Page 67 of The Future Play

Best because it’s focused on honing our skills, and with Aaron helping out with coaching, I’m seeing all the little areas I still need to work on.

Worst because my coach knows me too well and doesn’t let me slack off in the slightest, even if my slacking is better than some guys’ A game.

I’m not slacking today, but I’m preoccupied. I’m officially the guy letting a girl distract me from my game, but it’s not because of a fight—at least I don’t think so. It’s because she hasn’t responded to a text from me in almost twenty-four hours. And while I’m not a needy SOB, that’s unlike her. I’m not stupid enough to think she’s ghosting me when her last text to me was the heart-eyes emoji and the wordsgoodnight, baseball boy.

I’m more worried something’s wrong, and she wouldn’t tell me because she doesn’t want to bother me. I wish she’d realizeshe’s never bothering me. She’s not a problem. I don’t understand why no one else in her life has ever made her feel like she’s the best fucking thing in the world, but I’m going to keep telling her that and treating her that way.

She left for vacation with her family this morning, so she might be busy, but if anything, I would’ve expected her to text me on the car ride. Maybe Iama needy SOB.

“Sorry, Coach,” I say as I run off the field. One more hour and I can check my phone and try to figure out what’s going on.

“You stressed about draft stuff again?” Aaron asks, walking over to me.

I did as Amanda suggested that night on my back deck and started thinking about what I want. That’s not just a short-term question, but a long-term one as well. So, I talked about it with Aaron, who offered to reach out and try to get some advice from current major or minor league players.

“Not specifically,” I say casually. It’s always in the back of my mind, but definitely not the forefront right now. I’m hesitant to mention Amanda to him because I know how this friend group can be. Meddling and pushy. Trevor can at least keep his mouth shut. I want to have a chance to let things with Amanda grow before adding in all that chaos.

“You’re being cagey.”

“Just worried about a friend.”

He squints at me for a long moment. All my friends are his friends, so he must know I’m talking out of my ass. That’s confirmed when he arches a brow then breaks into a grin.

“Ah, this friend wouldn’t happen to have long strawberry blonde hair and a hurt-my-friends-and-die attitude, would she?”

My cheeks give me away. I couldn’t lie if I wanted to all because of them and my stupid pasty white skin.

“Maybe.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Eh, we text a lot. She hasn’t responded in the last day or so and we left things on a good note, so I’m worried. She tends notto let people in. But she’s on vacation, so I might be overthinking it.”

He frowns. “She didn’t go.”

My stomach drops. “What? Why not?”

He gives a little shake of his head and pulls out his phone. “She’s sick, I guess. I don’t know exactly. The girls mentioned it in our group chat this morning.”

Of course not the group chat I’m in.

“Here.” He holds up his phone, and I read through a few of the messages.

Rae: Sarah, how’s Mands?

Sarah: I don’t know. She wouldn’t open her bedroom door because she didn’t want to give me her germs. There was plenty of easy to eat food in the fridge, and I left a bunch of Gatorade and crackers there. She said it’s a nasty stomach bug. I’m guessing so since it’s been almost two full days of her not being able to eat much.

Mackie: That sucks. Do you think she needs anything else?

Sarah: IDK. Her parents are out of town, but she said Pete is checking in on her before and after work.

Mackie: We should make a schedule to check in with her.

Rae: I’ll figure something out in a bit.

“Tell them no one needs to stop by tonight.”

Aaron gives me his biggest know-it-all smile. “Will do.”

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