Page 48 of The Double Play

Hazel is great with people. Everyone she’s met loves her. She’s not as outgoing as Shelby, but she’s certainly not as introverted as I am. Would that come between us if I dared to confess my feelings for her?

I rake my hands through my hair. This is all operating under the assumption that she shares my feelings–feelings I’ve yet to put a name to. They feel too big forlike, but to call themloveseems hasty.

The door opens beside me. I push off the wall. Hazel slips out of the room, closing the door with one hand while swiping tears away with the other.

“Are you okay?” I study her expression. She seems shaken, but not as distraught as when I first arrived.

“I’m okay,” she rasps. “A bit tired of crying, but okay.” She laughs a little, but it sounds broken.

“Did she say something to upset you?” I glance at the door, piecing together what I would say to a woman I’ve never met.

“Not on purpose, no. She spent most of the conversation lamenting over what a terrible mother she’s been to us. It was hard not to reassure her, but I stayed strong.”

I pull her to me. She snuggles in with a familiarity that doesn’t match this only being our third hug ever.

“You did good, Wildflower. I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you,” she says, her voice thick with emotion. “I’d really like to go home now.”

“Of course. I can drive you back to your apartment or follow you home to make sure you get there okay.”

Her head lifts from my chest. She always jokes about June’s eyes getting her what she wants, but she underestimates her own. I’d give her anything with her looking at me like this. As though I matter to her.

“My apartment,” she says slowly. “Yes, we should go there. Can you drive? I’m not sure if it would be safe for me to right now.”

I tuck a strand of silky hair behind her ear. “Did you mean to say my house? I can take you there. We can pick up Raven, too.”

Her red-rimmed eyes start to water. “I think I’m going to get dehydrated from crying too much,” she says with a wet laugh. “I’d really like that. I…” She exhales a shuddery breath. “I don’t want to be alone.”

Some people might point out that she wouldn’t be alone with her sister there, but I know better. Having Raven next to her would be the same as having June next to me. She has to support them, rather than be supported. When you’re constantly giving, it’s easy to feel alone.

“You’re not alone anymore,” I tell her while staring into her eyes. “You have me.”

Even if it terrifies me.

Chapter twenty-three

Hazel James

Todayisnotgoinghow I thought it would. I feel like I took a sip of water only to find out it’s actually an iced matcha. Delicious, but unexpected.

I glance over at Emmett as he pulls into the parking lot of my apartment complex. Him showing up today gives me all the warm and fuzzy feelings, but worry is poking me like an itchy clothing tag. Everything was going so well in New York before he pulled away. Will he do that again?

“I don’t like this place,” Emmett says with a frown, drawing me out of my thoughts.

My brow furrows. “What do you mean? This is one of the nicest complexes in Nashville.”

“It’s in the middle of the city. It must be loud all the time, and no matter how nice it is, any belligerent drunk can wander over from Broadway and cause trouble.”

I scratch beside my mouth. He’s got a point, one I’ve considered myself as well. It is rather loud some nights, but that’s what noise-cancelling headphones and Lofi music are for. And the occasional drunken spectacle gives the place character. Gives me stories to tell Mikayla.

“It’s not as bad as you think,” I say as I open the passenger door to his truck.

“I still don’t like it,” he grumbles as he gets out.

I smile as I hop down and shut the door behind me.He cares.While I’m worried he might change his mind about that, right nowhe cares about me. And though I have an amazing best friend and a wonderful sister who do as well, it feels good to add someone to the short list.

“Come on, we won’t take long,” I say when we meet at the front of his truck.

---