Page 166 of Restricted List

“So that means he’s not good enough for her?” Lo’s voice echoes around the room, getting louder with every syllable. “Because he used to sleep around, he doesn’t deserve to be with Rory?”

“Players don’t change their ways, Harlow. Even your brother. Rory deserves more than that.”

“He’s just like I was!” I shout. “Guess what, Dad? I used to sleep around, too. Is he still not worthy of me? We’re not any different.”

My dad winces but doesn’t relent. “I know what’s best for you, Rory.”

I scoff. “No, you don’t. If you did, you’d know how amazing Cole is. How wonderfully he treats me. I’m a goddamnqueento him. I fucking love him, Dad.”

“Help me here, Lane,” he pleads. “Put yourself in my shoes. You have a daughter.”

“My daughter is two, Skip. Leave her out of this.”

“Isanyonegoing to try to see things from my point of view?”

“No,” Knox asserts. “Because your point of view is backward, and you fucking know it. You’ve always liked Cole, but now that you find out he’s dating your daughter, he’s a terrible guy? When I started dating Harlow, Cole never once made me feel like I couldn’t be with her. The care he has for those around him is exactly what you should want Rory to have.”

My dad sighs. “I’m through with this. You’re benched until further notice, Pierce. I’m moving you to the restricted list.”

Cole deflates. “Yes, sir.”

“You can’t do that, Dad!”

“I can, and I will. Going against his field manager’s rules is team misconduct. The restricted list is where he belongs.” He stalks to the door before giving one last parting quip. “Don’t come to the stadium tomorrow. We’ll get by without you.”

He throws the door open and lets it slam behind him.

And just like that, my worst fears have been confirmed—the career Cole worked his whole life for is in jeopardy because of me.

fifty

Cole

“I can’t believe hedid that,” Lucia sighs.

After the confrontation, we all somberly returned to the hotel. Our friends are here trying to comfort Rory and me, so currently, nine adults and one toddler are crammed into Rory and Lo’s room.

“Benched because you’re in love with his daughter.” Ella shakes her head. “That’s so shi-… terrible. Team morale is going to be awful right now.”

“Nothing I can do about it.” I fall back on the bed, heels of my hands pressed over my eyes.

I’m on the restricted list because I’m dating my field manager’s daughter.

I don’t even know how long the team is going to be without me.

For the longest time, baseball was all I knew. It’s all I wanted. Almost nothing came before it.

But that’s no longer true.

Because if I had to, I’d hang up my cleats right now. I’d give all of this up for Rory.

She’smy person, and not even the sport I love can compete with that.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t help more,” Harlow says sadly. “I hate seeing my best friend and brother so hurt over this.”

“You don’t need to apologize,” I breathe as I sit up again. “I just appreciate you all even trying. You didn’t need to jump in since the fight wasn’t yours, but you did anyway. I don’t know what’s going to happen to me from here, but I won’t forget that.”

“We told you both we had your back,” Knox says with a grim smile. “We meant that.”

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