Dare You to Fall for the Catcher (Rock Valley High 3)

“Yeah, we might even stand a chance this year at districts.” He smiled grimly at me. “I know you’ve still got a week with us, but if you ever change your mind about going back to track, just know, you’ll have a place here with us.”

I pulled back and laughed softly. “But what about your other manager? Won’t he want his position back?”

Coach Morgan huffed and shrugged his meaty shoulders. “All Ashton does is drive the Gator around and waste my gas. He can still manage to do that with you hanging around. At least you’ve got some common sense in that head of yours.”

“Okay, thanks,” I said with a grateful smile. “I’ll think about it.”

It was nice of Coach to offer, but I was ready and raring to get back to the track. All I needed was my PT’s all-clear on the ankle. Then, it was about making up for lost time.

Coach Morgan said his goodbyes, then loaded up in his Gator and puttered away. Finally, silence settled on the field. It was nice to not be distracted by any of the noises, smells, and sights of a high school baseball practice in motion. This was calming. This could help me think.

And I needed to do a lot of that in the next few hours.

I picked up my clipboard of baseball stats and went to check the locks on the storage rooms one last time before I left. But as I rounded the corner to the concession stand, a hand darted out of the doorway and yanked me inside. I blinked in shock in the semi-darkness until Jayden’s grinning face came into focus.

“I’ve been wanting to do this all day,” he said in a low, gravelly voice.

His fingertips pressed into my waist as he gently guided me backwards. All I could do was stare up at him, my heart thundering loudly like runners at the start of a race. My back pressed against the wall and he leaned down to capture my mouth with his.

The kiss was soft and gentle, but still contained an urgency that made my head buzz. Electricity sparked on my scalp as he gently ran his fingers through my hair, ruining my tidy ponytail. I wrapped my arms around his torso and returned the kiss, wishing for all the world that we could just stay in that concession stand forever and not deal with the rest of the world.

Jayden pulled away first, his chest heaving. He softly caressed my cheek with the pad of his thumb, his lips quirking in a sexy grin. “I like kissing you.”

A reluctant smile tugged at my lips. There was no denying that kissing Jayden was all I’d thought about for the past two days.

“I like it, too. I might even like it better than fighting with you.”

His eyes lit up with mock surprise. “Now, that’s saying something. Mandy Hale has a soft side, ladies and gentlemen.”

I hit him playfully on the shoulder. “Don’t push me. We could go back to bitter enemies in a heartbeat. All I have to do is say the word.”

“Then, don’t.”

His eyes glinted with emotion as he stared into mine. The feeling in his voice weighed on me like a boulder sitting on my chest. He was so sincere, it almost hurt. I pressed my lips together and reached up to touch his cheek and trail my thumb gently along his bottom lip. He was irresistible when he looked at me like that, as if I were his every dream come true. It made me feel like the luckiest girl alive.

“I know this might be too early to ask...” He closed his eyes tightly and leaned into my touch. “...but I have to do it. See, there’s this big event coming up. I’m not sure if you’ve heard about it, but there’s usually a dress, and a tux, and a limo involved. Maybe even a free meal, if you’re lucky. Are you possibly interested in such an event?”

He opened one eye and squinted at me. I was pretty sure I’d quit breathing. Jayden Paul was asking me to prom. I should’ve been out of my mind happy—and there was definitely a lot of squealing going on in the back of my head—but dread pooled in my stomach instead.

Prom was...public. It was a night of holding hands and dancing close and taking cheesy pictures I might someday show to my kids. There was no way I’d be able to keep any of that from Charlotte. Not when she was currently obsessed with Jayden.

I just couldn’t deal with that right now. And I couldn’t tell Jayden the truth. Not until I’d fig

ured this out. He wouldn’t understand.

“You know, I’ve never been one for heels.” I dropped my hand from his face and grimaced, trying to hide my discomfort.

He shrugged. “Wear your track suit, for all I care. I just want to go with you.”

“I’m a terrible dancer.”

“We’ll be terrible together.”

My heart plunged into my gut as I extracted myself from between his arms. I tried to keep a smile on my face, but it wasn’t easy with this terrible hopelessness going on inside of me. What I wouldn’t give to tell him yes. To skip happily away from this team manager thing with a date for my senior prom. And not just any date—a date with the guy that gave me delicious shivers every time he looked at me.

“You know, I’ll have to check my schedule. I think I remember a big track meet that weekend and I’m already so far behind because of my sprained ankle.” I gave him the biggest smile I could muster. “I’m not sure. Can I get back to you?”

The disappointment that flashed in his gaze was so strong it made me want to throw myself into oncoming traffic. But Jayden was quick to cover it up with an easy-going grin. “Sure. Whatever. Just let me know.”