Chapter Thirty

Tristan

Tristan had a lot of trouble concentrating the rest of the day. He kept reliving the moment when Alyssa’s fingers met the skin on his stomach, how her skin felt under his lips, how she smelled, tasted…

Yeah, class was a lost cause.

When the final bell rang, he raced to find Alyssa, thinking maybe he could steal a kiss or two before practice. He ran into Lauren instead. She held up a hand. “Whoa, there, tiger.”

“I was looking for—”

“Alyssa. I know.” Lauren shook her head, smiling. “She has work release last period.”

Disappointment flooded his veins. “Damn. I was hoping to—”

“Oh, I know what you were hoping, but you’ll need to hit the old pause button. Alyssa’s at Swing Away, helping her dad pack things up.”

Lauren’s smile had faded over that last bit, but Tristan perked up. “I have an idea to save their business, but I’m going to need help. Is there any way you can stall them? Keep them from closing before the deadline? They have until next Friday, and I need the time.”

“Not sure I can, but I’ll try.” Her eyes narrowed. “What’s your plan?”

He was going to be late for practice, so he sketched out the details as fast as he could. “We play all weekend, but Sunday night should work. What do you think?”

Lauren was doubled over, laughing. “Even if it doesn’t raise enough money, I’m in. And Tristan?”

“Yeah?”

She pointed a finger at him. “That swing of yours better be golden.”

He waved at her, then ran down the hall to the locker room. He had some plotting to do.

When he made it to the dugout, Dylan was having a very animated discussion with Kyle, who was laughing so hard he had to stop and wipe his eyes. Dylan mimed looking around a corner and covered his mouth in exaggerated shock.

“Dennings!” Tristan called. “Stop messing around, get out there, and throw me a changeup.”

Dylan shot Kyle a look, who nodded. Dylan shrugged and grabbed his glove and a ball. “I live to serve, asshat.”

Tristan trotted up the stairs behind him and went to the batter’s box for a few warm-up swings. So what if he hadn’t done his sprints, or stretched…or anything? He’d already had one hell of a cardio workout today, and he hadn’t cooled down yet.

“Ready?” Dylan called.

“Ready.”

Dylan wound up and pitched, and the scariest changeup Tristan had ever seen his friend throw hurtled toward him.

Slow down.

Tristan let out a breath and swung.

The bat connected so well, he felt it in his wrists. The ball sailed up, up, up…and over the scoreboard.

Dylan’s eyebrows had disappeared under his hair. “Do it again!”

Fastball. Curve. Another changeup. Tristan smashed every single one for at least a base hit.

By the time he was done, the guys in the dugout had started clapping. He turned and bowed, then jogged over to Kyle, who was warming up in the on-deck circle.

“Looks like your mojo’s back,” Kyle said.

“I think so.” Tristan laughed. “Funny how the ‘other thing’ makes this stuff easier.”

Kyle snorted. “I heard about you and Alyssa making out behind a wall on the patio. Sounds like you’re good now.”

“Yeah. But there’s still a problem—Alyssa’s dad is about to lose his business.”

Kyle stopped stretching. “It’s that bad?”

“Yeah. They need eight or ten grand to keep it open. I have an idea, but I’ll need you to agree to it first. It’s a little weird.”

Kyle took a practice swing. “I’ve heard that once before. Last time worked out pretty okay, so let’s hear it.”

Before Tristan even finished, Kyle had gathered half the team together, so he had to repeat everything. Most of them were nodding with interest. One sophomore flexed his biceps—not too bad for a shorter kid. “I’m in.”

“We all are.” Dylan pushed through the crowd. “And, from now on, external batting practice is at Swing Away.”

“Assuming they stay open,” Tristan said. “But I think if all of us help them, they might.”

“What are you guys doing?” Coach bellowed. “Why aren’t you out running sprints?”

The whole team scattered to start drills, and Tristan joined them, feeling better than he had for a while.

The rest of the week passed too fast. He sneaked kisses from Alyssa whenever he could, and she and Lauren joined them at their lunch table. For a while, he thought Dylan might be developing a crush on Lauren, but it turned out they were just good friends. It was hard for the three of them to keep Alyssa in the dark about their plans, but Tristan had insisted.

“If this doesn’t work, I don’t want her to be disappointed, okay?” he told the team at practice Wednesday. “No one can tell her. When we spread the word, make sure everyone knows it’s a surprise.”

So far, no one had blabbed. He hated how drawn Alyssa looked, though. He took her outside after lunch on Thursday. “The team’s leaving tonight. Our game is at four tomorrow, and Coach wants to practice early. Will you be all right while I’m gone?”

She reached for his hand. “I’ll be fine. I begged Dad to stay open through the weekend, so I’ll be at Swing Away as much as I can. That will give me a chance to say good-bye.”

His heart constricted, making his chest ache. “I want to think it’ll all be okay. Maybe you can convince him to stay open until next Friday.”

“I want to, but he’s pretty defeated. Top Sports wants him to start in two weeks. Staying open longer means less time to close things down.” Alyssa brushed some hair back from her face. The wind was strong today, out of the west, and it was blowing her curls around. He loved it. “And I interview there Friday afternoon.”

He took her other hand and faced her. “Is that what you want?”

She shrugged. “I’m qualified, and it pays a dollar an hour more than Dad does. It’s hard not to see them as the enemy, though.”

“Do whatever you think will make you happiest.” He leaned in to give her a quick kiss. “That’s all I want—to see you happy. Because you’ve made me happy, too.”

At that, he finally coaxed a real smile out of her. She grabbed the front of his T-shirt and pulled him down into a more lingering kiss.

“PDA!” a weary teacher called.

Tristan sighed against Alyssa’s mouth. “I was hoping for a good-luck kiss, too.”

Alyssa grabbed his hand and dragged him to the alcove. They barely made it around the wall before she gave him a fierce, searing kiss that left him lightheaded.

“Will that work?” she asked, all innocence.

“Yeah.” If his math teacher asked what two times four was, he doubted he’d be able to puzzle it out. Not after that. “But maybe one more…just in case?”

She laughed and kissed him again. “You’re going to be fine. No, more than fine. Listen to me—you’re going to be a goddamn hero. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He ran his hands through her hair. “And when we get back, I have a little surprise for you. Are you free Sunday evening?”

She eyed him suspiciously. “I’m pretty sure I will be. I don’t plan to start at Top Sports until school lets out. I want some time off. What kind of surprise?”

“A surprise.” He grinned when she gave him an annoyed look. “Something to look forward to.”

“Okay.” She didn’t sound too sure. “Good luck this weekend.”

He pulled her into a hug. “Thanks. But I’m pretty sure I have all the luck I need right here.”