I feel a strange pressure in my chest and a tightness in my throat.
“See, Marshall … I’ve always meant what I told you that one day, that I like you a lot the way you are. I like us a lot the way we are, sarcastic and competitive and … not your average girl and guy counting down the seconds to prom.” He raises his eyebrows at me. “So we could do formal wear and crappy chicken parmesan. Or we could do ball caps and those amazing hot dogs.” His voice drops to a whisper. “You tell me what you want. And I’ll want to be with you either way.”
I swallow hard, blinking back the tears I swore I’d never let a boy bring about. Because this boy, who I believed was the last person who would ever get me, might actually, truly get me. I snatch the tickets from his hand. “Choice B,” I tell him. “Definitely choice B.”
“I’m going to show you the receipt,” Jamie continues, looking at me meaningfully. “Bought these on Tuesday. Before you did what you did yesterday in Coach’s office.”
I smile bashfully at the ground, inexplicably pleased to learn he was ready to forgive me before I’d given up the trophy.
When I look up, he’s staring at me, suddenly wide-eyed. “So we doing this, Marshall? Like … for real? Like … maybe I’m your boyfriend and maybe you’re my girlfriend?”
I stare back at him, well aware that I’m probably looking suddenly as panicked as he is. Because, holy shit, I’m going to be someone’s girlfriend. And hearing him say the words aloud just made me really freakin’ happy.
“I think we are.”
Then I turn and stare toward home plate. “I mean, I have no idea what I’m doing here. And maybe you don’t have any idea what you’re doing, either.” Glancing over my shoulder, I narrow my eyes at him, the challenge revealing itself in my voice. “But tell me either one of us would ever be willing to forfeit a game just because we might possibly lose.”
Jamie throws his head back and laughs loudly. “Hell no.”
“Hell no is right,” I tell him.
I keep staring at him.
Jamie’s kissed me a bunch of times.
This time, I kiss him.
Grinning up at him, I turn my cap around so there’s nothing in the way, push off the back of my cleats to bring my mouth to his, and find his lips. His hands go right to the small of my back, drawing me all the way close. The last thing I see before I close my eyes is his—now the color of the ocean lit by the sun when it emerges from behind the clouds.
We kiss and kiss on the mound. It’s still the place where I belong, only I’ve finally learned to share it.
We’re both probably still a little bit scared. We’re definitely sweaty and dirty. But it doesn’t stop us.
Because we’re pitchers.
We’re Pirates.
We’re perfect.
Acknowledgments
Kat Brzozowski—so many thanks for tackling this project with me! Your support and enthusiasm took this story from a manuscript I’d put aside several times to a final product I’m proud of. Thank you for embracing Eve and her fierceness.
Lauren Scobell, Holly West, Jean Feiwel, Emily Settle, and Kelsey Marrujo—the encouragement and kindness that is Swoon HQ is incomparable. I am forever grateful to be part of this squad and for the faith you have in me. Thank you.
My Swoon sisters (and bros!)—this journey wouldn’t be half as fun without you, and I’d be lost without you all to navigate it with. Kim, Danika, Jenn, Katy, and Sandy, thank you for making this a team effort—it truly feels like we win and lose together—big hugs to all of you. Mel. A match made in heaven, an instant friend, the little I never had. One more thing I have Swoon to be grateful for—thanks for all the love and endless baseball puns. #karomel for life
M.D.—thanks for the inspiration; you’re everything amazing.
James—thanks for answering my questions and keeping the eye rolling to a minimum, and most importantly, for watching Pitch with me “in the name of research.” Love you.
Lu and Christian—thank you for inspiring me every day, for sharing in the writing world with me, and for making me smile always.
Laine, Aug, and Irene—thanks for your endless excitement, belief in me, and support. Thanks for embracing your feisty little girl, and her feisty little girl, too.
Thanks to the Swoon Reads community and the Sweethearts of YA. I’m honored to be part of both.
Kristen, Jacob, Danielle, Michael, and Tanya, thank you for making me fall in love with my characters anew. You perfectly captured their personalities in a single image, and I am grateful you all shared your artistic talent with me.
Lastly, thanks to my readers. You’re why I do this, and your reactions and thoughts mean more to me than any other aspect of this endeavor. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
About the Author
KAROLE COZZO lives in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with her husband, two children, and dog. Her days are split between working as a school psychologist at a local high school and writing YA romance. Karole’s hobbies include running, crafty projects, co-leading a Daisy troop, drinking coconut coffee, and nursing a Target addiction. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Two months later …
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 by Karole Cozzo
A Swoon Reads Book
An imprint of Feiwel and Friends and Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
swoonreads.com
All rights reserved.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by e-mail at
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First hardcover edition 2018
eBook edition May 2018
eISBN 9781250163882
Karole Cozzo, The Game Can’t Love You Back
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