Page 56 of The Way We Swing

“Just tell me why.”

“We’re going to the courthouse.”

“And why’s that?”

He looked away from me, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Well…we’re going to a hearing.”

“Gavin,” I said, pissed at his half answers.

“It’s for Easton’s dad.”

“Wh—Huh?” I stammered.

“The hearing to see whether his dad is going to jail or not is today, and I wanted to be there for Easton.”

“How do you even know about that?”

“Easton told me last week. He threw me BP at the field, and when we stopped, I asked him about his parents. I didn’t know all of that happened. It sucks bad. He said you’re the only one around here that knows.”

“Why didn’t you just ask Mom to take you?”

“Because he said he already told you. And you would have wanted to come if you knew about it.”

Fact.“Not true.”

“Don’t lie to me. You still care about him. It’s Easton.”

“He acted like an ass.”

“Yeah, he did. It’s still Easton.”

“Okay.”

“So, we’re going?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool. There are dress clothes for you in my bag.”

We changed in the car and drove over. Gavin yapped the whole way, not realizing I hadn't said a word forten minutes.

My stomach churned, in equal parts dread and anger, as if something alive was rolling around inside me as we left the car. I walked slower than usual into the courthouse, half-hoping someone would stop me. Gavin led the way like he’d been here before. On the second floor, he stopped and pointed. “Courtroom six.”

“You good?” I asked.

“Not really,” he shrugged as he opened the massive door.

I walked in by Gavin’s side but fell behind him when I saw Easton; just because I’d agreed to come didn’t mean it wasn’t awkward. Easton was going to know this was Gavin’s idea and I was fine in my role as chauffeur.

Easton sat next to whom I assumed was their lawyer, and his grandparents were on his opposite side. His grandma had her walker sitting in front of her; his grandpa was leaning on his cane. They were far too old to have this responsibility. They were deep in conversation with the lawyer, talking about whatever lawyers talk about.

Easton saw us as we entered the aisle. He stood up and reached a hand out as Gavin approached, but Gavin shrugged it off and wrapped his arms around Easton in a hug. Easton whispered something in Gavin’s ear before breaking off.

As Easton sat back down, he glanced up at me. His eyes lingered for half a second, then he offered a quiet smile before looking away.

I hovered behind Gavin, hands in my pockets, every cell screamingI don’t belong here!The backs of my legs itched.

Easton and Gavin whispered to each other as we waited. There were other proceedings going on, and I sat and thought about what the hell I was doing here. In fact, what was my thirteen-year-old brother doing here? Why would Easton put something like this on someone so young?