Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Hattie sends me a knowing smile, while Kali raises her eyebrows in surprise. “Ice cream sounds great,” she says. “But only if it’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all,” I reply, trying to keep the slight wobble out of my voice. Because the more I think about it, the more I realize I’m in trouble—deep trouble. Especially if Juniper keeps sharing my so-called compliments with Kali at full volume. But at least for tonight, I’m oddly okay with it.
7
Kali
I’m not entirely sure how I ended up here, swaying gently on a back porch swing with Ripley “Riptide” Johnson at my side, the warm glow of a setting sun painting the sky in hues of bright pink and orange. One minute, we were joking around in the kitchen about his cooking skills (or lack thereof), and the next, Hattie was hugging Juniper goodbye and gathering her things. She offered me a quick smile and told me to “have fun,” leaving me feeling both amused and oddly apprehensive.
So now it’s just me, Ripley, and Juniper. Juniper’s hopping around the backyard, practicing her batting stance with an imaginary bat. The only noises are the quiet squeak of the swing’s chains, the distant hum of neighbors, and Juniper’s excited chatter whenever she imagines hitting a grand slam. It’s peaceful in a way I haven’t experienced in a long time.
I can’t help but let my gaze flick over to Ripley. He’s leaning back, one arm stretched out along the top of the swing’s frame, the other resting on his thigh. He’s ditched his baseball cap, leaving his hair slightly messy, and in the soft twilight, I notice a few faint lines around his eyes—signs of someone who’s spent a lot of time squinting at a sunlit field. It’s a nice look on him, I have to admit.
“Beautiful night,” I say softly, feeling the need to break the silence.
He nods, eyes on Juniper as she pretends to round imaginary bases. “Yeah. Hard to beat a Starlight Bay sunset.”
I shift slightly on the swing, the old wood creaking beneath me. “So… thanks again for having me over. I wasn’t expecting such a warm welcome.”
He tilts his head. “I wasn’t expecting to invite you, to be honest.” There’s a hint of a smile ghosting across his lips. “But Juniper can be persuasive.”
“I’ve noticed.” We share a quiet laugh that feels surprisingly companionable. For a second, the memory of me calling a balk on him flashes through my mind, and I think how crazy it is that we’re sitting here, almost like friends.
As if reading my thoughts, Ripley clears his throat. “So… about that game. The one where you called the balk.”
I glance down at my lap, picking at a loose thread on my sundress. “Right. Listen, I… well, I feel like I owe you an apology. I mean, I know you said it was the right call, but I also know how badly you wanted that out—”
He waves me off. “Nah, don’t sweat it. It was the right call. I was mad at first, yeah, but I’d have called it too if I were you.” His tone is casual, but there’s a sincerity that warms my chest. “Besides, it led to all this, didn’t it?” He gestures around at the porch, Juniper’s giggles punctuating the air.
I smile, a little shy despite myself. “Yeah, I guess it did. Though I never thought officiating a minor league game could land me a dinner invitation.”
He chuckles, shifting his weight so that he drifts a bit closer to me. “Life’s weird like that.”
We fall into a comfortable silence. I rest my hands on my knees and tilt my head back to watch the sky. The last edge of the sun dips below the horizon, leaving ribbons of pink and gold streaked across the clouds. A soft breeze drifts by, bringing with it the faint scent of the ocean. Moments like this are what I’ve always loved most about moving to a town like Starlight Bay.
Ripley must sense my thoughts because he asks, “So why’d you move here, anyway? You said you were new in town?”
I nod. “Yeah. I came from a bigger city, but it was too… everything. Too crowded, too loud, too competitive. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it there at times, but I needed a break. Plus, I’ve always wanted to umpire somewhere a bit more laid-back, where I could still hone my skills but not get lost in the chaos. So when the chance opened up at Starlight Bay, I took it.”
“And how’s it working out so far?” he asks quietly.
I smile ruefully. “Well, I’m currently known as the ‘new girl who called a balk on the Riptide Johnson,’ so there’s that.” When he laughs, I feel a tiny buzz of pride that I’ve made him laugh. “But honestly, it’s been good. I like it here. The beach, the slower pace, the sense of community. It’s a nice change.”