Summer Seventeen & You Read online

  “Wanna go upstairs and get cleaned up?” he whispered next to my ear.

  “Duh.”

  Wyatt laughed and shook his head. “Be safe. I don’t need my cousin getting preggo!”

  My mouth fell open, and I punched his shoulder. “You’re one to talk! Quinn tells me everything. Don’t forget that!”

  He smiled against the rim of his beer and took a drink without responding.

  On our way in, we passed Quinn and Elliot. Logan bumped his shoulder, purposefully making Elliot spill whatever was in his cup. Logan laughed, but Elliot didn’t do anything. Logan waited for him to retaliate, but he just stared at Logan with no emotion.

  “Dammit, Logan, don’t be such a dick!” Quinn snapped.

  “It was an accident,” Logan slurred. His alcohol was kicking in.

  I looped my arm in Logan’s. “Come on.” I looked at Elliot over my shoulder before walking inside and up the stairs.

  I took the trash to the road and looked down at my cell phone. Today was my birthday and still no call from my parents. This wasn’t unlike them, though. I only heard from them when they needed me to do something that would benefit the record label they ran. I looked up after putting the lid on the can and saw Elliot taking out his own trash. He looked like he had been crying, and I couldn’t help but continue to stare.

  “Morning,” I said before thinking better of it. Why was I talking to him? There was this mutual hate thing I was supposed to abide by, since Logan and the rest of the team were pissed that this new guy had Logan’s spot on the team. But...he looked so sad, and for some unknown reason, I kind of cared.

  He nodded his head in acknowledgement, “Morning.”

  “I saw you talking to Quinn at my party. Sorry for whatever she said.” I laughed and checked my phone when it dinged. I smiled at the text from Logan telling me happy birthday and then looked at Elliot again.

  “She was fine. More my brother’s type than mine.” He put his hands in his jean pockets. “I should go.” He motioned toward the house and began to walk off.

  I chewed on my lip, feeling like I should say more, since this guy was going to be living right across the street from me, but I also knew I owed him nothing. As a matter of fact, he acted like my talking to him actually bothered him, which was weird because guys usually loved it when I gave them any attention at all.

  “Elliot?”

  He stopped walking and turned to look at me. “Yeah?”

  Dammit, did he have to be so good looking? “Welcome to the neighborhood. I promise everyone here isn’t as annoying as me. Mostly old people.”

  “Thanks.” He started walking and stopped once more to look over his shoulder. “You’re not too bad.”

  I smiled but didn’t say anything else. I waited for him to go inside before turning to go back into my house. I sat down on the couch and huffed at the big, empty place. I remember when I was four, my mom threw me this huge birthday party and invited all of the kids from my class. That was one time I can remember when she actually acted like she gave a damn about me. Dad’s and her work was too important. Money, their clients, and greed took over their hearts. There was no room for me. They never wanted kids anyway. I was a mistake and slowed them down. Their words, not mine.

  I called Logan.

  “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear, Samantha! Happy birthday to youuuuuu!”

  I laughed and laid back on the couch. “Thank you. What are you doing? I know you said we’d go out tonight, but I’m bored now and really hate being alone today.”

  “Where’s Quinn?”

  “No clue. I think she had some stuff to do with her parents or something.”

  “Oh, I figured she was with you. I’m at the field about to practice with some of the guys, but I can come over after I’m done.”

  I frowned. “You didn’t invite Elliot?”

  “I didn’t say I didn’t. How would you know whether or not I did anyway?”

  “He lives across the street now. I saw him taking out the trash.”

  Silence.

  “Logan?”

  I heard him breathe heavily into the phone. “First, he’s invited to a party, and now you’re watching him?”

  I sat up and scrunched my nose. “What? First of all, Quinn is to blame for the party. Second of all, I was taking out the trash at the same time. What’s your problem?”

  “Just making sure you’re not interested in that freak.”

  “Logan...seriously?”

  “I invited him, Sam. He said no.”

