Page 123 of The Shake Off

My mind had been on Payton so much, and she’d made me more aware of everything going on around me. One of those things had been the very definite crush from the new social team girl on our boy, Parker. Her eyes followed wherever he went.

If that didn’t speak volumes, he was quickly becoming the main character of The Lions social feed.

I seemed to be the only one who’d noticed though.

Parker sat up, straightening his shoulders. “You think? Scout?”

“Her name’s Scout?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Cute, right?”

“I dunno,” I shrugged, because I didn’t have an opinion when it came to girls’ names. Except Payton’s. I fucking loved her name.

“It’s from To Kill a Mockingbird,” mumbled Lux, as he rummaged elbow deep in his backpack.

“What is?”

“The name Scout. She narrates the book,” he replied, before annoyance took over his expression. “Have any of you seen my headphones? I can’t find them.”

The three of us all shook our heads as another announcement came over the intercom, requesting we get our seatbelts fastened. I pulled up the blind next to my window and peered out as the plane slowly began taxiing toward the runway.

Everyone did as they were told, except Lux, who was still searching for his headphones.

“Hey, watch where you’re pointing that thing,” Tanner grumbled as Lux’s elbow jerked into his ribs from the jolt of the plane engines revving up. He pulled off the headphones resting around his neck and handed them over. “Here, you can use these.”

“Thanks.”

“What are you listening to?” he asked as Lux swiped across his phone screen.

Stretching one speaker away from his ear, he replied, “ESPN discussing our game this week. I saw a tweet on it, and wanted to catch it before we play The Cubs.”

“What are they saying?” asked Tanner.

“I don’t know, I haven’t listened to it yet.” He put the speaker back on his ear.

Parker snorted, rolling his eyes at Tanner’s frown, and looked at me. “How are you doing?”

I shrugged again. “Fine.”

It was the response I’d given them all week, because technically I was fine.

I was fine.

Confused, but fine.

Kind of pissed, but fine.

Missing Payton, but fine.

Fine.

“Yeah, you sure?” Pressed Parker.

“I’m sure,” I replied, and I knew why he was asking, because since Payton ended things, I’d pitched once in The Yankees game, and I’d be starting tomorrow in The Cubs game. But between then and now, I’d told the boys what had happened with Payton, and ever since, they’d been sticking to me closer than a fly on horseshit.

“Because…”

“Parker, I’m sure. My head’s fine, it’s not about that. It’s not Payton.”

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