We’re still in disbelief as he approaches us. This is going to change the entire dynamic of the team, but I can’t say I’m not happy to see him.
When he reaches us, the bad boy of baseball fist-bumps all the guys, his full sleeve of tattoos on display. I realize, to no surprise, that he’s added to his neck tattoos since I last saw him.
When he gets to Decker, Foster nods. “Happy to see me?”
Decker says nothing, clenching his jaw, and goes back to third base.
“I’ll take that as a no.” Foster’s smile is wicked and dangerous, and he’s getting way too much pleasure from this surprise.
“What the hell?” I say.
We don’t have time to talk right now, so he smiles and says with a shrug, “Got traded.”
“But…”
“I’ll tell you after. Let me shut this game down first.”
“What—”
“Let’s have some fun.”
I nod and head back to the plate, but I turn around to make sure I’m not imagining that Foster Davis is now a Chicago Colt.
I squat to catch his warm-up throws, and I spot Decker standing at third, staring a hole through his twin brother. They’re fraternal twins, and besides not looking the same, they couldn’t be more different.
This won’t be good for the camaraderie of the team, but it’s nice to have my best friend back.
Chapter
Forty-Three
Leighton
* * *
We ordered and ate pizza, and now I’ve made a popcorn and candy buffet table for us to enjoy. Since Hayes had an afternoon game today and he’s off tomorrow, we decided to make it a movie night.
Lake wasn’t happy at first, but then Hayes said they’d play rock, paper, scissors for who gets to choose the movie. He purposely lost, and Lake picked Inside Out 2.
All the kids are in the family room, getting under blankets, already dressed in their pajamas. I’m hoping for some early bedtimes so I can steal some alone time with Hayes.
I love that Hayes has Foster back on his team, and he’s Hayes’s new roommate, but it’s put a dent in our time together. I keep having to push away my fears about Foster being a bad influence on Hayes because I don’t honestly believe that. My mom used to say the same thing about Callie, and I always did what I wanted, not what Callie wanted me to.
Dinner was filled with figuring out all the details for Lake’s upcoming birthday celebration.
“Decker and Easton want to know if they’re invited?” Hayes asks Lake when she comes back into the kitchen.
I look at Lake, since it’s her birthday party.
She shrugs. “Sure.”
“You just made their day.” Hayes tosses some popcorn in his mouth then takes out his phone. “Do you want to give them the happy news?”
“No, you can,” she says.
Hayes jumps off the counter and hugs her, although she keeps her arms at her sides. “Smile. You’re going to be twelve, and everyone will be here to celebrate you.”
She pretends she’s annoyed, trying to get him off her, and he only tightens his hold. I join them and put my face in hers and my arms around Hayes’s neck and her body.