  “Oh.” I didn’t mention that Elliot looked really upset, or that I’d talked to him. It was better to just drop it. “Can I come watch you practice? Anything would be better than sitting here.”

  “Of course. See you soon.”

  “Okay! Love you, Logan!”

  “Love you, too.”

  I got ready and then went out to my car. I threw my purse into the seat then looked at Zach’s house. If Logan had invited him, I wondered why he wouldn’t practice with the guys. They are a team and even if Logan treats him like shit, they all need to learn to work together. Zach came out of the house and noticed me staring.

  “Are you going to stand there and dream about seeing me naked through one of the windows or get in your car?”

  I laughed. “You wish, college boy!”

  “Nah, I know. If you weren’t controlled by that boyfriend of yours, you’d be wishing I-”

  “You’re full of it, Zach.”

  He smirked. “Yeah, but so are you.”

  “Can you do me a favor?”

  “A favor for Samantha Scott? Please, let it be dirty.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Tell your brother to go practice. His team needs him there.”

  “Tell my brother to do something? Not an easy task. I’ll try, though.”

  I smiled as I got in my car and left.

  I SAT IN the grass and watched the guys practice. I was hoping to hear from Quinn to see if she wanted to go shopping before my date with Logan tonight, but she wasn’t responding. I looked up from my phone and saw Elliot’s car pull in.

  He got out and put on a ball cap. He nodded at me as he walked toward the dugout. I watched him set his bag down and put his glove on. I looked at Logan and the rest of the guys. They were all shocked to see him.

  Guilt immediately hit me. Did he come because of what I said to Zach? I was overstepping boundaries. This was dangerous. Logan would hate me if he knew I had said anything. I didn’t make eye contact with Elliot and went over to the bleachers. I put my earbuds in, pulled my sunglasses over my eyes, and watched...Elliot.

  AFTER THEY WERE done practicing, Logan crooked his finger at me while the guys were packing things up. I went into the dugout and was way too close to Elliot. It gave him a chance to talk to me.

  “What are you staring at?” I snapped at him and quickly regretted it, but it had to be this way.

  Logan laughed.

  Elliot’s eyebrows shot up, but he quickly hid his surprise at my tone. “Nothing.” He grabbed his stuff and walked past me. “See ya around,” he mumbled before leaving the dugout.

  “Damn, Sam,” Wyatt said as he put his bag over his shoulder.

  “He stole Logan’s position.”

  “He didn’t actually steal—” Wyatt stopped talking when Logan shot him a dirty look. “I thought you were kind of cool with it. It’s your dad that’s pissed.”

  “That was until I realized my dad was right. That was my position.” Logan looked at me. “I’m going home and getting cleaned up. I’ll come pick you up in an hour.” Logan kissed my temple and then left with Wyatt.

  I started for my car but stopped when I noticed Elliot was parked right next to it. I looked for Logan’s truck, it was on the opposite side of the field. Elliot’s car and mine were the only two vehicles parked in the lot. I walked over and kept my eyes on my feet.

  I looked at him before getting in the car. “Logan can’t know I said
one word to you. It’s complicated.”

  His eyes bore into mine as he quietly examined my face. “Why would I say anything to him?” He pulled the door of his car open. “And he should trust you more.”

  “He does. Why would you say that?” I looked over my shoulder and sighed in relief when I saw that Logan and Wyatt had already left.

  “If he did, you wouldn’t be worried about him seeing you talking to me. It’s not like I’m interested.” He got into his car and pulled the door closed. He started it up and put his arm on the door. He looked at me. “I would say I’ll talk to you later, but I guess I won’t be.”

  My mouth fell open, and I felt the urge to stomp my foot like a child. “Excuse me? He doesn’t want me talking to you because you waltzed into our school like you owned the place and took the position he wanted on the team! It was insta-hate!” I felt irritated when he laughed at me.

  “Maybe you should get your facts straight, Sweetheart. I didn’t steal anything from him.” He put the car in reverse and drove off.

