He went first to show me how easy it was. I stood behind the fence safely away from flying balls. He missed the very first ball.
“I thought you said you did this all the time.”
“Remember it's been a while. So let me warm up before you go busting my chops.” He reset himself.
I shook my head thinking he was just being typical over exaggerating his skill to impress a girl.
CRACK! The sound of metal connecting with the ball shut my thought down. And my mouth dropped open.
Lucky shot. He's just trying to prove ...
CRACK! My thoughts were broken by another ball being hit.
Five more booming cracks of impact echoed through the air.
One after another, he hit the ball. I just stood there looking completely dumbfounded.
“I stand corrected.”
Colin looked back at me with his side grin and tipped his head down and winked. “Your turn. I've warmed it up for you.”
“Yeah. Thanks. I'm good watching.”
“Nope. You got to try this. Just hit a couple balls and we'll call it and grab some ice cream.”
Ooh, he knows my weakness.
“Okay, fine. But only a couple of balls. Right?” I asked as I slowly made my way around the entrance into the cage.
“Promise. Hit a few and then ice cream.” He leaned his bat against the back fence and grabbed the other one. “This should work for you.” He handed it to me.
I set myself up while he walked to where I had been watching from.
The machine made a noise and the ball was ejected at what seemed like a thousand miles per hour. I swung and royally missed, practically spinning myself around. I caught Colin, trying not to laugh.
“Nice try. Try again. The first one can be tricky.”
Another sound, another ball, another swing. Another miss.
“Okay. Time for ice cream,” I said as I set my bat down next to his.
“Not yet.”
“But you said a couple of balls. That's two. I tried, I missed. Time for ice cream.”
“I said hit a couple of balls. Then we'll go get ice cream.”
“We'll be here all night.”
“No, you'll be fine. Just square up your feet. Lift the bat with your elbows. Parallel to the ground. When you hear the sound, count to three and swing.”
I just looked at him. He's got to be nuts.
Colin, shaking his head and chuckling, came from behind the fence and behind me. Placing his hands gently on my hips he moved them to fit to his, then he wrapped his arms around me and placed his hands over mine on the bat.
“Just breathe slowly. Watch for the pitch. Keep your eye on the ball,” he whispered softly in my ear. Closing my eyes, I breathed in his aftershave. Oh, did he smell amazing. Then I heard the ball exit the pitching machine. Opening my eyes and trying again to hit the ball, I missed, nearly toppling us. I was laughing so hard... I almost missed it.
“I love you, Joleene!”
Stumbling from his words, I could hardly believe what I had just heard. No way, he didn’t really just tell me he loves me, did he? I guess I was looking at him strange for too long, as he began to pull away from me.
“No,” I pulled him closer. “Sorry, I didn’t expect to hear you tell me that you… that.” I choked on the words a bit, not wanting to repeat them in case I misheard.
“Tell you what? That I love you? I do.”
“Oh Colin, I love you! I wanted to tell you so many times, but I was afraid I would scare you. Please don’t think I don’t love you, I do. I was just surprised is all.”
Colin looked into my eyes and smiled. Time seemed to slow. He gently slid his left hand to the back of my neck lowering his soft lips to mine. Tenderly our lips touched in the most dulcet kiss imaginable.
Chapter 9
“So he said it? He actually said it? He told you he loves you?!” Layla was on the edge of the couch, almost spilling the glass of wine in her hand.
“Yes he did, now watch your glass, girl. Yes, he told me he loves me. Girl, I can’t even tell you how shocked I was. I thought I heard him wrong or I was dreaming. Then time just stopped. When my brain started working again I told him I loved him too. And the kiss he gave me… oh my.” I was smiling like a silly schoolgirl with a crush. I closed my eyes, the touch of his lips still fresh in my mind.
“It was so soft and sweet. Slow and romantic. Like in the movies. No, not like the movies, better! I could feel his love in the kiss.”
Setting her glass on the table and sitting back, Layla just stared at me. A smile crept across her lips.
“So when are we planning the big day, hmm?”
“What? No. We’ve only known each other a few months. I mean, yeah, sure someday I want to get married, but I am not thinking about that right now and I doubt he is either. No, we aren’t getting married.” I took a sip of my own wine. I hadn’t even entertained the idea of marriage ever, but now that Layla said something…
*********
The next morning I couldn’t stop thinking about what Layla said. I even dreamt about marrying Colin. A simple wedding, maybe at a park with our closest friends and his family. I could always talk to Dale to see if we could have the reception at the bar. Hmm… Oh what am I thinking? He only just told me he loved me. Snap
