33
DANIEL
“This is insane.”Adrian subtly and slowly scans the field and stadium, his voice low, almost in a whisper as we take our seats in the home plate grandstand.
Like me, he’s playing it cool, not showing how inside we’re eagerly buzzing.
We’re at Opening Day for Monterey Coastal University. Dad surprised us; he didn’t tell us anything this morning but to pack because we were going on a mini trip. Which is unusual because he never lets us skip school, but he said it’d be an exception because today is Friday.
“I know.” My gaze shifts down to the dugout. The players aren’t there yet, but it won’t be long before they’re piling out.
“One day we’re going to play here,” Adrian confidently and arrogantly states.
“I don’t know. You’re kind of shit.”
“Pinche pendejo. I was being nice.” He scowls before his expression morphs into an easygoing one. “When I get recruited and you don’t, don’t get butt hurt over it, okay? I promise to put in a good word.”
I burst out laughing, but I don’t counter it. Instead, I say, “One day, it’ll be you and me down there.”
He looks up at me, smiling wide, those dimples on display. “One day.”
“You good, brah?” Kai asks as he slips his belt through the loops of his pants.
My chest burns at the memory, but I shake it away and smile at him. “Yeah, why?”
“I was talking to you, but you zoned out.”
“You weren’t talking to me, but I also zoned out. I mean have you heard yourself talk?” Angel snorts. “It’s nonstop. Blah blah blah.”
“You really want to talk?” Kai shoots back. “No one cares about?—”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, bitches!” Gray springs into the locker room, voice elated and eyes vibrantly shining. “Who wants a kiss from?—”
“Pass!” almost everyone in the room shouts.
He stands in front of Noah, lifting and stretching his arms wide, but Noah pins him with a blank expression.
“Don’t touch me,” Noah warns before he finishes getting ready.
That doesn’t stop Gray from smiling and moving onto his next victim: me.
I’m not in the mood, but I need to find a way to be in it because it’s Opening Day. First game of the season and I need to be at my best mentally to play.
“Sparky, bring it in.” He grins. I spread my arms, letting him pull me in for a hug. “Love you, baby.” He plants a loud kiss on my cheek.
My chest painfully aches. I have to do everything in my power not to exhale the air in my lungs that feels like heavy acid.
He reminds me so much of Adrian. So lively, so full of energy, a smile so big and bright it blinds you of all the bad.
“Love you too, bro,” I chuckle, telling myself not to hold on to him because he’s not Adrian; hugging him isn’t going to change anything.
“I’m so fucking hyped, man.” He pulls away and moseys on over to his next victim, Kai.
“You okay?” Angel stands next to me as I finish buttoning my shirt.
“Yeah, it’s Opening Day,” I reply, my fingers grazing the safety pin attached to my chain.
He tracks the movement but doesn’t make a comment about it. Still, he scrutinizes me as if he can sense something is wrong.
