Page 16 of Picking Daisies on Sundays

“Let’s go, Dani!” Levi cheered from the dugout, a huge smile on his face. Beads of sweat on his temples, and his curls sticking to his forehead from the two homeruns he just made.

Whereas I stood on homebase; the only one with softball experience, and nothing to show for it.

I smiled back at him as I positioned my hands on the bat.Come on, Daniella. Dad would be disappointed; you can do better than this. Just one good hit, that’s all you need to save yourself.

Lining the bat up, one of Jeff’s groomsmen threw the ball and Ifinallymake contact with the ball. But not good enough.

“Foul!” Another groomsman shouted from behind me.

As they retrieved the ball, I lined up again. If I hit the ball once, I could do it again.

As the ball flew towards me, I swung and the bat came into contact with the ball again, the pressure increasing against my closed fist to follow through with the swing.

Now, the next thing that happened felt as if it took place in slow motion. But if you asked Bella, she would not have said it happened slowly.

As quickly as the ball had been approaching me, it was just as quickly flying away from me after I hit it…straight towards Bella.

I don’t think any of us realized how closely it was getting to her, especially since everyone on my team was cheering because

of how high the ball went in the air. But there were two seconds suspended in the air where we all realized where it was going.

And then the field was filled by Bella’s screams.

I wasn’t sure if she was screaming before it hit her, but all I know was that Levi’s ex-girlfriend was currently lying on the

ground because I hit a ball off her head.

I threw my hands over my mouth in shock—I did not just do that, I did not just do that, I didnot just do that.

Everyone ran towards her, except the twins, who I saw laughing from their seats.

Well, at least I know two people won’t hate me after this.

My physical reaction was delayed compared to everyone else’s, so as I started approaching, everyone was already swarming her. With Levi at the center of the crowd, holding up Bella’s head, where an egg-like bruise was already beginning to form.

“I am sososorry, Bella, I had no idea that was going to happen,” I uttered with sincerity. I waited for her response, filled with sheer fear for her reaction to my presence.

She shook her head, beginning to sit up with Levi’s support, her hand clutching her brow. “It’s alright, don’t worry, I should’ve moved faster,” she said with a small smile. “Looks like my chance at modeling is over.” Everyone laughed at the joke, lightening the tense mood.

“I am so incredibly sorry,” I repeated, truly feeling horrible.

“I think I’m done for the day.”

“Is that defeat I hear!” Another groomsman of Jeff shouted.

Crap.

“I think it is!” Another responded.

“Looks like we’ll be sharing a room,” Rhea said, suddenly appearing at my right.

“Oh, no, I don’t think I’m involved in that,” I said.

“You’re part of the wedding party though, aren’t you? That

means you’ll be coming to the beach house,” Rhea explained.

“No, no, I think I’m just invited. I’m not a bridesmaid.”