“I’m going to hate life this week,” I say.
“It’ll be fine,” Presley says. “We’re ready for them.”
“A baseball team?” I say. “Do you remember us as teenagers? And we’ll have over a dozen of them.”
“Kade is excited about the idea with the Loggers bringing all the teams to town now.”
“As long as they don’t wreak havoc.”
“Enough talk about teenagers.” Rylee slaps her hands down on the table. “Let’s do a shot and then go hit the dance floor.”
Presley and I exchange a look. “I’ll wait here. I don’t know if I can do all the dancing after being sick.”
“You’re no fun.”
Rylee grabs Georgia’s hand and heads to the bar.
“You know, I’m okay being no fun,” Presley says.
“Same. A fun night for me is staying up until nine now.”
Presley smiles. “When did we get so old?”
“We have kids. At least you have Kade now.”
Presley leans across the table and squeezes my forearm. “And you have…”
I smile. “Nice try.”
“Damn. I thought I might be able to get it out of you.”
I love my friends, and I hate keeping secrets from them, but it’s not like I can tell them who I’m dating. If Rylee knew, Chase would know. And I don’t want my brother’s judgment. Or for him to accidentally let it slip around our parents.
Nope, no way.
Except…I can’t imagine any way to tell my dad about our relationship. That’s the part I can’t get past. That I know Sam can’t get past.
It’s not like we can date in secret. I doubt it’s even reallydating when we’ve gone out once together. I don’t want stolen moments with Sam. I don’t want to hide in the dark with him.
I want to walk through town holding his hand. I want to kiss him in front of everyone I love. I want a life with him.
A real one.
If only I knew how to make that happen.
Chapter Twenty-Three
JOEY
“Why did Kade think this bunk room would be a good idea?” Lina, our head housekeeper, asks.
I toss another pillow to her and move on to the next bed.
“Considering how wildly popular baseball is here, it’s a smart move,” I answer.
“I know,” she gripes. “It’s just hard when everyone is gone for the day.”
My shift ended almost an hour ago, but with a baseball team arriving tomorrow, and two of the cleaners out sick, they needed help. Since my dad picked Max up from school, he said he could watch him a bit longer.
