Jase looked at us. “And Faye.”
“Good. Put me on speaker.”
“You already are,” I said.
Jase placed his phone onto the coffee table, and the three of us sat on the couch.
“All right,” Marcos began. “I have some news.”
I noticed Jase’s hands curl into fists, and my stomach twisted with tension.
“Let’s hear it.” I braced myself for whatever he was about to say.
“You’ve both been traded.”
I felt like I had stopped breathing. Since getting his text, it never occurred to me he was calling about baseball.
“What?” I mumbled at the same time Jase barked, “You’re kidding.”
“I’m not. This deal came together fast, but it’s done. You’re both headed to Portland,” he explained.
My heart slammed against my chest. “We’re going to the Seawolves? Both of us?”
“Yes,” Marcos confirmed. “You’ll be in their dugout the day after tomorrow.”
For half a second, my brain stalled out completely.
“The Seawolves,” Jase repeated, like he was only now processing what Marcos had said. “My dad’s team?”
“Yes, but don’t think your dad pulled any strings. Boston and Raleigh both needed to make moves, and Portland was aggressive. They wanted the package deal.”
I laughed. “Wow.”
Jase leaned back against the cushion and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Holy shit.”
“I’m sure it’s going to take a bit to sink in. Enjoy your time in Vegas, don’t do anything stupid, and then be ready to play when you land.”
“We will,” Jase confirmed.
“Thanks, Marcos,” I added.
“Congratulations,” he replied. “You’ll have an email from me with all of the official details soon.”
We ended the call and sat in silence for a few moments, letting it all sink in.
I looked at Jase again, more closely this time, and saw the excitement on his face, but there was something else in his eyes. It only took me a second to figure it out.
He was leaving Boston, which meant he wouldn’t be living near Faye anymore.
“This is awesome,” Jase breathed. “But?—”
“You don’t want to leave Boston,” I finished for him.
Jase’s shoulders slumped a fraction, then he looked at Faye. “I don’t want to leave you.”
She cupped his cheek. “You’re not leaving me. You’re going to Portland with Dylan and playing for your dad. That’s got to be a dream come true. And now I can see both of you at the same time. No more traveling to different cities, and only two of us together at once.
“I like the sound of that.” I stood and pulled Jase off the couch. “Looks like we’re playing together again.”
