Page 95 of How We Fooled

I find the strength within me to let her go and watch her walk up to the house. She waves to my parents, who were giving us our moment while sitting in their car.

Once she’s inside, I walk to my dad’s window. “I don’t think I’ll head home. I need to go for a drive.”

“Well, son, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Tim’s been trying to contact you.”

I close my eyes, inhaling, then letting it out slowly to mentally prepare for what’s to come. “I turned off my phone. I just wanted to be with Liza.”

“We get it, but it’s time to get back to reality.”

He holds up his phone, showing me a news story on ESPN with a headline that reads:

Top MLB draft pick arrested for protecting his teacher, who he was secretly dating.

My stomach drops, as I know everything is going to change from that one little sentence flashing across the screen.

I want to scream, punch the car, and lose my shit altogether, but I know Liza can still see me, and the last thing I want is for her to see me freaking out.

My eyes pop up to her house when it hits me.

Does she know yet?

I rush toward her house.

“Where are you going?” Dad yells out.

“If everyone knows, then our secret is out, and we don’t need to be apart,” I yell over my shoulder. “I’m not letting her go through this alone.” I don’t bother knocking as I open the door and step through. “Liza?”

Her aunt and uncle aren’t home, and she’s standing in the kitchen with her phone in her hand, giving me a blank stare.

She knows …

I run to her and pick her up. “We’ll figure this out. Don’t panic.”

She starts to sob against my chest. “All because I wanted a drink. Our lives are over because I decided to order that drink. We could have been?—”

I push her back so I can see her face. “Don’t you dare do that. This is not your fault. This is all because some asshole tried to hurt you. I’d get arrested a thousand times more to protect you.”

“But …”

“No. There are no buts. We will deal with this. Together. Come home with me.”

She shakes her head. “No. We need to keep our distance.”

“Fuck that. If the world already knows, then we’ll tell our story. I don’t care what they think of you or me.” I wipe away a tear that’s falling on her cheek with my thumb. “We’re in this together. No matter what. Will you stand by my side?”

She nods. “Yes, I’ll stand by your side.”

We hug, and I pick her up as she wraps her legs around me, and we walk back to my truck.

Her bag is still in her car, so I grab it and put it in my truck. “Do you need anything else from the house?”

She shakes her head as she steps in and shuts the door.

After I’ve started the truck and pulled away from the curb, I turn on my phone and say to her, “I have to call my agent. I want you to hear everything. No secrets, okay? Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together.”

She nods as tears cover her eyes again.

I reach for her hand. “Don’t cry. It’s going to be okay.”

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