The phone clicks, and I laugh that she called it intermission in a lacrosse game. And the fact that my grandfather bought her a puppy because she thought it was so cute.
Someday I’ll find my someone. Hopefully he’ll be like my grandpa.
I push away the thought that in many ways, Burton is like him. That ship is far from shore right now, and I can’t worry about it.
My main goal is to find something comfortable for the next two games and go from there.
CHAPTER 36
BURTON
Playing again is a rush. And I feel bad for the little tantrum I threw last week. Then again, I have to deal with some of this mental stuff sooner or later.
We beat the Nebraska team yesterday and then again today. Coach Martin let us know in the locker room that the game for tomorrow is postponed because of internal reasons with the other team, so we’ll actually have a day off.
That means I can hang out with Connie and her family.
As I walk out of the locker room and the stadium with some of my teammates, I see a familiar couple waitingby the gate.
“Grandma and Grandpa Zelinski. What are you doing here?” I say, reaching out my hand to shake Grandpa’s. He takes it and pulls me in for a back-slapping hug.
“That was an awesome game. My favorite play was where you caught the ball and spun around at the same time before you threw it into the net. This is the sport I didn’t know I’d love.”
I laugh until I look over at Grandma, whose face looks like she’d rather be anywhere but here.
“Thank you for coming. If I’d known you wanted to, I could’ve gotten you some tickets.”
Grandma shook her head. “We don’t mind buying them as long as you’re playing.”
Is that a compliment?
“How’s Laney?” I ask, the ache in my chest opening again. But I can’t not ask about her.
“She’s up in New York or down in D.C. this weekend. I can’t remember which,” Grandpa says. “That girl travels more than anyone I’ve met.”
I think back to the conversation we had about venturing out and seeing the sites when she’s in the Northeast.
“Has she seen anything yet? Aside from baseball fields?”
Grandma shakes her head. “She didn’t say anything about it when I was on the phone during your intermission.”
I keep the smile off my face because to be honest, I’m scared of Grandma Marianne.
“Well, thank you again for coming. Let me know the next time you want to come, and I’ll get you tickets on the front row.”
They wave goodbye, but Grandma stops and reaches out to pat my forearm.
“She’s a great girl, who needs a resolution. If you don’t have feelings for her, tell her, will you?”
I open my mouth to respond, but I can’t say I don’t have feelings for Laney Zelinski. Because I haveallthe feelings for her.
“Laney is someone I’ll never forget.” I swallow hard.
“Then what’s the problem, boy?”
“I can’t support her doing what I’m doing now.”
The old woman’s frown causes me to take a step back. “You think she cares about that?”
