I breathe out. Will I be at full-strength by the time they come out?
So many questions I wish I had answers for.
That’s a problem for fourteen days from now. I just need to get through the little that I’m doing and go day-by-day. I also need to talk to Laney about everything that’s going on. But how do I make it seem less like a “poor me” and more like she deserves someone who’s better?
I’ve got plenty of thinking time during therapy. Maybe I’ll be inspired by the end.
Now that I know what life is like with Laney in it, I can’t imagine being without her.
CHAPTER 31
LANEY
Baseball is proving to be a challenge for me. I’ve been struggling to remember names and even have to carry around a notebook with some terms so I don’t forget them in the interviews.
Elizabeth is a new hire, and she’s taking over the lacrosse sideline position. I wish that was me, but I’d already agreed to take on baseball before moving across the street from the lacrosse house.
I have to be on the road to the field in the next twenty minutes, and I’m moving like a sloth.
It’s been two days since I last reached out to Burton without an answer back. His truck pulls inlate at night and leaves early in the morning, not like I’ve been stalking him from across the road.
Why would he be so lovey-dovey all weekend and then ghost me?
It hurts to think of it like that because I was falling for the guy. He’s the perfect golden retriever male, and yet something was off after the game when he got hurt. No, he was just hurt then. But he doesn’t usually wait this long to respond to my texts.
Maybe some time apart is what we need, though. There are so many great things about this area, and I don’t need to get my heart broken by someone who’s not ready for me to be in their life. Or not willing to let me in.
And yet there are so many little instances that help me know it wasn’t all in my head.
Like the Skittles jar that’s half-eaten on the small desk in my room. I enjoyed every one of those green Skittles at the time.
My car runs with no problems now because he fixed it without asking. And without getting paid back.
And then that kiss under the fireworks that led to a weekend of kissing and feeling like things were finally moving along in the relationship department.
I blow out a breath and focus on what needs to be done. I’m dressed in a pair of flowy black pants, wedge heels—because I don’t want to be sinking intothe dirt when I’m doing interviews—and a light purple blouse that matches one color of the baseball team.
I’m determined not to let things get to me and to do my job. Maybe a visit to the farm would be good for me to spend time with Grammie and Grandpa after the game. Some Pearl snuggles would definitely boost the good hormones.
I have tomorrow off, and a little country air might be just what I need to clear my head.
The drive to the field takes me a little longer than I’d planned, but at least I’m here with a few minutes to spare.
I check in with the announcing team and get everything ready before warm-ups end. I’ve even added a few extra terms to the notebook to make it look like I’ve been doing this forever.
And the best part about it is, there’s not a lacrosse player in sight named Courtney Burton.
CHAPTER 32
BURTON
Idon’t know how many times I’ve told myself I’d go over and talk to Laney since the restaurant incident with Billy a few days ago. Probably two dozen. My body freezes, and I can’t get it to move over there.
Probably because I don’t want to see the disappointment on her face. She’s already been there for me more times than my family, except for Connie, and it would be selfish of me to keep her in limbo when I can’t offer anything stable.
I sat down to write out a text, but I’ve typed and erased it at leasttwenty times at this point.
I’m sorry, Laney. Things have been rough since my injury. I’m trying to get in all the therapy I can before we leave this weekend. I hope you’ve been doing well. Say hi to Pearl for me.
