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Skip flips the iPad over on his desk, screen down, giving me his full attention. "It is big," he says matter-of-factly. "And that's exactly why it has to be her. That's what the night is all about. Come on, kid. It was your idea."

"Right," I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck.

It was my idea. And at the time, pitching it to Skip had been easy—the words came fast, the purpose even faster. I'd just been thinking about V and how proud she is of being deaf. About how so many people still treat it like something to whisper about instead of celebrate.

But now that it's actually happening, it suddenly feels… real. And that makes the stakes feel that much higher.

Skip nods toward the door. "How about this—talk to your mom and stepdad first. Make sure they're good with it. Then talk to your sister and let me know so Cecily can move on to the rest."

"Okay," I say, nodding. "I will."

He reaches for his tablet again, the conversation over for him even if my mind hasn't quite gotten there yet.

I turn to leave.

"Good game tonight, by the way," he adds. I twist around and his eyes flick back up to me. "You read that line drive in the fifth better than I did."

The corners of my mouth curl up. "Thanks, Skip."

I go to leave again, this time actually stepping back into the hallway.

The familiar post-game noise spills out of the clubhouse, calling me back—music, the boys shouting over it, the clatter of equipment getting tossed around.

I take the handful of strides it takes to get to the door, but instead of heading straight back inside, I lean on the wall beside the frame as my hand drifts to my phone in my pocket.

It's habit, I tell myself. I'm checking the time. Looking for a missed call from my mom telling me they headed home, but she was proud as always.

But when the screen lights up, and there are no new messages, I hold it a little tighter than before.

There's still nothing from Lenny.

Which is… fine—the heavy dose of reality I clearly keep needing.

But my jaw still tightens slightly as I shove the phone back into my warmups.

Because I'm still waiting for something from her that probably won't come.

Well… not anymore.

I push off the wall with a newfound energy.

Fuck waiting.

And fuck sleep.

"Yo, J," I call across the room, stepping back into the clubhouse.

JJ spins toward me, his towel still wrapped way too loosely around his waist and his microphone hairbrush still in his hand.

"Pick me up on your way tonight."

Jace

Summer Before Senior Year at Mage Hollow High

"Wait, stay."

Lenny pops up on one elbow, reaching for my arm to try to stop me from sliding out from under her flower comforter and out of her way-too-small-for-me twin size bed.