“Please don’t tell her.  You know how she feels about you.”  He laughs kissing me on the cheek.

“She loves me.”  I whine hitting him in the shoulder.

“Yes I do, she’s my bestest friend.”  Mackenna waddles over to me.

“How have you gotten bigger in just a month?”  I hug her cautiously.

“I can’t stop growing since I popped.”  She rubs her stomach.

“Your even more gorgeous pregnant.”  I assure her.

“I agree, she’s the most beautiful pregnant woman I have ever seen.”  Bryan puts his arm around her bringing her close to his chest.

“Pregnant?”  Kenna questions.

“And not pregnant.  Christ Kenna you know what I meant.”  Bryan flusters.

“I know babe, no worries.”  Kenna gives him a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Straight men just don’t know how to talk to the ladies.”  Ian says coming down to join us. “You look marvelous girl.”  He hugs Mackenna.  “I can give you some lessons Bryan.”  He shakes Bryan’s hand.

“I might have to take you up on that man.”  Bryan returns the handshake.

Bryan and Mackenna join us on the bench.

“How come you aren’t playing Edwards?”  I ask.

“Gave up my usual spot for Basso.”  Bryan says not looking back to me.

“Gabe?”  I clarify.

“Trent” he corrects.  Mackenna hits him in the arm giving me that sorrowful look again.  I don’t want to see it, if I have to be here I want it to be happy.

“He’s late.  Like usual.”  I sigh.

“It’s not late Maddy, the game hasn’t started.”  His voice is etched in my head.  I will myself not to turn around.  I can’t see him, not yet.  I need more time.  Little did I know I don’t have to turn around because he is standing right in front of me?  The others freeze staring between Trent and I.  I would say I am surprised but this seems to be a usual occurrence with us.

“Practice is over Trent.  The game is about to start.”  I point with my finger towards the field.

“Always the dictator, right Maddy?”  He sarcastically spouts.

“Give me a break Trent, just get out to the field.”  I say.

Trent looks at the field where the team is staring over at us waiting for him.  HE jogs up the few steps to me, coming close to me as though he is going to kiss me but at the last second moves his mouth toward my ear.  “Every home run is for you.  Stick around after the game, we need to talk.”  Then he turns around walking through the gate to the dugout.

“Hi Trent.  Nice to see you too.”  Ian screams out to him.

“How you doing Ian?  Keeping my girl safe I hope.”  He waves his hand not turning around.

I want to scream I’m not your girl but I just roll my eyes again.  I am not going to make a scene.  I see Jack looking at me from the field concern filling his eyes.  I wave him off reassuring him I can handle it.  Next to him Gabe is talking to Trent staring at me every few seconds.  The conversation looks heated but I have seen them fight numerous times before and they usually ended in fists.  Since they weren’t swinging I figure I am seeing something that isn’t there.

Gentry’s are behind eight to ten by the seventh inning and Gabe is up to bat.  I start cheering for him and he looks up at me and winks.   He takes a practice swing then sets up his stance.  Gabe has always been good-looking, some would say the most attractive Basso brother.  They all share the honey blond hair and crystal blue eyes but Gabe has more muscle, Trent is a little taller and Doug looks more like their mother while Gabe and Trent favor their dad.

He swings on the first throw and we all start screaming from the stands.  It goes over the fence.  Bringing two more players into home base making the score eleven to ten Gentry’s.  The stands are clapping and screaming Gabe’s name.

He walks over to the fence “It’s been a pleasure ladies.”  Then he bowed “and gentlemen too.”  Turning around walking back to the dugout.

I actually spit my beer out when he mentions the gentlemen and everyone starts laughing.  I feel Trent’s eyes on me but I don’t turn to him.  I can’t give in.  I know why he is looking.  I am sure I resemble the girl he used to love but she isn’t here anymore.

Trent never hits a home run making me thankful.  I don’t want him drawing attention to us.  We are supposed to go to Gentry’s after the game.  Trent asks if I will ride with him but I am hesitant.  Everyone waves us off except for Gabe who sticks around to make sure I want to go with him.  Reluctantly I agree and Gabe goes to the blue machine to take everyone else.

Trent comes over and opens the passenger door of his black Mercedes.  Sliding onto the leather seats the familiar scent of his cologne filled my nostrils.  I watch him ease into his seat, his long legs and muscular build forming to the black leather.  He smiles over to me while he starts the car.  I can’t help but smile back, his face just makes my lips move up.

“Trent, I…” he interrupts me.

He rests his hand on my leg.  “Not tonight Maddy.  We will make time to talk but not now. Let’s just have fun like the old times.”  I look into those blue eyes and see the boy I loved and I want nothing more than to enjoy our time together with none of the drama.

“Alright.”  I shake my head in agreement.

“So, how’s New York?”  He asks driving slowing out of the gravel parking lot.

“The same, nothing new.”  I shrug my shoulders.

“I miss it, especially the people.”  He winks his eye at me.

“Yeah?’ I question.

“Why would that surprise you?”

“Why wouldn’t it?”

I see the disappointment in his face but that doesn’t change things.

We make it to the bar and the blue machine is already there along with all the other players’ cars.  Gentry had rehabbed an old feed barn by the railroad tracks.  The bar fills the downstairs and basement with family dining on the top level.  High oak tables wrap the room with a bar that spans one side of the room.  Every type of alcohol lines the mirrored wall behind the bar even though this town is more partial to beer.

I don’t know how Gentry managed it but all the state trophies are encased in a glass cabinet high above the seating along with numerous awards the Belcrest Spartans have won over the years.  There are even some individual trophies of the players.

Trent leads me down to the basement where the sign reads it is a private party for Jennings.  No doubt my brother arranged this, he is known to be the party planner of Belcrest.  The basement is a typical bar scene.  Pool Tables and Dart Boards with small tables along the walls.  There are two bars, one against the back wall and a smaller one up front.  Everyone is lined up against the wall bar in the back waiting to be served.  Jack is passing out pitchers for everyone so I make my way over to Ian and Kenna.

I take a pitcher out of Jack’s hands and a cup out of Ian’s pouring myself a beer, I down half of it and take a seat.

“It must have been quite a trip over.”  Ian jokes.

“Like always.”  I respond back tipping back my beer some more.

“You didn’t have to go with him.”  Kenna sneers.  I know what she thinks but she never understood our connection.

“I know Kenna.  Sooner or later we have to face each other again.”  I sneer back.  I understand she wants to protect me but what am I supposed to do ignore him.

Trent caught up with me at the table after being cornered by some other Littles, no doubt asking him about his wonderful life.  He stays by my side the whole night, touching the small of my back, putting his arm around the back of my chair.  We play a pool tournament but we were knocked out by Bryan and Mackenna in the third round.  My cheeks hurt from laughing so hard.  I had forgotten how Trent makes me laugh and feel worth something.  Wasn’t that the problem though, he could make anyone feel like they were special until he left.

The night winds down and slow songs start to play on the jukebox.  Mostly couples are left so the dance floor is full.  Bryan is lovingly holding Mackenna rocking back and forth while Jack dips and spins Lindsey around. I sit quietly in the corner finishing my beer observing the happy couples.