Page 1 of The Way We Swing

CHAPTER 1

There were twothings I cared about. The first was winning a state title in baseball. The second? Absolutely nobody finding out that I was gay.

Then Easton Chase showed up to our first workout of summer vacation, and my plans went to hell.

A dozen of us were on the baseball field, finishing the last sprint of the morning while the sun still climbed. My shirt clung in sweat to my body as I sped past the third baseline, hearing footsteps close behind.

Afterwards, we sprawled out on the grass, recovering from the brutal workout. Every face was familiar—mostly teammates and a couple of girls from the softball team—except one.

“We’re done for today,” I said, looking around the group. “Same time tomorrow.”

“Captain Tanner Quinn, ladies and gentlemen, always telling us what to do,” Ricky sniped as he pushed his glasses up his nose. Ricky had the vibe of someone who belonged in a comic-book club, not behind home plate: wire-rimmed glasses, a lanky frame, and no power in his swing. But there wasn’t a better catcher around. And he was my best friend.

“Shut it, Ricky,” I said, standing.

I glanced over at my brothers. Zach, almost sixteen and heading into his sophomore year, leaned against the fence, breathless. Ten feet away was Gavin, the thirteen-year-old spitfire who’d been begging to join these workouts for years.

Gavin looked like our parents had copied and pasted me, except I was four years older. We had the same mop of dirty-blonde hair; ears that would make Dumbo blush; and, worst of all, a nose that looked too small to smell properly.

I walked toward Gavin, who was talking about the Cardinals game from last night to the only person I didn’t recognize. New Kid’s dark hair clung to his forehead in damp strands, but his posture didn’t sag. He was more alert than anyone else—eyes scanning like he was memorizing everything. Including my face, which at that moment was very clearly staring at him.

“Sup,” I said.Smooth.

“Hey, man,” said New Kid.

I turned to Gavin. “I’m finishing up with a mile or two. Catch your breath and then go help Ricky clean up.” I started toward the foul pole, but footsteps echoed behind me again. New Kid.

“Can I join you?” he asked, showing off a quick smile.

“You think you can keep up?” I asked.

He winked at me and said, “Try me.”

I blinked, heat crawling up my neck. Had a guy ever winked at me before? Pretty sure the answer was no. I shook the thought out of my head as we started to run.

When I was thirteen, my dad had taken my brothers and me to the state finals to watch all of the games. The day had been electric—fans screaming, cameras everywhere, and the best baseball I’d ever seen.

The next day, I’d rounded up the other three players in my grade and told them if they followed my plan, we were going to win a state title of our own. Thankfully, they hadn’t laughed at me and instead agreed to work out every morning during summer break. That had been four years ago, and we were still all here at eight every morning with no coach in sight.

That’s why I pushed myself—and everyone else—so hard. I didn’t do empty promises.

Today, my legs burned, but I wasn’t going to stop early with the sound of New Kid’s breathing behind me like a challenge I hadn’t asked for. I kept my eyes on the cornfieldthat surrounded both sides of the field, avoiding looking at New Kid for as long as I possibly could.

After twenty minutes, we pulled to a stop around the first baseline, away from the rest of the group.

“Told you I could keep up,” he said, his chest heaving, a smile still etched on his face.

“Where’d you come from?” I asked the first question that popped into my head.

“Ashland.”

“How'd you find out about this?”

“I’m going to school with you next year. I got ahold of the baseball coach, and he said you guys ran these workouts all summer. Seemed worth it.”

I wiped sweat from my hair as we walked to the other side of the field. New Kid stood shoulder to shoulder with me. I’d call us 6’0”, but my doctor probably had me down at 5’11”.

“What grade are you in?” I asked.