Page 134 of Honey Pot

“Say the word out there, and I’ll pull you.” She winked.

She dropped her hands and helped me off the bench, wrapping me up in a quick hug before fixing my jersey and checking the buttons.

“These are nice.” She admired the new, rich navy, special edition jerseys, which had a championship patch on the shoulder. Ella straightened out the tiny lavender flower pin over my heart and smiled softly. “I wish I could have met her,” she cooed, stepping back so I could tuck the hem of my jersey into mypants.

“Mama would have adored you, Peachy.” I smiled. “It would have made her so happy to see Arlo go toe to toe with someone, but even more to find someone who loves him. She was always so worried he’d end up like Arthur.”

“Luckily she left you to look after him until I showed up.” Ella laughed, scooping up her medical bag from the bench and leading the way out of the locker room.

The hallway was packed with bodies, players, reporters, and parents. Dad stood at the head of it all locked in a conversation with Silas. He looked good. He had cut down the sides of his long hair and finally trimmed his beard.Who knew a shower would do him some good?He shifted in his dark Hornets’ polo and flipped a hat up and over his head as Silas patted him on the back and took off down the hallway.

I slipped in front of Ella, feeling her fingers tangle into the jersey at my lower back as I pushed through the crowd and brought her to Arlo.

“He’s got the green light,” Ella hummed and tucked into Arlo’s side. His dark hair was brushed off his face and he looked really happy for once as his arm wrapped around her, clinging to his clipboard with the other. His eyes narrowed on me.

“Does hewantthe green light?” Arlo cocked his head at me.

“Yeah,” I hiccuped.

“Convincing.”

“I’m ready.”

The words came out, and I knew I could do it, but I don’t think either of us was ready for the feelings that lingered below the surface. Tonight's game was the first that I would play without Arlo,ever. Since joining the team, Arlo had been to my left, always guarding and protecting the pitcher's mound. Protecting my stupid oversized heart too. Everything felt so exposed. Tonight we will introduce the new captain.

“I might actually puke this time.” The words came out of me in a blunt projectile confession. “Can the light be yellow?” I suddenly felt itchy in the uniform and wiggled around.

“No, all or nothing.” Arlo shook his head and put one hand on my shoulder, the clipboard digging into my skin as the other hand moved over my racing heart. “Two steps at a time.”

“Except you aren’t out there with me anymore. So that’s irrelevant, and I’m walking alone.” I stared at him.

“I’m out there, just not where you’re used to having me. You’ll just have to put in a little work, Kitten.” He laughed and little lines formed around his eyes. “When you need me, you’ll find me. I’m not going anywhere.”

The next breath I took was long and shaky but I tapped the back of his hand over my heart with two fingers.I’m ready.

“Alright boys you know how this goes, every year you go out there, and you get your asses handed to you by the Lorrettes,” Dad started loudly over my shoulder and I turned to scowl at him,inspiring.“This year you’re regional champions. If you lose, you’ll only be embarrassing yourself.”

Arlo covered his mouth to stifle the laugh that left him.

But Dad smiled, a surprising chuckle echoing over the silence in the packed hallway. He was fumbling through the entirehappysituation, but at least he was trying. We were a team just trying to heal from the last few years, but it felt like we were all ready to try. Everyone listened to Dad speak with bright eyes and concentrated faces.

“Remember that today is supposed to be fun, so have it. Get the crowd fired up, make good plays, and don’t stress, there will be plenty of time for that at spring camp. Win or lose, dinner tonight at the Nest.” He clapped and the rest of us followed suit as his eyes landed on me with a tight nod.

The huddle formed and, for the first time in months, my heart rate slowed to a normal pace as the guys started their chant. Wrapped in each other shoulder to shoulder, the huddle rocked side to side like a wave on the ocean. Electricity charged through all of us as we broke free and jogged to the entrance of the stadium. The sound of fans and music boomed into the air, echoing off the steel roof and vibrating down through the concrete.

“Cody.” Silas wandered forward. I had half expected him to be in a suit and tie, but he was in his normal uniform. He patted me on the back, his fingers digging into my shoulder just to see if I would react. "You’re with me,” he said.

“Ella said I could play.” I tensed and looked around for her to support my claims, but I had lost her in the crowd. “I can play. My shoulder is fine!”

Panic, raw and overwhelming, flooded my body.

“And you’re going to.” He shook his head at me as the announcer started to call player names. “I need you for something else,” Silas said.

CODY

Together we waited as all the other players and staff flooded onto the field after the Lorettes were announced, even after the national anthem was played. I rocked back and forth on my heels as we waited in uncomfortable silence.

“Please put your hands together for Silas Shore and everyone’s favorite shortstop, number nineteen–Cael Cody.”

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