Page 45 of The Way We Swing

Then I leaned in, closing the distance.

We were both so still it was like time paused—until the basement stairs creaked.

Easton bolted upright, his thigh hitting my shoulder as he spun. I turned just as fast and then froze.

Gavin stood there wide-eyed, as if he wasn’t sure what he had seen.

Easton pulled up his pants and grabbed his bag in one smooth motion, brushing past Gavin without a word,facing the other way. I stayed kneeling; my heart pounded so hard I thought it'd break out of my chest.

Gavin’s mouth hung open, but his face had gone blank. His fingers tightened around the stair rail. He closed his mouth—opened it again. Then, after what felt like forever, he spoke, flat and unreadable.

“Did you win the poker tournament?”

CHAPTER 16

When the sun rose the next morning, I was still awake on the couch, waiting for it to be socially acceptable to start my day. I had told Gavin the night before that we’d go to breakfast in the morning and talk about what he’d seen, but he was absolutely not to say a word to anyone until we had talked.

My body felt like I had played three games in a row: done, heavy, ready to collapse. But my brain wouldn’t stop running circles, cracked out on too much Mountain Dew and panic.

“I made eggs,” Gavin said, putting a plate in front of my seat. “Eat fast so we can go for a drive. I didn’t want to go out to breakfast.”

Quietly eating, I listened as my brothers talked about what a great Christmas it had been. I couldn’t help but wonder what I’d think looking back at it.

Last night, Easton had sent both of my calls to voicemail. I had sent him a text that I was going to talk to Gavin and I had made sure he wouldn’t tell anyone about what he’d seen. My inbox still sat empty.

After everyone had eaten, I grabbed the dishes and took them to the sink and started washing them. I scrubbed slowly, hoping somehow this would all go away if I just didn’t talk about it.

“You ready?” Gavin asked.

I turned and saw Gavin was already dressed to go. He wore the Cardinals hoodie Santa had brought him the previous morning, and he was eating the rest of a candy cane.

“Get your shoes on,” I said.

“Dude,” he said. I looked down and noticed his Nikes were already on. “Quit stalling.”

I checked my phone before we left. Still nothing.

My fingers froze on the steering wheel as I started the Durango and backed out of the driveway. The road blurred past, and I had no idea what to say, so I flicked on the radio. As soon as I let go, Gavin knocked the dial back to zero.

“You’re being super awkward right now,” he said.

“Gee, I wonder why, Gav.” I knew I had to say something. I couldn’t have him say something and out Easton—or me.

The car felt too small, too engulfing. I rolled down my window, and the freezing December breeze brushed my cheeks. Relief didn’t come.

“Probably because I caught you doing…things. With Easton.”

“Jesus, Gavin. Keep your voice down.”

“There’s no one else in the car!”

“Still. Whisper or something, I don’t know.”

Even with my eyes on the road, I could feel him smirk. Jackass.

“What exactly did you see?”

Gavin grinned. “Well, you were on your knees—”