Out at Home by J. L. Paul Read Free Book Online Page B

I’m dating Jason!” Taylor refrained from rolling her eyes. Amanda was a nice girl and pretty, though nothing like the beauties Jason usually dated. Maybe that was why she constantly expressed her disbelief that she was dating him. But whatever the reason, it was starting to drive Taylor crazy.
    “ I know,” Taylor sighed.
    When the batter walked, Brady approached the plate. He watched two pitches go by and listened as the umpire called them balls. He dug his cleats into the dirt, swung the bat twice, and waited. He made contact with the very next pitch and Taylor jumped to her feet at the ‘clink’ of the ball firing off the aluminum bat. Her eyes followed it as it sailed past the right fielder and over the fence. He blew her a kiss as he jogged past, making his way around the bases. She grinned and continued to cheer with the rest of the fans.
    After the game, she waited outside the locker room. When he came out, hair still damp from the shower, he grabbed her waist, pulled her flush with his body, and kissed her so hard she gasped. He broke the kiss to grin. “Tell me how proud you are of me.” Rolling her eyes, she toyed with the ends of his damp hair. “Please. Anyone can hit the ball over the fence.” Laughing, he draped an arm around her shoulders as he led her to his car. “Maybe. But do they look as good as I do when they do it?” She shook her head at him. “You are your biggest fan.”
    They reached his car and he leaned against the passenger side door. He gently brought her closer, lifting her chin with his index finger. He kissed her softly before whispering in her ear. “I thought you were, love?” She pecked him on the lips before pushing him away from the door, heart furiously beating against her ribcage. “I can’t compete with you,” she told him with a wink before jumping in and closing the door behind her.
    “hello, Taylor. You with us?” Tia asked, brows furrowed.
    “Huh?” Taylor answered. “Sorry. I got a little lost in my head for a second.”
    “I was asking if you wanted another beer,” Tia repeated.
    Taylor looked at the nearly full plastic cup in her hand and shook her head.
    “You okay?” Tabby whispered, worry in her eyes. Taylor offered her a weak smile, nodded, and sat back to watch the rest of the game.

    ***

    After the game, Taylor wanted to make a quick escape, but Tabby coaxed them into going back to her house. Tia was beside herself with joy so Taylor didn’t have the heart to refuse.
    They gathered out on the deck, enjoying the warm, evening breeze. The crickets sang in the grass as the fireflies blinked on and off, celebrating in the joy of summer.
    Taylor took a seat at the patio table with the rest of the females, as far away from Brady as she could get. Tabby stuck an icy cold bottle of beer in front of her with a grin.
    “Thanks,” Taylor smiled, sipping slowly. She wasn’t much of a drinker and the two beers she’d already consumed had her far too relaxed.
    “Taylor, when does your story on Nolan come out?” Alex asked. He had his tall, lean frame propped against the deck railing. Brady hopped up next to him, sitting atop the rail. They both held sweating bottles of beer in their hands.
    “Probably Sunday,” she replied. She ignored Brady’s glare. It unnerved her immensely the way he kept looking at her and she didn’t want to let him see how much it was affecting her.
    “I can’t wait to read it,” Tabby added. “I haven’t done a story on him yet.”
    “You’d do a much better job than me,” Taylor blushed. “I’ve read all the profiles you’ve written on the players. They were marvelous.”
    “Maybe you could sell your story on Brady to the magazine,” Tabby suggested, excitement brewing in her eyes. "I could talk to my publisher."
    Taylor’s eyes widened. “Oh, no. I don’t think it would compare to your work.”
    “Don’t sell yourself short,” Brady said. “You were always the smartest girl in our class.”

    “I was