Then go with that. You'll perform better if you feel good.
Grant
That's what she said.
Jo
Go toclass, G.
Owen
You walked right into that one. Gotta go, y'all—hot date.
Jo
Poor girl. What's everyone else up to?
I sit with my phone in my palm, a handful of different emotions running through me. In one sense, I'm so happy for my sister. This is what Margot has been looking for since she graduated early from college in January. But the pit I've had in my stomach since losing my job grows bigger. That feeling that was replaced with hope—even if only for a minute—when I went to Liam's.
I also contemplate Jo's question, my natural instinct to hide my relationship resurfacing as always. It's not that I'm ashamed of Trevor—that's not the right word. But I know my siblings, and they'll pry and beg until they have every detail about him. Ones I'm not entirely thrilled to share. Ones I'm not sure matter.
Before I can answer, a hand settles on my shoulder, then drags across my back as Trevor rounds the table. "Hey, you wanna grab some food? I'm starving."
"Oh, sure," I say, my phone buzzing in my palm. "Just give me a second." He nods, slurping at the top of his beer, as I read the incoming text.
Grant
Out.
I laugh at my little brother's thrilling response, then type my own.
Grabbing food. Speaking of… got an alert today, Jo. Watch it… I'll catch up with you guys later!
Placing my phone face down on the table, I beam up at Trevor. "Alright, what do you want to eat?"
6
Liam
"Yo, Holloway, let's go."
Jace, the Gators' newest rookie and my future replacement, finishes drawing on his eye-black and looks at me sideways. "Really, Two-Three? Can't we save the lessons for after the game?"
"Nope," I say, grabbing my glove. "I got a kid to get home to, remember? And you need reps. Let's go, Rook."
He exhales a quick breath but grabs his stuff and chases me out of the dugout. He might not want the extra practice—hell, I might not either. But if Jace is going to move from second basemen to my spot at shortstop next season, I need to be able to trust he'll do it justice.
"Still can't find a sitter?" he asks, coming up behind me.
I sigh. "The problem is that I need more than a sitter—I can't even call them a nanny. You know our schedule."
Jace, whom I can barely take seriously with the blue sleeves he wears that stand out like a sore thumb, glances over. "Keep an eye on the kid, food, laundry—Ruthie has school too, right?"
I nod and draw in a long, steady breath. "And soccer and art therapy and an ever-growing social life. I'd do everything myself if I could, but when you're gone six days a week…"
He hesitates a second, dropping his gaze to the dirt. "Yeah, it's hard when you're not around much."
"The season's just so much different from the rest of the year."
