Page 70 of The Double Play

“Okay, I’ll watch it. Thank you.”

“I’ll have my secretary send it over. Look for an email from Marie.”

“Is that all?” I ask, unable to help myself. “Is there any other way I can help?”

“I’ll let you know if there is. In the meantime, just lay low.”

I nanny for a living and crochet as a hobby. I think I’ve gotlaying lowcovered.

“I can do that.”

“Good, tell Emmett I’ll be in touch if there’s anything I need from him. Have a good day.”

The call ends before I can respond. There’s another thing to add to my list. Get a new job, tell Emmett about said job, fill out paperwork to become a legal guardian, move my sister into my apartment, then look for a house I can afford because said apartment now feels unsafe. And during all of that, find time to watch a course about dealing with the media because, at any moment, I could be thrust into the spotlight.

I’m sure I’ll handle all of that perfectly and won’t have a breakdown or seven at all. I resist the urge to curl in on myself. Now is not the time to have any of those impending breakdowns. Emmett would run off the field if he saw that.

I raise my gaze in time to watch him throw the ball. It hits the glove of the catcher with asmackloud enough for me to hear in my seat.

He turns to say something to his pitching coach and he’s smiling. I love his smile. It’s surprisingly boyish for such a gruff man, and even when it’s not directed at me, my stomach fills with butterflies. I’ve never felt this way before about anyone. All the more reason for me to do my best to be as perfect for him as he is for me. A good girlfriend wouldn’t be this much of a burden. Relationships are supposed to be a balance of give and take. I can’t keep taking from him. Emmett should be able to relax and not worry about me.

I straighten my spine and strengthen my resolve. I’ll get through this. I won’t cave under the pressure. I’ve made it this far. What’s a little more weight on my shoulders? When you’re carrying a boulder, a couple of rocks don’t make much of a difference. I’ll make it through all on my own, and then one day, I’ll be able to rest. My throat tightens as I think about how often I’ve told my heartjust a little longer. I shake off the thought. I can do this. I’ll have my dream life and make sure everyone I care for does too. No matter what it takes.

Chapter thirty-four

Emmett Foster

Hazelisn’therself.Shesmiles, but her eyes don’t crinkle at the edges. Her laughs stop short. And when I kiss her, she pulls away first. I know she’s going through a lot–even though she won’t talk to me about it–but it still brings up past hurt when I feel the growing distance between us.

I know in my bones that this isn’t like what happened with Shelby. This has to do with Hazel carrying too much, but I don’t know how to make her see that I’m here to help shoulder her burdens. I’ve tried to show her as often as I can how much I care for her. I’ve asked her about her day, brought her matcha and flowers, and told her to go relax while I take care of June. Last night, I even helped Raven with her homework when Hazel looked like she was going to fall asleep at the coffee table.

Instead of her relaxing and opening up though, she’s closed off even more. She keeps telling me I’m doing too much and I don’t have to do these things. When I tell herI want to, it’s like she doesn’t hear me. Tonight, I told her I could follow her back to her apartment. She thought it would be best to get Raven acclimated there sooner rather than later. After I told her she could stay here as long as she wanted to, I offered to make sure they were safe and help bring up their things. She was adamant in her refusal.

Now I’m sitting alone on my couch after putting a pouty June to bed, wishing that I had a meeting outside with Hazel to look forward to. Instead, I’m going to hop on a game with the guys since they’re available, and I don’t have anything better to do. I know they’re going to pester me about her, but it will be a distraction from checking my phone for a text from her every five seconds like a lovestruck teenager.

I heave a sigh and put on my headset. I’ll figure out how to fix this without scaring her away, and in the meantime, I can listen to my friends argue about inane topics while losing at a video game we’ve been playing for years now.

“E.T., you made it!” Shaw says as soon as I log on to the party chat. “I thought you’d be too busy with your newgirlfriendto spend time with us.”

I shake my head at his teasing tone. “I haven’t even been on for five seconds and you’re already pestering me.”

“Did you expect anything different?” Brock asks in a dry tone. I’m surprised he’s here, considering how busy he’s been. Shaw must have convinced him to take a break.

“No.”

Jason’s laugh fills my ears. “The less you ask him about her the better, trust me.” I’m surprised he isn’t leading everyone in messing with me. “Though I do want to say I called it.”There it is.

“Everyone called it,” Miles says with a laugh.

“Are we going to start the game or what?” I ask.

My question is ignored.

“Give him a break, guys,” Brock says, amusement in his voice. “It’s not every day that an old man finds love.”

I tip my head back against the couch and stare up at my vaulted ceilings. I wonder if I left the chat if they’d continue without missing a beat.

“At least he put himself out there unlike someone I know,” Shaw quips.

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