“Your nephews are three and seven years old!”
“The seven-year-old’s already practically a pro. But you’re definitely picking it up much faster than him.”
When it was my turn to bat, Luke gave me a thumbs up, smiling. He had the most amazing smile—his teeth so white, and his face like a model in a J. Crew ad. He signaled for me to keep my eye on the ball, pointing two fingers at his eyes and then at the pitcher, who was currently my oldest brother Jack. Jack pitched the ball to me, and I swung, missing.
“Strike one!” one of my cousins yelled.
“Don’t worry, Luce. You’ve got this,” Luke encouraged me. Jack pitched again, and again, I missed. I frowned, sighing. “Lucy, you can do this. I believe in you,” Luke said, looking me in the eyes. “Just keep your eye on the ball.”
I straightened up, getting back in the right position. Jack pitched again, and I swung, my bat connecting with the ball. I watched as it flew into the sky.
“Run, Lucy! Run!” Luke yelled, and everyone else on my team joined in. “Run!” I quickly dropped my bat and ran toward first base, my feet touching the base before the ball got there. I jumped up and down, celebrating. That was the first time I’d ever even made it to first base.
Luke was up next, and he was able to send the ball really far. I ran to second and then third. Mark was up next, and he struck out. One of my cousins went after him, and I finally made it to home base.
“Nice job, Lucy.” My dad patted me on my shoulder.
Once Luke returned to home base, he gave me a huge hug and said, “See, Lucy. I knew you could do it.”
After the baseball game, Luke and I went for a walk around the neighborhood, holding hands. “Why do you believe in me so much?” I asked.
He stopped and took my other hand in his, so he was holding both my hands between us. He looked in my eyes and said, “Because you’re so determined at everything you put your mind to. I knew you just needed some encouragement. I think you just had it in your head that you’re bad at sports, so you never even bothered to try to be good at them. It’s the same in school. I know you’re a smart girl. You just have it in your head that you’re not for some reason. But I see how you are when you set a goal. You do everything in your power to make sure you accomplish it, and you figure it out. I’ve never met anyone as resourceful and persistent as you are.”
I stared at him, my mouth agape. No one had ever said anything so nice and sincere to me in my life. He smiled and continued, “Honestly, I think you see yourself as just a dumb blonde sometimes. But I know you’re not. Don’t get me wrong, you’re very beautiful, but you’re also so much more than that, Lucy. I wouldn’t have thought that at first. But after I got to know you, I realized how much more you are than the image you project of yourself to everyone. You are also so loyal and sweet. I see how you stick up for your friends at school without even hesitating.”
I took my hands out of his and wrapped my arms around him, amazed by how highly he thought of me. He returned the hug, then put his mouth on mine, kissing me deeply. When we finally pulled apart, he said, “Lucy, I am completely crazy about you.”
“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Luke,” I said, feeling deep inside how true it was. He finally made me feel like no one ever made me feel in my life—like I was valued, and I belonged.
Myyoungestcousinsallswarmed the kitchen, fighting to grab cookies off the table.
“None for you, Lily!” My little cousin Jacob held his sister, not allowing her to take a cookie. She began crying, unable to free herself.
“Jacob, stop it! That’s not nice!” I chastised him, pulling him off his little sister. “Big brothers are supposed to help their little sisters, not make their life more difficult!” I took Lily’s hand and brought her to the table. “Which one do you want?” I squatted down in front of her.
“Chocolate chip,” she said, shyly, sniffing back tears.
“Here you go.” I smiled at her, grabbing a cookie off the table. “Don’t let your brother bully you like that. You need to tell him he’s being bad.” She nodded and ran away.
“These cupcakes are amazing!” My friend Emma approached me, looking tan and relaxed after returning from her honeymoon. “Your mate’s going to be one lucky man!”
“You mean my boyfriend?” I asked.
“I mean, sure, Luke’s lucky for now. But that’s not forever.”
I was annoyed by her comment. Why would she say that? She knew how I felt about Luke. Why did everyone dismiss our relationship as if it were some childish infatuation? It was so demeaning! Like, how could silly Lucy know anything about life and love? “Of course it’s forever!” I snapped back. “We’re going to be chosen mates!”
“I know you always say that, but you can’t be serious!” Emma looked at me critically. What, had she thought I was joking all this time?
“Why not?” I asked, giving her a hard stare.
“Because you have a mate out there somewhere. And Luke has one too.”
“So what?”
“I don’t know, Lucy. It just seems wrong. Artemis gives us all mates. I mean, look how happy Kyle and I are together. I can’t imagine ever meeting anyone more perfect for me. And he’s so creative in bed. Last time, he blindfolded me—”
I cut Emma off. “For the love of Artemis, stop telling me about what you do with my brother in bed! I don’t need to know any of that!”