Read Online The Shortstop by A. M. Madden - Free Book Online

sure he’ll agree.”
    “I’ll text him. I hate the suspense of not knowing. It’ll drive me nuts wondering, and then I may drive you two nuts because of it.”
    “Great,” Quint mumbles out loud. “I hope you’re wearing good walking shoes.”
    “Ha-ha.”

    “Annie Weber!”
    One very distinct, high-pitched whistle pierces through the applause.
    Quint.
    I can pick his whistling out anywhere. A faraway “Way to go Annie!” follows, with yet another shrill whistle. My face breaks out into a huge grin. Once I step up onto the platform, I quickly look out at our graduating class. Sure enough, there’s my man standing proud and applauding like a madman. I’m the last of us to receive our diploma. He cheered for Daphne and Billy as well, but the noise he’s making for me is off the charts.
    This moment is very surreal. We did it…and like every other major event in our lives, we did it side by side.
    “That’s my girl!” he screams so obnoxiously loud, the audience breaks into laughter. My cheeks flush from embarrassment, but I can’t even be upset with him.
    I felt the same gushing pride when he received his diploma a little while ago. I was bursting with it when he crossed the stage looking so handsome in his cap and gown. Every female’s set of eyes, both young and old, watched his every move. Some stared at me in judgment, as they have since we arrived freshman year…as they have our whole lives.
    It’s not hard to read their thoughts. I’ve had to endure a shitload of cattiness when it came to some random skank trying to steal my guy. The fact that I made it through without causing anyone physical harm is nothing short of a miracle. It doesn’t matter because soon I’ll have to fight off his fans. It’s a reality I have to accept if I want to be in his life. Forget his successful baseball career, his charm, or even his looks; Quint is simply the whole package and people flock toward him wherever we go.
    As I now take that same walk across the stage, the past four years flip through my thoughts in superfast motion. A flood of memories and visuals only confirms how damn fast these four years have gone. The first day of classes comes to the forefront of my mind. If I hadn’t had Quint with me, it would have been a very different experience. Having him beside me made me more relaxed, less stressed. He’s always been my sounding board, my crutch.
    He sits on the aisle, and as I walk past his row back to my seat, he scoots out to plant a quick kiss on my lips. Our fellow graduates all laugh and hoot, embarrassing me further. He is simply too much.
    After one final speech and closing comments, Pomp and Circumstance finally plays. On a normal day, this song just pulls on my heartstrings. Hearing it today causes me to lose my shit.
    Quint ignores the usher’s command to walk forward and instead walks back down the aisle toward me. He smiles when he sees my tears. “We did it, baby! We did it!” I’m wrapped in his ironclad embrace and he spins me, causing a traffic jam for all the graduates behind us. My tears turn to giggles while everyone within a ten-foot radius stares in annoyance.
    The usher points directly at Quint and yells, “Move forward!”
    Ignoring him, Quint puts me down and takes hold of my face. “I love you, Annie. Congratulations, baby.”
    “I love you, too. The sooner we have dinner, the sooner we can ditch our parents and celebrate.”
    “Yeah?”
    “Yeah.” Pulling on his hand, I use that excuse to get him to focus and walk forward the way we are supposed to. “Let’s go, shortstop.”
    We spot our parents waiting for us in the lobby. Their faces light up from their beaming smiles.
    “Darling! I’m so proud of you,” my mom flings her arms around me, crushing me in a death grip. Dad takes over next. Over his shoulder, I watch the Lawsons hugging Quint in the same way.
    They all arrived yesterday. I’m glad they arrived a day early because now the inquisitions are over.