Last Train Home by Megan Nugen Isbell

the bat and I realized I’d hit it when I felt the sting on my hand when the bat and ball connected.
    “Got it now?” he asked , stepping back.
    “Yeah, I think I do.”
    He went back and leaned on the wire fence as I prepared to try and not look like a fool again.  I focused intently, waiting for the ball again.  A second later, it was flying towards me.  My eyes followed it and then I swung.  I heard the ball meet the bat and I hit a grounder back towards the pitching machine.
    “I did it!” I exclaimed and I looked over to Alex who was smiling.  He walked over to me and patted me on the back.
    “See, not so hard,” he said and his voice seemed to melt over me.  This was not my first rodeo , as they would undoubtedly say in these parts, but there was something about Alex. Just the sound of his voice gave me butterflies. 
    After the batting cages, we played a rou nd of mini-golf.  I hadn’t played since I was probably ten, but it was fun, and I pretended I wasn’t very good at it either so Alex would have to help me, like in the batting cages.  I realized it was stupid and childish, but I liked the feeling of his arms around me.
    “Having fun?” he asked as we walked to the next hole .
    “Yes , I am.”
    “You sound surprised.”
    “Can I be honest?” I asked as we walked.
    “I would hope so.”
    “When you told me we were coming here, I was a little skeptical.”
    “Why’s that?” he asked , turning to look at me with those deep brown eyes.
    “I don’t know.  I’ve just…I mean, no one’s ever taken me to batting cages on a date before.”
    “Ah…here we go with another Carver versus Boston thing again.”
    “No, I didn’t mean that.  If we’re being honest…I kinda like this.  It’s simple.  It’s fun and I’m glad you brought me here.”
    “Me too,” he said , smiling at me and then I felt the warmth of his hand take mine as we walked.  My fingers curled around his and for a second I even forgot that I was in Carver.  I felt a twinge of happiness briefly, which immediately vanished when I looked up and saw Adrienne across the golf course.  She was with her devotees, Dana and Kristen, and some guys I didn’t recognize. 
    “You okay?” Alex asked.
    “Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, trying to erase Adrienne from my sights.
    “Oh, I see,” Alex said as he noticed her to o. “It’s only Adrienne though.”
    “Only Adrienne?” I asked doubtfully.
    “Yeah…only Adrienne.”
    “Can I be honest again?” He looked at me and nodded. “I’ve been told you and Adrienne have a history,” I said and I heard him chuckle softly.
    “Yeah, you heard right.  But that’s exactly what it is…history.  That was a long time ago.”
    “Well, my friends… my friends didn’t seem to think I should go out with you,” I said hesitantly.
    “I’m glad you didn’t listen to your friends.”
    By this time we were walking at a snail’s pace and we’d already let two groups pass us for the next hole. 
    “But, if we’re being honest, can I ask why they didn’t want you going out with me?”
    I shrugged my shoulders and didn’t rea lly know how to respond to him.
    “I don’t really know.  Maybe it’s your status, as one of them ,” I said, cringing slightly, hoping he wouldn’t take it the wrong way.
    “One of them ?  What am I?  An alien?” he said with a laugh.
    “No!” I said , nudging him. “I guess what I mean by one of them, is the it crowd to which you belong.”
    “So because of who my friends are, your friends don’t want you going out with me?” he said and raised his eyebrow, but he was smiling.
    “Yeah, I guess that’s the deal.”
    “Is that it?  Any other reasons yo ur friends aren’t cool with us?”
    My eyes drifted towards the spot where Adrienne and her crew were walking away.
    “Adrienne?” he asked and I nodded. “ I told you, there’s no problem.”
    “Well, she hasn’t exactly been friendly to me.  In fact, she’s been