I shake my head, and her mouth hangs open, but her expression doesn’t show surprise. She knew I’d do this. She shakes her head anyway.
“Don’t,” she says.
“Your ex lost his mind when I was his sons’ tee ball coach. You think he’ll be fine with me being your boyfriend?”
“He doesn’t get to say who I love,” she says, and my heart stops. It’s the first time she’s uttered that word. I tremble as she grabs hold of my wrist.
“I love you, Brooks. So much. I loveus.Our weird little family. It’s what I want.”
My chest quakes, because me, too. It’sallI want.
“Where will you go?” she finally asks.
I draw in a heavy breath and shift my gaze to the windshield, glancing up at the mirror to catch the reflection of Holly in the back. She’s chewing on her fist, drool coating her chin and soaking the front of her shirt. She’s teething.
“Texas, maybe? I can think there, see what the future holds. And if baseball is still a part of it?—”
“Baseball willalwaysbe a part of it. You’ll be back in spring. Just a few short months.”
I look her in the eyes, and it kills me to see how much hope is suddenly in them.
“We’ll see,” I say.
She shakes her head, then leans over the console and pulls my face to hers. She presses her lips to mine, then presses our foreheads together.
“You’ll see, you mean. You’ll be back. You’re meant to be here, and to play this game. And you’ll be one of the great ones. I feel it.”
I smile as she strokes my jaw with her thumb, and close my eyes to picture the future she sees. It feels impossible, and the truth is, I’m not sure I want that life if she’s not in it. Everything about this place and this game reminds me of her. But she probably thinks I can be with her, too.
Maybe. In another time.
TWENTY-SEVEN
LINDSEY
One Month Later
I FaceTime my sister from the Earl’s bathroom. She couldn’t come home for my court date, but I feel her support from afar.
She picks up on the first ring.
“Are you ready?” she asks.
“You tell me?” I hold the phone up to show her my reflection in the mirror. I borrowed one of our mom’s pant suits, and it’s a little snug up top. I’m more of a full chest, whereas Mom and Ren are cute little B-cups.
“Wow, you look hot. Is the judge a man?”
I snort laugh, but then bunch my lips, taking her thought seriously for a moment. My judge is, in fact, a male. I unbutton one notch on the light blue blouse under the blazer, and Renleigh laughs through the phone.
“Not bad. I mean, not as good as you look in your Earl’s shirt, but not bad.”
I look at the black and red Earl’s shirt folded on the sink.
“It’s probably not the look I’m going for in court,” I say.
“Fair,” Renleigh replies.
I’ve been working at Earl’s for three weeks. Daisy took me on without question. It’s the one gig that I know will work around my classes, and despite the non-stop chaos that’s been my life the last several months, I plan on finishing my degree. This job—this stop in life—it’s temporary.
