Page 43 of The Double Play

I stifle a sigh. “Can we please just play the game we came on here for? It’s been a long day.”

“Yeah, let’s play,” Miles thankfully agrees.

We start up a game and play mostly in silence, except for comments related to the game. The first game is a win for us, which the other guys celebrate by whooping deafeningly loud in my ear. We’re in the middle of another game when I get killed. I throw my controller at the ground. It hits the wood floor hard enough to dislodge the batteries.

“What was that crashing noise?” Shaw asks.

I bend down to snatch the controller up. “It was me throwing my controller because I hate this game.”

“Okay, I was going to let it slide and not gang up on you, but Jason’s right. Something has to be wrong. You’re not the rage-quitting type,” Shaw says, concern in his voice.

I contemplate lying again, but the very idea turns my stomach. Shelby lied to me for months. The media lies for a living. I won’t be like them, even if the idea of sharing personal stuff makes my skin crawl.

“Hazel’s mom is in the hospital,” I tell them. “She left in a rush earlier and it’s been a long day without her here. She and June have all these traditions and sayings I don’t understand. And I don’t know when she’s going to be back.”

“I’m sorry, man, that’s rough,” Shaw says. “How’s Hazel dealing with all of this?”

I hang my head. “I don’t know. The only information I have is that she’s at Tennessee General and that her mom is stable.”

“Did you ask her?” Jason chimes in, caution in his voice.

“No.”

“Do you want to know if she’s okay?” Miles asks.

My brow furrows. “What kind of trick question is that? Of course I want to know.”

“It’s not a trick question,” Miles defends. “I just wanted to know if you cared about her. If you do, you should check on her.”

“He should goseeher,” Jason amends.

“I’m not going to bother her while she’s at the hospital. She’s always taking care of other people, she doesn’t need me there adding to that,” I say firmly.

“If she’s always taking care of everyone, who’s taking care of her right now?” Shaw asks.

I sit up. I hadn’t thought of it in that way. My mind brings up our time in New York, how she made sure everyone around her was happy, all while struggling with her own family issues. If her dad wouldn’t even give her sister a ride to a job interview, then I doubt he’ll be helping out with this. She’s probably taking care of her sister alone.

“I don’t know if she’ll want me there,” I voice my one hesitation. “Things between us have been…off.”

“She wants you there.” Jason says. “Without a doubt.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I saw everything I needed to when I was in New York. Willow agreed with me, too.”

“If you care about her, you should go,” Miles says.

“I agree,” Shaw adds.

I roll my eyes up to the ceiling. “I can’t believe I’m about to take advice from the three of you.”

“Atta boy! Go get your girl,” Jason whoops.

I shake my head. “She’s not my girl. I’m doing this as a friend.”

“Sure, whatever gets you there,” he says with a chuckle. “Let us know if you need anything.”

“Thanks,” I say, because they deserve the gratitude even if they annoy me most of the time.

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