  Sweetheart? He called me sweetheart? I swung my door open and got in my car. I turned up the music and was stewing over Elliot Shaw. I was even more frustrated when I realized that I had to follow his stupid ass because we lived in the same neighborhood. I pulled into my driveway, and he pulled into his. I slammed my door, and he shut his.

  “You see this road between our houses?” I yelled at him from my front yard.

  He walked into the middle of the road and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “This one? The one I’m standing on?” He cocked an eyebrow at me and kept his eyes on mine.

  “Stay on your side, and I’ll stay on mine!”

  He smirked a little and walked across the road. He was now standing in front of me and looking down at me with that annoyingly, sexy smirk on his face. “What are you going to do if I don’t?”

  I crossed my arms in front of my chest and glared up at him. “Call the cops.”

  “And what are they going to do? I’m not breaking any laws.” The wind blew a piece of my hair in my face. I flinched a little as he gently tucked it behind my ear. “Have a good night, Trouble.” He turned and walked back over to his house.

  Trouble?

  I stormed into my house and slammed the door. I couldn’t help myself, I peeked out the window and saw him laughing as he walked into his. He had some nerve.

  I gripped Quinn’s knee when Logan was up to bat. I held my breath and waited while he got ready to swing. Scouts were here today, and I was more nervous than he was. Playing pro ball was his dream. Quinn laughed at me.

  “Shhh!”

  She laughed again. “Calm down.”

  Logan hit the ball out of the park. I stood and squealed. “That’s my baby!”

  Logan ran the bases and high-fived the guys in the dugout. I watched him skip over Elliot and then sit down. Elliot was up next to bat, and he hadn’t missed a ball all night. The scouts were obviously watching him too, and it irritated me a little bit. This was Logan’s show, not his. I gripped Quinn’s leg again.

  “Ummm, Sam?”

  “Shhh!”

  “Sam!” she whispered harshly. “You do realize that is Elliot, right?”

  I blushed and let go of her leg. “Sorry…I…I just want him to miss, and I want the scouts to pay attention to Logan and Wyatt, not that loser.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  I rolled my eyes and stood. “I’m going to get something to drink. Coming?”

  She nodded, and we went to the concession stand.

  I was handing the guy behind the counter my money when I heard a bunch of yelling and turned to look at the field, but all of the attention was on the dugout. I couldn’t see what was going on so I ran over to the fence with Quinn. I was trying my hardest to look over everyone, but I was too short.

  “What’s going on!” I yelled over the commotion.

  “The new kid and Logan are fighting!”

  My eyes widened, and I tried to get through the crowd but couldn’t.

  Quinn pulled me back and practically dragged me to the parking lot.

  “Logan was being shitty to him the entire game, Sam! I’m sure Elliot had had enough!”

  “Are you defending him?”

  “Maybe! Elliot didn’t—”

  “Stop!” I yelled. “Whose side are you on?”

  “I’m on the entire team’s side and pretty irritated that your stupid boyfriend thinks the team is only about him!”

  “Logan is the team! They would lose if it weren’t for him!”

  She raised a brow. “Maybe that was true until Elliot came. And you know I’m right!”

  I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. “You’re being ridiculous!”

  “Me?” She laughed. “Sam, you have to admit that I’m right!”

  So, what if she was right. Logan had worked hard for this. Elliot was new and needed to know his boundaries.

  I walked away from her and started looking for my car but remembered that I rode here with Logan tonight. I sighed in defeat and started back toward the field. I bet the scouts are pissed, and it’s all Elliot’s fault.

  LOGAN CAME OUT of my bathroom in a pair of shorts he kept at my house. He finished drying his hair with a towel before dropping it in the floor and plopping down on the bed beside me.

  “You haven’t said a word to me since we left the game.”

  I set my magazine down and looked at him. “I didn’t know what to say.”

  “Do you want to know what happened?”

  I shrugged.

