Page 159 of Stolen Bases

“Does Mom know you talk like this?” I chuckle. I know damn well she does. He’s fantastic at hiding it and being proper in public.

“How do you think I won her over? Pretty words only go so far.” He smirks and winks at me.

I bark a laugh. “Touché.”

My brain automatically conjures up a picture of Talia blushing as I give her a rundown of all the dirty things I want to do to her. The way her pussy gets wet with desire when I pull her hair and call her my good little slut.

“I guess being a dirty-mouthed mother fucker is hereditary.” Joking with him makes me feel better about having to tell him what’s going on in my head.

My dad laughs. “I forget how alike we are.”

“No wonder I’m Mom’s favorite.” I bump his shoulder as we continue our trek.

When we make it to the mile-three marker, the sun is rising behind us. I plop down onto one of the open benches that overlook the Pacific Ocean.

Dad takes a seat next to me. “Are you really not going to tell me what’s going on with you?”

“Who says something’s going on with me?”

“Everyone. It doesn’t take a genius to know it has something to do with that punch you took to the jaw.”

I feign hurt, clutching my chest. “Listening to the talking heads again, are ya?”

“I don’t have to listen to them to know when my boy is in a slump. I was there, and I’ve been watching you with my own damn eyes.”

“Jesus, you’re not supposed to say the S word out loud.” I knock on the wooden bench. You can never be too careful.

“Oh please. That’s not a real thing.”

It is. Ask any baseball player.

“Besides, I’m not in a sl— I’m not in one, okay?” I can’t say the word out loud. My dad might not believe in luck, but I do. Saying the word is a jinx, and I already have my work cut out for me.

“You can deny that shit to everyone but me. I know you, Cam. Your head’s not into it. You haven’t hit shit in the last four games, and you might as well be pitching softballs. You keep fucking up, and your team won’t make it to the end.”

“Geez, Pop, tell me how you really feel.” I groan. I fucking hate it when he’s right. My head isn’t in it, and everyone knows it. “You think I don’t know all this? I told Anson to bench my ass, but he’s having too much fun torturing me.”

“Good. Take your lumps like a man.” He slaps my back.

“That’s what Coach said.”

Anson said a lot more than that during our meeting the day after. He called me and Nico into his office to yell at us about sportsmanship and team unity. For once, Nico looked remorseful when he apologized for punching me. I accepted. End of. No explanations necessary. I didn’t want Talia brought into Evaders’ business even though all parties knew she was the reason he’d hit me.

After the meeting, Romero ducked out to go to the Home Run Derby. I’m glad he did. I don’t think I would have been able to stop myself from asking him about Talia. Not knowing where I stand with her is killing me. But I promised her space, so that’s what I’m going to give her.

“Smart man. Knew I liked Anson. So, what’s next?”

“I have no fucking clue.” I don’t know what to do to get my head back in the game. All I can think about is Talia.

“So, you’re just going to continue being a sad sack?” He looks at me like I grew a second head.

“Jesus, is this how I sound to others?”

A resounding “Yes!” fills the air from behind.

I turn around to find my three older brothers standing back at the fork in the trail, arms crossed and eyes narrowed, looking like they are ready to whip my ass.

“What the fuck are you guys doing here?”

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