Read Online As You Wish by Robin Jones Gunn - Free Book Online Page A

away.
    â€œWould you be interested in joining us in a little game?” Matthew tossed the softball in the air and grinned at Christy from under his well-worn baseball cap.
    The other guy approached, and Christy recognized him as Wes, Sierra’s older brother.
    â€œSierra and her roommate, Vicki, were supposed to meet us here,” Wes said. “Matt thinks they slept in. I think Sierra forgot.”
    When Wes called Matthew “Matt,” Christy realized she still thought of him by his full name. He had become “Matthew” in grade school because two Matthews were in their class.
    â€œWhat do you say?” Matt asked. “We’ll even let you bat first.”
    â€œOkay.” Christy was surprised to find herself agreeing toanything athletic. “I can’t guarantee my catching or pitching skills, but I can usually hit the ball if you pitch it nice and slow.”
    â€œNice and slow,” Matt echoed, returning to the pitcher’s mound.
    Christy gripped the bat and felt a wonderful, childhood kind of happiness come over her. This felt like a funny little dream come true. She was playing baseball with Matthew Kingsley! In fifth grade this never would have happened because she would have been too shy to enter into such a game.
    The first pitch came slow and too low. Christy picked up the ball and heaved it back to the pitcher’s mound. It fell about two feet short.
    â€œDid I ever tell you that you throw like a girl, Christy Miller?”
    Christy laughed. “I am a girl, Matthew Kingsley, in case you never noticed.”
    â€œOh, I noticed,” he said.
    She couldn’t see his face because of the shadow from his baseball cap, but from his stance, he appeared to enjoy the teasing as much as she did.
    â€œOkay, here’s my special pitch just for girls who like it nice and slow.” He gave an exaggerated windup with his arm, making big, slow circles in the air.
    â€œVery funny,” Christy called out. “Now see if you can manage to get it over the plate this time!”
    Wes moved in from the outfield. “Right here, Christy.” He slugged his fist into his mitt. “Hit it to me. Right here.”
    Christy took her position. The bat made contact with the ball, and a delicious thrill coursed through her as she dropped the bat and dashed to first base. Wes caught thepop fly, tagged her leg, and offered some advice. “Next time put more muscle behind it, and you’ll have a nice swing. Use your shoulders and not just your arms.”
    Christy didn’t care about his advice. She was feeling euphoric over actually hitting the ball and playing with the guys.
    â€œHey!” Sierra’s voice sounded at the edge of the field. “What’s the big idea starting without us?”
    Sierra wore a baseball jersey and had managed to collect her wild, curly blond hair into a ponytail and had looped it through the opening in the back of her baseball cap. She looked as if she was ready for a serious game as she strode onto the field with five other people. Christy was introduced to Vicki, Sierra’s roommate, who was a gorgeous brunette with flawless skin. The others, all freshmen and friends of Sierra’s, seemed to know Wes, but none of them knew Matt.
    After the introductions, a serious game of softball ensued. Several other students joined in, and before the morning was over, Christy had batted four times, hitting the ball three times and striking out once. The rest of the time she spent in the outfield.
    Christy smiled through the entire game. She loved everything about this morning: the feel of the warm breeze across her cheeks, the friendly banter among these friends, the way Matt smiled at her. This is what she had missed during her year in Switzerland. The European trains and the scrumptious pastries at the Konditorei had been wonderful. But this—this felt like home.
    A little more than halfway through the game, Christy