Page 73 of High Hopes

Unlike James, who always had his sights set on going pro, Hayes didn’t have the same drive to chase the big leagues. It wasn’t in the cards for him, and I think he’s made peace with that long ago.

We used to be closer when we all lived together last year. Hayes was my go-to for advice, though he had a knack for delivering it with enough sarcasm to make you question if he was being serious. But since he and Emmy moved in together, we’ve drifted.

It’s not a big deal, I guess. That’s just what happens when you grow up and start building your life with someone. Still, it stings a little.

Beside me, West is sprawled out in his seat, scrolling through his phone with the kind of calm that seems at odds with therest of us. His season just ended, but you wouldn’t know it—he carries that same effortless confidence, like nothing in the world could rattle him.

“Theo, it’s your turn, baby,” Jade says, waving him toward the lane, her sparkly purple ball already in hand for her next turn.

West—Theo to Jade and Jade only—stretches lazily, his movements slow and deliberate. Then he stands, grabbing one of the heavier balls. “Watch and learn, people.”

He steps to the lane and rolls like he’s testing his running back aim, the ball slamming into the pins with a satisfying crash. A strike.

“Show-off,” Jade mutters, but she’s smiling.

“Just lucky,” West says, deadpan. “Because I got my girl here.”

Jade shakes her head, grabbing her purple ball and stepping up for her turn. She’s just finishing her first semester of grad school for journalism and keeps talking about some big investigative piece she’s working on—something about corruption in collegiate football recruitment.

I thought about asking for more details, but sports outside of soccer don’t really hold my interest. It’s not that I don’t care—well, actually, maybe it is.

Her roll knocks down seven pins, and she does a little victory dance. “See? Told you it’s lucky!”

The next few rounds are more of the same. Emmy, surprisingly competitive, gets two strikes in a row and trash-talks Hayes the whole time. West tries to teach Jade how to roll with more power, but she just laughs and claims she’s going for “artistic flair.” James spends half his turns arguing about whether spin counts as a “real” bowling technique.

By the time we’re halfway through, I’m leaning back in my seat, sipping my beer and letting the noise wash over me. It feelsgood to be here, surrounded by everyone’s energy, even if I’m still half in my head about Birdie.

“You’re up again,” James says, nudging me.

I grab a ball and roll another gutter. No one even teases me this time. They must know I’m not in the mood to try.

When I sit, James gives me a look. “You good?”

“Missing Birdie,” I tell him. “Wondering what she’s up to. Hoping she’s not just crying all alone in bed or something.”

He sighs. “She’s still giving you the runaround?”

“It’s not therunaround,” I say, shaking my head. “It’s more like she needs space. And I get it. She’s been through a lot, and I don’t want to push her. But with Dad being on the committee, it’s like there’s this shadow over everything that’s connected to me. And because of it, I’m worried she’s never going to let me all the way in. She’ll keep shutting me out because it’s easier.”

“So, what are you doing about it?”

I blink. “What can I do? She said she needed time.”

“Time’s great,” he says, nodding slowly. “But have you thought about what you’re gonna do after she’s had that time? Did you come up with things that would make her happy like we talked about? Or are you just sitting here, hoping the perfect answer is gonna fall out of the sky?”

I glance at him, then at the others. West is lounging in his chair, clearly eavesdropping despite pretending to scroll his phone, and Hayes leans in a little, curious. Jade, who’s just finished her turn, plops down across from me, her expression somewhere between amused and intrigued.

“Fine,” James says, slapping his hands on the table. “Here’s what we’re gonna do. We’re making a list.”

I frown. “A list?”

“Yeah,” Jade chimes in, her eyes lighting up. “A glad/bad list. Stuff that makes her happy on one side, stuff that stresses her out on the other.”

“Because nothing says romance like a pros and cons list,” I deadpan.

“Not a pros and cons list,” Emmy cuts in, finally looking up from her phone. “This is actionable intel. Stuff you can actually use to help her feel better.”

I roll my eyes but grab a napkin from the table. “Fine. Let’s hear it.”

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