Page 12 of Pitcher Perfect (Big Shots #4)

“You were the token suck-up in class, weren’t you?” Robbie asked, his voice a lot grittier than before. Hard to blame him

when they were still fucking like animals in his mind, Skylar on top now, her ponytail coming loose, hips bucking—

“Every single time,” she answered, sniffing. “And you were the class clown, I’m guessing?”

Come on, man. Focus.

She asked for help. Give it to her.

“Smile at me a little,” he leaned down to murmur against her forehead. “You look like you’re telling me to go jump in the

lake.”

Her mouth softened gradually, along with her eyes. “I wouldn’t mind seeing that.”

Robbie shrugged. “I’m a strong swimmer.”

“Hopefully that will come in handy.” Her fingertips moved higher to the collar of his polo, smoothing it out, and he almost

saw stars when the pad of her pinkie finger grazed the skin below his ear. Felt that minor touch all the way in his stomach,

nearly causing him to groan. “The main purpose of the opening ceremony is to go over the rules and receive the first challenge.”

He blinked to clear his sudden double vision. “Who designs the challenges?”

“My parents.”

Robbie hadn’t been expecting that, although it hadn’t occurred to him to wonder who came up with the events.

He’d had too much else on his mind; namely, the girl in front of him who was going to have a black belt in flirting by the end of the night, if they continued like this.

“They get to plan the challenges, even though they’re competing?

” Robbie asked, using his thumb to smooth down those curly hairs at her temple.

Did her eyes get kind of drowsy when he rubbed her temples or was that just wishful thinking? “It’s the one advantage we give

them due to their age,” Skylar said, tamping down a yawn, then looking around to make sure no one saw it.

“Generous of you,” he quipped quietly, rubbing with a little more pressure.

“You might have to stop doing that.”

“Why?”

“It’s putting me to sleep when I need to be alert.” She gave a rapid shake of her head and caught his wrist, starting to pull

it away. But something—or someone—behind Robbie must have been watching because she brought his wrist to her mouth and kissed

his pulse, before letting it go, blissfully unaware that she’d just sent it haywire.

“Did he see that?” Robbie asked. It was that or start moaning.

She searched his face a moment before nodding. “I can’t tell what Madden thinks about all this. You being here.”

“You’ve known him a long time. You don’t feel comfortable asking him?”

“No,” she said on a burst of breath. Then, more troubled, “No.”

“Not yet,” Robbie said, wanting to make her feel better. Encouraged.

Gratitude danced briefly across her face. “Right. Not yet.”

She seemed at a loss for what to do with her hands now that they were still standing close, but not touching, so Robbie wound the fingers of his right hand through her left ones, stroking his thumb along the base of her wrist, gratified to see her pupils dilate slightly.

Chemistry. He had that with her, if nothing else.

“Speaking of sleep,” Skylar said, sounding a touch out of breath, “I’m probably not going to get any this week. I’ve shared

a bed before, but mostly as a kid at sleepovers or with my teammates at travel tournaments. And never someone your size.”

“Thank you.” He winked down at her. “It is remarkable in size.”

“I’m talking about your overall body size. Not your penis.”

“We’ll have to talk about it eventually, Rocket. It’s on the calendar.”

“We’ll cross the dick bridge when we get to it.”

Robbie coughed a laugh. “Can Dick Bridge be our new team name?”

“No, but we should have a new team name, right? Team Skeeve only makes sense when it’s me and Eve.” Decision visibly made, Skylar’s hold on

his hand tightened and she turned, pulling Robbie back in the direction of the firepit.

He dug in his heels. “You’re hot enough without catching on fire, Rocket.”

She shot him a glance, insult loading, but realized at the last second that everyone had ceased their conversations to watch

them interact. “Thanks, Redbeard.”

“Redbeard and Rocket,” mused Vivica, elbowing a watchful Doug. “Cute.”

“Is it, though?” Elton tilted his head, obnoxiously. “ Is it? ”

Skylar pursed her lips. “Maybe you should catch on fire, Elt.”

“I’d prefer that over watching you two canoodle.”

“Mom, can we start deducting points every time Elton uses the word ‘canoodle’?”

Elton made a face, but Robbie only noticed it in his periphery, because he was watching Madden. And Madden was watching him back with a frown.

Okay. Looked like they had his attention.

Robbie ignored the sinking sensation in his stomach.

“Speaking of point deductions,” said Doug, commandeering the conversation in a booming manner that reminded Robbie of a radio

DJ. “Honey, would you like to remind everyone of the rules of engagement? You do it so eloquently.”

“Thank you, dear. Yes, I would.” Vivica folded her hands at her waist, her gaze sharpening to a point. “No sabotaging whatsoever.

I’m looking at you, Elton and Skylar. If anyone is caught tampering with alarm clocks or equipment, both offenders get an

automatic DQ. No bribing the Page Stakes committee for a more desirable challenge. They are set in stone and stored in a secure

location.”

“They’re taped to the back of the bread machine my mother never uses,” Skylar said out of the side of her mouth.

“Each evening, the following day’s challenge will be left on the refrigerator, beneath my Brown University Alumni magnet.”

Doug and Vivica traded a proud look. “And last but not least, no laxatives in anyone’s cereal, Skylar. Remember 2019.”

“He looked a little backed up,” Skylar replied innocently. “I was trying to help.”

“You nearly helped my spleen exit my body.” Elton looked around the group, visibly haunted. “You’re not supposed to use the

whole bottle.”

“Oops.”

With a final reproving glance at her children, Vivica produced two laminated sheets, handing one to Elton and the other to

Skylar with a flourish. Eager to find out what they’d be up against, Robbie stepped up behind Skylar and scanned the first

challenge from over her shoulder.

Challenge One: Blindfolded Blitz

“Don’t worry, I’ll explain it later,” she said for his ears alone. Then louder, “It should be a cinch.” Skylar adopted a casual

backward lean against Robbie’s chest. So casual he wondered if she realized she’d done it at all. “We won’t even break a sweat.”

Her brother shrugged, handing the list to Madden, who—goddammit—had to tear his attention off Skylar in order to take it.

“Easy peasy.”

Vivica laughed. “Tell yourself whatever helps you sleep at night, but we all remember the ER visit of 2021. You needed seventeen

stitches, right, Madden?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Vivica high-fived her husband. “That’s what I thought.”

These people were intense.

Skylar turned to face Robbie, dropping her voice to a whisper. “We should probably get to bed early tonight.”

Spend alone time with Skylar, no Madden in sight?

“Sign me up.”

She started to back toward the house, holding the laminated challenge to her chest, her bravado so bold, scholars would write

odes in its honor one day. “One last thing,” she called to her family. “We’re changing our team name to Rocket and Redbeard.”

Elton doubled over and made a retching sound.

Robbie and Skylar fist-bumped on their way into the house.

“Come on.” They walked side by side down the hallway toward her bedroom. “The longer we spend around them, the more they’ll

get in our heads.”

“You’re right,” Robbie said. “We need some team bonding time. I’ve got just the thing.”

“No.”

“It was worth a shot.”