Page 91 of Under the Influence

Carson walks away when Nash does, and the rest of us all stare at each other, an awkwardness between us as we wait to see who will speak first.

"So, what time is Grady coming over?" Lainey asks, snuggling closer to Drayton, who still stands between her legs.

"I don't know. Probably around seven."

"Okay," she nods. "I'm bringing my laptop. I have an idea for that new song you wrote."

She smiles, looking at Drayton, and I sigh, "You can come too if you want."

Proof that I will do anything to make her happy.

Lainey smiles, nudging Drayton with her foot.

"Yeah, alright."

"Your mom didn't give you shit about coming over?" I ask, wondering if she plans on lying.

"Nah, I just told her I'd be hanging out with Dray."

Of course, she's okay with it as long as it's not me. My tattoos and ripped jeans wouldn't look great in her family photos, but Drayton? That's a no-brainer. The clean-cut kid who will probably be a fucking accountant someday? Oh yeah, she's probably already tried photoshopping him in.

Lainey has so much personality, but her parents would never know. They beat it down, treat her like a child, and tell her what's appropriate. We're cut from the same cloth, though. We're fighters.

After school, I slip my sweatshirt over my head, stepping out of the field house and onto the field. Watching Nash run from foul post to foul post brings a smile to my face.

That's what you get, asshole. Everyone else huddles around Coach, waiting for instruction.

"As I'm sure you know, Drayton Lewis is going to be joining us this season. Everyone grab a throwing partner and warm up. Things are going to be a little bit different today," Coach T looks to Nash's arm, shaking his head. "Carson, I want you to use the bands and stretch, maybe do some drills. Drayton, go to the bullpen. Madden, you throw on Nash's gear and catch for him. Let's go!"

He points to the sky, twirling his finger in a circular motion telling everyone to get going. I grab Nash's gear and strap it on, pulling his catcher's mask down over my face. Coach Clark watches Drayton pitch, scribbling in a notebook. His pitching is crazy accurate, but he's not as fast as Carson because his arm just isn't as strong. He tries to throw harder, his pitches going wild, making me chase them.

"You guys keep going," Coach Clark says. "I'm going to make sure Coach T doesn't kill Nash."

I've never seen Coach so pissed. Nash has been walking on thin ice with him for a while.

"How about you slow down and get it in my glove this time?" I tell Drayton.

He rolls his eyes, tossing the ball to me slowly.

"You know what I mean, jackass. You can throw it eighty miles an hour, but that doesn't mean shit if it's not a strike."

He throws a few more, finding his rhythm again. He's a good pitcher, and he'll improve with the coaching at Legacy. He glances at Carson, the jealousy basically radiating off of him.

"He's not gonna just give you his spot. You do know that, right? If you want it, you're gonna have to take it. Earn it."

He sighs, sending another one into my glove, faster than the one before, "Let's not pretend that you don't worship Carson like the rest of the people in Legacy Bay."

I laugh because he's so off base with that comment.

"I don't worship anyone. It was easy to dislike you because you played for the rival team, but you're here now. You're on my team, dating my best friend, going to my school. You're here, and I can live with it. Plus, our mutual hate for Nash Langdon makes us outsiders."

Drayton's lips tilt upward, "I'm not here to make friends. I don't want to be a Shark."

"I'm not a shark," I snap, tossing him the ball back.

He snorts, "That's what Lainey said to me the night I met her."

I stand up, pulling the mask off my face onto the top of my head, "The sharks." I warn, looking over to Nash, "Will be the least of your problems if you do anything to hurt her. I'm worse than a shark."