Page 60 of The Way We Swing

“Couldn’t take a day off for your birthday?” I said, throwing my arm around Gavin’s shoulder and messing with his hair.

“Someone else is hitting today, so I needed to,” he said. I grinned, chancing a glance at Easton, who was smiling as well.

The three of us walked inside, and again, the noise hit me like a truck. A dozen thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds were trying to shout over each other. The smell was possibly worse; a couple of them definitely didn’t know how to use deodorant yet. My parents sat at the kitchen table, hoping nothing would break.

“There you are,” Mom said. “How about you get your friends so they can eat?”

The party continued for another two hours. I hung out with Mom and Dad, avoiding Easton as much as possible. Gavin’s excitement showed when he opened his present from our parents, which was the new bat he had wanted for Christmas.

Personally, I was relieved when the place quieted. I was helping Mom clean the kitchen, and the only people left in the house were my family—and Easton. Easton and Gavin were in the dining room, sitting at the table just within ear range. I kept cleaning a spot right near the door—not that I was eavesdropping or anything.

“I didn’t want to give you your present until everyone else left,” Easton said. He had a wrapped box in his hands. I tried to figure out what it was, but I had no idea what could be in a thin, rectangular package.

“You didn’t need to get me anything, dude,” Gavin said, taking the gift in his hands.

“There’s a catch, though,” Easton said. “You need to give me one of yours. Nonnegotiable.”

“One of my what?” Gavin asked.

“Just open it.”

My legs moved before I could stop them. I crossed into the doorway, arms folded tight across my chest, trying to look casual while stealing a glance. My fingers dug into my biceps.

Gavin ripped off the wrapping paper, revealing a brown picture frame. I scrunched my nose and couldn’t stop myself from getting a better look.

Centered in the middle of the frame was a jersey with the name Chase across the top. The number 5 was under it in big green font; the jersey was from Easton’s time at Ashland.

“I know I won’t make the ceiling, but I figured I might make a side wall,” Easton joked.

Gavin got up and wrapped his arms around Easton’s back. “This is awesome, Easton. I’ve got an extra jersey that we haven’t hung up that I can get for you.”

“Nice,” Easton said, playfully shoving Gavin away from him.

“Let’s go get this thing hung up,” Gavin said. “Tanner, can you go grab the tools? Meet us there.” He ran off before I could say no, leaving Easton and me in the room alone.

I walked out without looking at him. How did he keep charming my entire family like this? He was like a snake-oil salesman.

I wanted to hate him for it.

I found the hammer in our garage, grabbed a couple of nails, and was in the bedroom in less than five minutes. Easton had one of Gavin’s framed jerseys in his hands, and I knew that was going right next to his bed when he got home.

“Shit,” Gavin said when I entered the room, “I’ll be right back.” He sprinted out, leaving Easton and me alone for the second time in under ten minutes. I planted myself at the window, pretending to study the crooked garden fence like it was the most interesting thing I’d ever seen.

I spun around when I heard the door slam. “You two need to check your phones,” Gavin said from the other side of the door.

With a snap, I pulled out my phone, and I read the text from Gavin.

I have one last present I want from you two. Make up.

My phone sat in my hand, on the verge of getting chucked across the room. Instead, I walked to the door and tried to slam it open. It didn’t budge.

“Not funny, Gavin,” I said.

“I’m not joking,” he said. His voice came from just outside the door. I figured he had hammered a chair under the handle and was doing everything in his power to keep it closed.

“Neither am I!” I shouted.

“Quit being a dick and talk to Easton,” Gavin said.