Midnight Surrender: A Paranormal Romance Anthology by Alyssa Rose Ivy, Airicka Phoenix, Shannon Dermott, Charlotte Abel, Kelly D. Cooper, Laura A. H. Elliott, Amy M. Jones, Kris Kendall

you?” I asked.
    With a welcoming smile, she said, “Sure, have a seat.”
    Just when I put the tray down, Maggie, Doug and his friend sat at the table with us. I could see in carrot tops eyes he wasn’t thrilled I was here. That was too bad for him. Good for me because Mercy hadn’t even glanced his way.
    “ Paul,” Doug said.
    “ Doug,” I said back.
    “ You know Tim,” he said, eyeing his friend.
    “ Sure,” I said with a half nod in the guy’s direction.
    Before I could focus my attention back on Mercy, some of the guys from the team saddled up, tapping me on my shoulder. When I looked around and saw melon boy was with them, I gritted my teeth for what was going to come out of his mouth.
    “ Who’s the fresh ‘meat’?” melon boy asked, using a slang term for freshman.
    About ready to call the melon boy out, Maggie beat me to it. “We have names, dickhead.”
    “ So, red has fire in her mouth just like her hair. Tell me darlin’ what’s your name?” melon boy asked, faking a southern drawl.
    “ Cut it out, Bellman,” Doug said, giving voice to the guy’s surname.
    “ Oh Dougie, is she yours? What about her then?” he asked, pointing at Mercy.
    Standing, I got in Bellman’s face. “What’s your problem, Bellman?”
    One of the other guys spoke her name to melon boy. “Ah, Mercy, Mercy, me,” Bellman said holding a tight fist to his heart. The other guys laughed at him, only bringing more attention to us.
    “ Dude, leave,” I said, eyeing the guy, ready to make good on the threat I gave with the tone of my voice.
    “ Whatever, Bowman. She probably isn’t putting out anyway.” Having said the last word, he strode off with his friends.
    Sitting again, I said, “I’m really sorry about that.”
    Mercy looked more pissed than I thought. “I’ve heard it all.” Looking up, she clarified. “My name. I’m not sure why my mother wanted to torture me from having a normal life.” Sighing, she put her sandwich down. It looked like she was going to speak until her eye lifted past my face and behind me.
    “ Bowman,” a voice said. I recognized the voice. This lunch idea had turned out to be a real pain in the ass.
    “ McCallister,” I said, turning in my seat, which was awkward on this picnic style table.
    Luke was standing in the background as usual. The guy didn’t want to interfere but clearly he had Flynn’s back. A girl with shoulder length hair, bright from the sun in some places, dark in others, strode up to Flynn with purpose. She had a reputation for making her way around the starters for every sports team in our school. I guess her presence next to Flynn indicated he was her next target.
    “ Are you coming or what?” she asked, her gaze taking him in like he was going to be her last supper. I had to admit the girl was hot and I felt a tiny bit jealous of the guy. Women practically threw themselves at him.
    Nodding, she walked off. Luke said quietly, “Let’s go.”
    Flynn said, “Give me a minute.”
    Luke shook his head and walked off. Flynn turned his focus back to me. Briefly he looked over at Mercy but then said, “Today it will be my turn to pitch while you catch.” Then he walked away leaving the threat for me.
    “ What was that about?” Mercy asked. “He’s such an asshole.”
    At least something good came out of this. The look of disdain clearly said she wasn’t into the guy like the rest of the female population here at school.
    “ Nothing, just baseball,” I said, not really wanting to explain how this was supposed to be my year. The previous starter graduated last year leaving a vacancy for a pitcher. I was a shoe in until Flynn showed up. The guy could throw and I may end up second to a freshman. If Mercy went for him, that would be the icing on the cake.
    “ I just don’t get what girls see in him,” she said. And I smiled.
    ****
    My hand still stung from the few purposeful pitches Flynn threw at me. Knowing I mostly likely deserved it, I didn’t