Page 16 of The Double Play

“You must have gotten a lot of sleep, then, because you’re the most beautiful princess in the world,” I say and reach across the counter to squeeze her chin.

She giggles and pulls back, almost falling off the stool if not for Hazel catching her.

“Careful, silly girl,” Hazel says as she makes sure she’s steady before going back to making the pizza in front of her.

I’d forgotten Hazel was here for a moment. I normally wouldn’t have spoken like that in front of anyone but June and my mom. I don’t like to share those personal moments with anyone, but I guess it’s okay. I wanted to see June smile and laugh after we were apart these past few days.

“Do you want to make your pizza?” Hazel asks. “I can if you’d rather sit down and rest. All I need is for you to tell me what you like.”

“I can make it,” I say, not wanting her to do anything else for me.

I wash my hands, then take the place on her right side, with June on the left. The pizzas are positioned close together, so that means we are too. I grab the bowl of sauce and try not to touch Hazel in the process.

“I’m all done!” June announces with a clap of her hands.

“Why don’t you go wash up in the bathroom. Make sure you wash your face too, you got flour on your cheeks,” Hazel tells her before I can say anything.

“Yes, ma’am!” June hops down and skips off.

“Oh!” Hazel exclaims, glancing up at me. “I’m sorry. You’re home, so you probably don’t want me telling June what to do.”

I shrug, which causes our arms to brush. “It’s not a big deal. I would have told her to do the same.”

“Okay, if you say so.”

We fall into silence. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Hazel gently rearranging June’s pizza. She put all her toppings and cheese in the very center, assuring that the middle would be undercooked and possibly soggy. Without Hazel moving things around, the pizza would have been practically inedible.

I reach for the olives at the same time Hazel does. Our hands collide, her soft fingers brushing against mine. Warmth travels up my arm at the contact. She immediately jerks her hand back.

“Sorry.” The word comes out as a squeak.

“It’s okay,” I say, my voice coming out a pitch lower than I intended.

I chance a look at her. Her cheeks are flushed like they were in her picture at the park, and she’s moving a pepperoni to the left a centimeter, then to the right again as if the placement will be graded.

Do I…make her nervous? I’ve been known to inspire anxiety in people, but that’s usually in batters at the plate or people I want to leave me alone. Why would she be this way? Maybe I’m worse at social interactions than I thought. I hope I don’t scare her off. With how much June loves her, I can’t afford to lose her.

Chapter nine

Hazel James

Mypurseslidesdownmy shoulder as I attempt to knock on Emmett’s garage door. I probably should have made more than one trip, but I’m always too confident in my carrying abilities.

“Miss Hazel!” June yells when she flings open the door. She rushes me, forcing me to drop my bags on the floor. My suitcase flips backward, hitting the concrete floor with a loud smack.

“Hey, sweet pea,” I say with a laugh. “Are you excited for another sleepover?”

“Yes! A hotel sleepover!” She cheers.

I frown. We’re supposed to be staying here while Emmett heads to New York for a couple days. There shouldn’t be any need for a hotel. Before I can clarify, June lets go of me and runs back inside, chanting a made-up song about hotel waffles.

As I’m gathering my things, a shadow falls over me. I glance up, spotting Emmett through the strands of hair that have fallen in my face.

“Sorry about the mess,” I say with a nervous smile.

Wordlessly, he bends down and takes my toppled suitcase and duffel bag, leaving me with my backpack and purse.

“Thank you,” I murmur.

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