The Other Game (The Perfect Game 4)
He Did It
I started to feel like I spent more time in the pizza restaurant at the student union than I did in my classes. But sitting at a table with Melissa made it all worth it.
The girl was beyond adorable, so petite and feisty with those stunning blue eyes that drove me wild. She was funny and sassy, and I liked being around her. Melissa made things fun. The fact that she never asked me about Jack, which I secretly loved more than I should, was an added bonus.
You know how when you meet a person who sparks something inside you? That was how I felt around Melissa. She made me feel more alive, and not for any other reason other than simply being herself.
“Did you have fun at the game last night?” I asked.
“How’d you know I was at the game?” Amusement danced in her eyes, replacing her initial surprise.
“I saw you. Nice seats,” I teased, remembering how close they were to the dugout.
She laughed. “I did that on purpose to torture Cassie. I wanted to embarrass her.”
“Did you?”
“Did I what?”
“Did you embarrass her?”
She clasped her hands together in front of her face and hid her adorable smile. “Oh my gosh, yes. She was mortified. It was awesome.”
“Anyone ever told you that you’re a crappy best friend?”
“Hey!” She slapped her hand on the table. “You take that back. I’m a great best friend. I wanted her to see that Jackass, the baseball player, was awesome. Nothing like Jackass, the stupid guy on campus.”
I laughed again at the way she talked about my brother. Her clear-eyed impression of Jack was refreshing. “What did she think?”
“She was impressed. Although she’d never admit it.”
Melissa glanced up, and I followed her line of sight to see Cassie heading our way. She tossed her bag on top of the table befo
re sitting down.
“Hey, Dean.” She smiled at me, and when I smiled back, she glanced over my shoulder and her smile died.
“Thought you weren’t coming to my game?”
Jack surprised us all by sliding into the seat next to Cassie. I had to chuckle a little inside as she pretended not to enjoy that attention from him.
“My roommate threatened to set me on fire if I didn’t.” She tried to sound nonchalant as she scooted her chair away from Jack’s.
“Well, at least now I know how to get you to go out with me.”
“I’m not going out with you.” Cassie frowned before shooting both Melissa and me a desperate look. Save me, it said.
“At least give me your number then,” Jack said, as confident as ever.
“No thanks.”
“Why not?”
“‘Cause I don’t want to.”
“Aw, come on, Kitten,” Jack said, and I almost lost it, thinking back to our conversation from last night.
“Stop calling me that!” She stood up from the table before abruptly grabbing her things. “I’ll see you later,” she announced, her gaze focused solely on Melissa. Then she bolted from the student union with my brother hot on her heels.