“Naturally.” He lies down next to me. “I think the field is speaking to me already. What’s it saying to you?”
I swat his arm. “Hush. I need a moment to breathe.”
“It’s been a moment.”
I turn my head to glare at him. “Really?”
“What? It’s clearly been a moment.”
“You’re ridiculous right now.”
He smiles. “I can’t help it. It’s fun.”
“Oh, shut up.” I don’t remember this side of Myles, and Ilike it even if I shouldn’t. I miss having someone tease me. It makes me feel normal.
He takes his baseball and tosses it into the air.
“You’ve gotten pretty good at pitching,” I say.
His lips pull into the smallest grin. “You think so?”
“You look like a real baseball player now.”
“I’m not even wearing my uniform.”
It’s the way he holds himself when he stands and the confidence written all over his face when he pitches the ball. The determination and focus in his eyes. “I bet your dad would be proud of you.”
He lets out a slow breath. “I don’t know about that.”
I prop myself up on my elbow. “Of course he would be. You’re going to be the next Babe Ruth.”
“Is that the only famous baseball player you know?”
“Well, I know you too.” I’ve seen the passion he has for baseball and know he’s going to go far. It’s his whole life.
He shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Sure, it is.”
“Coach is probably going to bench me after today.”
“What?” My stomach turns. “Why would he do that?”
“Today is our first game of the season, and I’m not there. It’s important because it’ll set the tone for the season. There’ll be college scouts and everything. I didn’t play last season because I got hurt, and I had to fight for a spot on the team this year. I’m disposable.”
“But he can’t do that!”
“Yes, he can.”
My chest burns, and I sit up. “What if you explain to him why you can’t make it?”
He gives me a look. “Tell him I won’t be there because I skipped school?”
“No,” I say. “Obviously not, but there’s got to be something you can do.”
He shrugs. “It’s fine. My phone is dead anyway.”
I lean over him. “It’s not okay. You have to play.”
