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“That would be cool,” I said “We could round up Fitz and Jiether”

Chip laughed “That would be so”

“Oh uys should!” Mariah exclaiue while I was growing up—in fact, they’re still playing—and going to the games was so much fun”

“Uh, I think soht coue,” I said

“I’ll take a little so off my fastball,” joked Chip “I’ll keep my eyes closed We’ll put a fake name on my jersey”

“You’d still strike out every jackass at the plate We’d be disqualified before the inning was up”

He grinned, looking eighteen again “Be a hell of an inning though Then we’d go for beers”

“Fuck yeah,” I said “Count me in”

Eight

Winnie

Sunday , I woke up around nine, which was later than usual—probably because I’d lain awake half the night thinking about that kiss

That kiss

Rolling onto s wrapped around it If I closed ht back to that electric moment e’d both stood up at the saraphed by divine intervention

Neither of us hadsuspended in my chest, poised to fall

And then—and then—he’d taken me by the shoulders and crushed thatabout all day Usually, his jaas all clenched and tight, but suddenly his lips were open, his tongue was on ainst my skin

I’d felt that kiss right down to my toes

Then all of a sudden, it was over And he was gone