Teaser
Once during our freshman year,
Jesse called and asked me to meet him on the baseball field late one evening
after school. I automatically assumed that he wanted me to watch him practice,
something I would often do when I didn't have much homework to finish. As
I walked across the newly shaved grass, I wondered where he could be. It
worried me a bit to see no one there. The grounds were dark, except for a faded
lamppost illuminating the walkways. The night was hot and humid, so I
dressed in shorts for the occasion, fully expecting to be sitting on a bench
watching Jesse play. He popped out of nowhere, just as I was about to
walk up the steps toward the stands.
"Hi," I said, as I
looked around the field. "Am I late? Did I get the practice time
wrong?"
"Nope," he answered
with a grin. "Practice ended an hour ago."
"Oh. Am I here to pick you
up?" I asked, still confused.
"I thought we'd play on the
field for a bit," he said as he took my hand and led me further in toward
the bases. He had his pitching glove on and carried a bat in his right hand.
"Play what, Jess? You know
I don't know anything about this game!" I laughed incredulously.
"Yes, you do! You've been
watching me do this for almost three years! I thought it would be fun to watch
you swing a bat," he coaxed. "Come on, you'll do great, I promise.
Here, wear these so you don't hurt your hands." He fished into his pockets
and handed me some batting gloves. I
wiggled my fingers to make sure that they were still in there. They were twice
the size of my hands. He looked delighted and enamored with me
all at the same time. "You look so cute. Come here," he ordered as he
pulled me in for a hug. Seconds later, he handed me the bat and then walked
backwards until he was a few feet away from me.
"This is heavy!" I
said, as I lifted the bat and mockingly took on the stance—both knees bent, two
hands on the bat.
"Issy baby, you're gonna fall
over if you lean like that." He laughed. "This isn't tennis. Keep one
foot in front of you, turn your body to face me. Now just relax and swing when
I pitch, ok?"
"Like this?" I
breathed, as I stuck my leg out and swiveled my hips.
"If you keep that up, we'll
be swinging something else," he teased.
Five empty swings later, I
finally hit the ball. It didn't go very far, but I whooped and he whooped and I
ran twice around the bases. It didn't take much effort for him to pursue me as
soon as he caught the ball. I hit the ball two more times until he chased me
down and lifted me off the ground.
"Jess!" I panted, as
he swooped me in his arms. "That was hard work! What do I get for doing
this?" I flirted.
"Me," he responded, as
I wrapped my arms and legs around him.
"I'll take that," I
whispered, and with a tender kiss, I gave him permission to carry me back to
the dugout.
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