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She shoved my shoulder. “You’re theworst.”

Mags came up and gave Liv a hug. “I’m so happy for you! Congratulations!”

“Thank you!” Liv said. “Now can you please get my brother on the field before I injure him and he ends up with a bruise or something?”

Maggie laughed happily. “That I can do. Let’s go, trouble.”

We had a great practice. Maggie took half the team to the infield, practicing batting with them, while I took the other half to the outfield, practicing catching hits close to the fence. Not a lot of girls hit it that far in the last couple games, but it was good for them to practice maintaining focus while being aware of their surroundings.

At the end of the practice, I called the girls into a huddle. They all looked up at me, waiting for me to talk.

“I’m proud of you girls,” I said. “We’ve got just a few games left—it’s a short season—but you’ve come so far. Esther, you’re a hitting machine!” She blushed, toeing the dirt. “Maya, you’re not allowed a softball when we’re at home because that arm is a rocket!”

She dropped her mouth. “I already have tons of tennis balls for Graham!”

“Mindy, you’re catching flies like a frog out there!”

She stuck out her tongue and said, “Ribbit.”

I chuckled and congratulated a few more girls on their skills. “Be good for your parents and come to the game Friday ready to play hard.”

I stuck my hand in the middle, but Mags said, “Actually, Coach, I think you should lead the Unicorn Roar.”

My cheeks flushed hard as a muscle in my jaw ticked. “What agreatidea. Fingers up.”

All the girls put their fingers up from their foreheads.

I dragged my toe through the dirt at the pitcher’s mound and yelled, “UNICORN ROAR.”

And when the girls started jogging back to the dugout, I spoke low in Maggie’s ear. “You’re going to pay for that.”

I saw her breath catch in her chest before she whispered, “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

31

MAGNOLIA

My heart was still racing,my skin feeling hot as we said goodbye to all the players and parents and loaded up the gear into Rhett’s truck. The way Rhett’s gaze had shifted after what I said earlier had me ready for whatever he wanted to do to me.

And let’s be real; I couldn’t get our country tryst out of my mind. Rhett may have admitted pleasuring himself to a photo of me, but I’d been getting off to the memory of him since it happened. I knew what had happened was only the beginning. And I had my hands in the air, ready to scream along to this wild roller coaster ride.

But when we finished putting all the gear in his truck bed, he didn’t make a move. Disappointed, I said, “I’ll see you next week at practice. I’m sad I won’t make the game.”

His gaze was heavy as he looked across the truck bed at me. “Get in.”

I raised my eyebrows. “In?”

“Get. In. The. Truck.” His voice had a hint of danger, another of desire.

My lips parted in stunned silence.

“Don’t make me ask again,” he growled.

“Why?” I asked, my voice all breathy.

“Because bad girls need to be punished. Now get in the fucking truck, Mags.”

My heart sped as I walked to the passenger door, knowing I’d follow whatever direction he gave me if it led to me feeling as good as I had on Sunday.