Consider Me (Playing For Keeps, #1)

by Becka Mack

“He makes me laugh a lot, and he’s kind of a big goofball. He makes me feel good about myself. He’s painfully honest, and I like the way he smells and the way he plays with my hair. And when he looks at me…when he looks at me, it’s like it’s only me and him. I like the way he looks at me. And I like that his house is his escape, that he likes to stare at the stars and the mountains and forget the noise, and he has the prettiest smile and the best dimples, and he was so sweet with the kids at the fundraiser and such a good sport at taking the pies to the face, and he’s a good friend, and—”

I’m thankful for his warning, because the second we sit, a girl throws herself in my lap. I’m not sure my reaction is the best. I throw my hands in the air and scream, accidentally shoving her off my lap and to the ground when I rocket to my feet and yell out, “I have a girlfriend!”

Don’t you dare, Olivia mouths. But Cara’s jumping up and down, shaking Olivia’s shoulders, just daring me to do it. So I do. I point my stick at her, bring my glove to my lips, and blow Olivia the biggest, loudest smooch I can muster, sending it out into the arena as the crowd goes nuts. Her cherry red face lights up the jumbotron for the second time in her life, because I’ll never learn my lesson. I throw an arm up overhead, gesturing at the screen with my stick. “That’s my fucking princess!” I did say I do everything with flare.