. Although Shelly didn’t seem to mind, so there was that.
“Semantics. Anyway, Shelly, are you busy tonight? We always celebrate after I perform like an absolute champion.” Jamie gave Shelly his most flirtatious smile; Claire wondered if she could elbow him in the face without it being too obvious.
“Ah, so this is the we.” Shelly’s smile seemed genuine. “I’d love to.”
“Great.” Jamie clapped and dust flew up into the air. “I think tonight’s game got a littler dirtier than I was expecting. What do you say we head back home to get cleaned up and order in some pizza?”
“Uh…” Home? Like bring Shelly to the house Claire grew up in? Claire did her best to convey her panic to Jamie in the subtlest way possible. His encouraging nod meant that he had received the message and then promptly ignored it.
“C’mon. You know how busy Connelly’s gets on the second Wednesday of the month. Not to mention, you have a smear of dirt on your face. You a mess.”
Claire’s hand immediately went to her cheek and he laughed at her.
“You’re so gullible.” He shook his head and pulled his phone out of the gym bag that was on his shoulder. “We live like ten minutes from here, Shellz. What do you say? Extra cheese and pepperoni okay?”
“Throw in a side salad and I’m in.”
“Healthy. I like that.” Jamie turned to Claire with a smirk. “Last one to the house has to use Craig’s shower.”
“Ew. No, Jamie, no.” But her complaints fell on deaf ears because Jamie was already jogging back to his car, leaving her in the literal dust again. “Shit.” Claire reached out and grabbed Shelly’s arm, tugging her to the parking lot. “I am not showering in Craig’s nasty stand-up shower. We gotta go. I’ll drive.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Shelly laughed and, to her credit, kept up with the near sprint that Claire forced her into. Claire marveled that she wasn’t even out of breath by the time they got to Claire’s car.
Claire launched her gym bag in to the backseat and threw the car into reverse, cutting Jamie off at the exit of the park’s parking lot. He leaned on the horn and flipped her off but she pulled out and made it through the adjacent traffic light, leaving him behind.
“That’ll teach you to cheat,” she said to herself.
“Competitive much?” Shelly’s voice beside her reminded her she had company. In her car. In the passenger seat. And she had practically kidnapped her.
“Oh my God. Shelly, I’m so sorry. First, you are under no obligation to hang out at my brothers’ house and get pizza right now. And secondly, I should have asked you if you wanted to drive yourself or have any real say in the crazy car chase I just forced you into. I am so sorry.” Claire slowed her car to a normal speed and put her blinker on to pull over to the side of the road.
“Why are we pulling over?” Shelly looked left and right. “Are we here already?”
“What? No, I was pulling over because I sort of kidnapped you and I wanted to give you a chance to slap me and run away without the vehicle in motion. It’s only fair. Go ahead, wind up, I can take it.” Claire stuck out her chin for effect.
“Don’t pull over unless you want to use Craig’s shower. I’m in this crazy rat race to win. Are you a winner or a loser, Claire?” Shelly was teasing her. Claire decided she liked her even more than she did before she kidnapped her.
“I’m totally a winner.” Claire turned off the blinker and pulled back onto the main strip, slipping down a side road and taking a hard left. “This will shave two lights off and get us to the back of the house before Jamie even figures out which end is up.” She suppressed the urge to laugh maniacally.
“Good.” Shelly leaned back in the seat and rested her head on the headrest. In her peripheral vision, Claire could see Shelly studying her. “So, who’s Craig? And why is his shower so undesirable?”
“Ha-ha. Oh, right. I kidnapped you and you know nothing about me or the mess you are walking into. Let’s start over a little—so, you know I have four brothers, right?”
“I remember this mentioned last night, yes.”
“Oh, yeah. Anyway. Jamie and his twin Jerry live in the house I grew up in. My other brother Austin also lives there, but travels a lot for work, so he’s not usually home. My oldest brother, Craig, moved out a few years ago and is married with kids. But Craig’s room was in the unfinished basement and he has the nastiest and creepiest shower / bathroom setup. No matter how many times we clean and scrub that thing, I swear, spiders reproduce down there and stains continually pop up like they are burned in by ghosts. This shower is so nasty you don’t even want to step in there with flip-flops—you would need rain boots and a hazmat suit. For real. Gross.” Claire was giving herself the heebie-jeebies just talking about it. She shuddered involuntarily as she banked the last turn a little wide and nearly hit a curb.
Shelly squeaked and covered her eyes. “I was really trying to put on a brave face for you, Claire, but the remainder of this ride will have to be eyes closed if we come that close to a tree again.”
“Sorry, almost there, I promise I’ll make it up to you later.” Claire nearly bit her tongue once the words came out. Well, couldn’t take it back now.
As she pulled into the driveway with a screech of her tires, Jamie’s car nowhere in sight, she cheered. “Booya. No spider shower for me.”
“Uh, Claire?” Shelly looked a little paler than Claire remembered from when she first got in the car. She pointed toward the porch at Jamie, standing there with a huge grin on his face, his hair wet and sloppily combed back.
“Are you freaking kidding me?” Claire was out of the car in a huff, “How did you—”
He started laughing and shaking his head. “Gotcha.”
Claire groaned and grabbed her bag out of the backseat, jogging over to Shelly’s side to help her out of the passenger seat.
“We lost?” Shelly still looked a little pale. Claire wanted to apologize, but she looked so disappointed about the potential of losing that Claire decided she wanted to kiss her instead.
“No. We won.” Claire placed her hand at Shelly’s low back and led her toward the porch. “Shelly, this is Jerry, Jamie’s identical twin.”
“Hi. Nice to meet you.” Jerry grinned. “You are so screwed when Jamie gets back. I saw you take that one-way backward—that’s cheating.”
Shelly stopped walking and whipped her head toward Claire. “When did that happen?”
Claire bit her lip. “Uh, about the time you closed your eyes. That was a wise idea, by the way.”
“Your face was freaking priceless, Claire-Bear.” Jerry took Claire’s bag from her shoulder and shook his head as he laughed. “Jamie called ahead and told me to wet my hair and pretend to be him—he’s picking up the pizza instead of having it delivered. Man, you make it too easy…”
Claire huffed and motioned for Shelly to enter before her. “Be glad you’re an only child. They terrorize me.”
“Only because we love you,” Jerry called over his shoulder. “Go shower, I can smell you from here.”
Claire winced and gave Shelly an apologetic look. “I will be super quick, I promise. Don’t believe anything they tell you. It’s all lies, seriously.”
Shelly gave her a solemn nod. “I will merely be polite and immediately disregard everything I’m told as hearsay. Promise.”
“Thanks”—Claire squeezed Shelly’s hand as she turned to go upstairs—“and sorry again for the whole unhinged driver thing.”
Shelly’s voice stopped her on the bottom step. “It’s okay, you can make it up to me later.”
Claire stood there for a moment, unable to will her legs to move or her head to turn. She’d set herself up for that one. Game on.