Page 114 of The Strike Zone

“Sorry.” Her big blue eyes rolled dramatically, before pinning them straight on me. “The boys are all a little sensitive before they’ve had their coffee.”

“I’vehadcoffee, it’s not about that.”

“Parker’s always a little sensitive when it comes to Scout.” Tanner grinned as Holiday opened the fridge, removed a bottle of dark green juice, and shook it.

“Well, we’re all friends here.” Holiday smiled, genuinely smiled,at me. “Nothing to be sensitive about. And I take it everyone knows about you two now?”

“Nope, they’re still keeping it secret,” Tanner answered before either Parker or I could. I wasn’t certain, but I swore I could detect a slight tension in his voice.

“It was only for a week, Tan. I told you,” Parker snapped, turning to me. “You hear about the job tomorrow, right, Davison? Then we can tell HR.”

I’d left my phone in the bedroom, but even from the distance, and a couple of thick walls between us, I could feel that email burning me. Parker was looking at me so hopefully, I couldn’t do anything more than smile and nod, replying, “That’s what they said.”

Holiday took such a big swig of her green juice, evenIwinced. “Why’d you need to tell HR?”

“They have to sign a relationship form. Coach has been riding Parker’s ass about it since the beginning of the season, otherwise he’ll get benched or something.”

“Tanner! What thefuck?”

“What? You will.” He shrugged. “That’s not a secret. It was in the letter. And we kind of need to make sure you don’t get benched.”

“Benched?” I blurted.

“Yeah, or suspended,” replied Tanner with more seriousness than I’d thought he was capable of.

“What?” My head snapped around to Parker. “You never told me you’d get benched.”

“I’m not getting benched, because no one officially knows about us. And it doesn’t matter anyway, we’re signing it this week and we can all go back to minding our own business,” Parker added, with a pointed glare directed at Tanner.

“God, if they ever asked actors to sign a relationship form before a movie, the industry would collapse,” went on Holiday, turning back to me. “You work on the social team, is that right? I think I remember Parker saying that…assuming we’re not still pretending he doesn’t talk about youall the time.”

I tried to laugh at Parker huffing, and focus on what Holiday was saying, clearly oblivious to the fact that most of the blood had drained from my face. If I looked down, my stomach would be on the floor.

Why had I never asked Parker what would happen if management found out we hadn’t signed the form?

For some reason I assumed it would be nothing more than a slap on the wrist, that Coach was giving him a hard time just because he was Coach, and it was a big year for the team. Never in a million years did I think Parker would get intoserioustrouble.

I couldn’t be the reason Parker got benched. With any luck I’d get to work tomorrow and Ava would have made a decision. Either that or I’d have to suck it up and confess. But there was no way I’d be responsible for damaging his career.

I focused back on Holiday, trying to channel as much of her acting ability as I could so that no one noticed my internal meltdown, and nodded. “Yes, TikTok mostly.”

She let out a loud sigh. “God, I need someone to help me with TikTok. I had a team, but they weren’t very good, and I’m too nervous to manage it on my own. It would take up all my time, and I don’t have much as it is.”

“It’s not that hard, Hol. Just set your phone up and do something, then post it.”

Tanner was succinct, I’d give him that. Holiday turned to her brother, shooting him a withering glare. “Well done, Tanny, you’ve just managed to insult both me and Scout.”

“What? No I didn’t, you know what I mean.”

“No, please explain how easy it is to be a content creator. Can’t be any harder than catching a ball, right?” she shot back at him, throwing me a wink.

“Ugh. You’re so annoying,” he griped, and turned to me. “Sorry, Scout, I didn’t mean to insult you.”

“You didn’t, it’s okay.” I smiled, and Tanner went back to finishing his pancakes, much to the dismay of his twin.

“Um, excuse me. What about my apology?”

Tanner turned to his sister. Identical pairs of eyes narrowed at each other; I could see it now—same mouth, same high cheekbones and smooth brow. Only Tanner’s hair was dark, where Holiday’s was light. And he had to be nearly a foot taller.

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