“You have to,” she says, opening the car door.
“I’m not letting you take the fall on this!” I say, but she’s already closing the door. And I swear, I see her mouth two words:
Watch me.
***
When I get back to the hotel, media is already circling. Fans are waiting in the lobby. I keep my sunglasses on, pull up my hood, and don’t answer anyone on the way up to my room. I open the door to find the light still on and Logan and Coop sitting at the table still in their early-morning lift gear—mesh shorts, team hoodies, protein shakes sweating onto the wood.
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask. “Shouldn’t you be at breakfast?”
“We thought you could use some support,” Logan says.
“You’re definitely not getting it online,” Coop adds.
“Was that necessary?” Logan asks as I drop onto my bed.
I bury my face in my hands while Coop defends himself.
“Fans are already going through his videos where he mentioned the girl he liked and tying each one directly to something Jake posted with Scottie. They’re going nuts.”
“Not helpful,” Logan says. “How does my sister put up with you?”
“You two gave her a lot of practice.”
“Can you guys shut up?” I ask. “I can’t think.”
“Now you know how I feel,” Coop says.
Logan and I both look at him. He shrugs.
“So what happened?” Logan asks.
“Doug’s furious. He doesn’t know she and Jake were faking—Scottie wouldn’t tell him. I said the picture was taken out of context. I was pursuing her while she was dating Jake, she turned me down, someone caught us at the exact moment. He doesn’t know what to believe, but he thinks we’re a liability. Scottie’s trying to quit to protect Jakeandme. She’s worried Doug’s going to cut me.” I squeeze my temples. “She won’t tell me what she needs.”
Coop hisses. “Bro, she shouldn’t have to tell you what she needs. You should be there with her.”
“But Doug said to stay apart?—”
“So?” Coop asks. “Do you love her?”
“Yes,” I say.
“It’s not that easy,” Logan says. “This is your entire career.”
“I don’t know if I care about that,” I say honestly.
Logan’s jaw falls open. “This was Mom’s dream for us. Foryou.”
“When I’m on my deathbed, I’m not going to be wishing I’d played one more inning, Logan! I’m going to wish I’d made one more memory! I don’t care about baseball if I can’t have Scottie.”
“Then what are you doing here?” Coop asks.
“Scottie told me to stay,” I remind him, feeling like I’m going crazy, being pulled in opposite directions until I’m about to rip apart.
“I repeat: So?” Coop asks. “Go after her!”
“That’s not Lucas’s way,” Logan says.