  He touched the side of my face gently and smiled. “You’re so cute when you’re mad.”

  “I’m not mad. So, what happened?”

  “Elliot missed a hit that he shouldn’t have, and coach was on his ass. When he came into the dugout, I could tell he was pissed he missed, and I told him not to sweat it.”

  “Liar.”

  He chuckled. “Okay, I told him not to sweat it, that losers miss all the time.”

  Logan…”

  “Oh, come on! It’s funny!”

  “No…it was mean.”

  “Says the girl who is famous at school for making girls feel inferior to her Highness.”

  I couldn’t believe he had just said that about me. “Get out!” I hit him with the magazine.

  He laughed in confusion. “What?”

  “You just made the most disgusting comment about me!”

  “Samantha Scott, you know I’m right. You live and breathe popularity and always have to be on top. Don’t act like you are surprised I said that!”

  “Yeah, well maybe that Sam is played out.”

  “Like us?”

  Tears stung my eyes. “What do you mean ‘like us?’”

  He stood and went to the third drawer of my dresser where all of his clothes were. He pulled out a shirt and put it on.

  “You figure it out. I’m out.” He grabbed his keys and left my room. I jumped a little when he slammed the front door downstairs.

  I ran down the stairs and hurried to his truck before he could pull away. His window was rolled down, but he wouldn’t look at me.

  “Logan!” I yelled.

  “You are such a bitch, Sam.”

  My hands gripped the handle, but he threw his truck in reverse and pulled out quickly, almost causing me to fall because I still held onto the door. Tears streamed down my face as I watched him drive away.

  We had a fight.

  This was normal.

  We’d be fine before the night was over.

  Right?

  I stood in my driveway and stared at the road, waiting for him to come back. Our fights were always so stupid and meaningless. I should have known better than to act like a bitch over him acting like that toward Elliot. Logan had been kicked out of the game, and he was in a shitty mood. I should have just kept my mouth shut. I was on his side, not Elliot’s.

  I heard the door open across the street and saw Elliot bringing out the trash. I wiped m
y eyes and looked away from him. He and Zach sure had a lot of trash.

  He put the bag in the trash can and then looked at me. “You okay, Trouble?”

  “This is your fault!”

  He put his hands in his jean pockets. “What’s my fault?”

  I wiped my eyes again. “You starting that stupid fight! Logan is pissed and he said—” I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter.”

  He threw his hands up. “Whoa, Trouble. I didn’t start a fight with him. He started it with me.” He walked across the street to me. He wiped a tear away with his thumb. “I’m sorry you’re upset, but I didn’t cause this.” He turned to walk back toward his house.

  “You’re not supposed to cross the street!” I touched the spot where his thumb had been and closed my eyes as a few more tears fell. I hated Logan being mad at me. I looked toward my garage and remembered I had some sidewalk chalk in there from when I babysat last summer. I went to get it. Elliot stopped on the sidewalk in front of his house and watched me as I came out to the middle of the street. I took the purple chalk and drew a line down the middle.

  “Will that help you understand better? Don’t come over here!”

  He smirked at me and crossed the purple line, invading my space. “I’m a little slow. Besides, you can’t ban me from parts of the road.”

  Before I thought better of it, I took the chalk and drew a line down the side of his left cheek. I started laughing so hard that the tears stopped.

  He laughed and took the chalk from my hand. He quickly did the same to my face.

  I tried to grab the chalk from him, but he held it above his head. I huffed, and he continued to smile that crazy-perfect smile. My phone dinged from my back pocket, and it brought me back to reality. I looked at it.

  Logan: Sorry. I was pissed and shouldn’t have said that to you.

  I looked up at Elliot, and my smile faded. “He told me I make people feel inferior.”

  “Do you?” he asked as he brought his arm down and handed me the chalk.

  I scrunched my nose as I thought. “Maybe.” I shrugged. “I don’t know. I usually don’t talk to people outside of my friends, so I don’t know how I could make people feel that way.”