Page 80 of Facing the Line

Jonas: How’s the lake?

Evan: It’s okay. How’s Chicago?

Jonas: Having a blast. Rooting for the Cubbies today.

Evan: As long as they aren’t playing the Tigers, I can get on board with that.

Jonas: The Guardians, I think.

Evan: Who?

Jonas: You know. They renamed the Cleveland Indians.

Evan: Oh, right. Have fun with Hadley.

Evan: And Hunter and Natalie.

Evan: And tell your mom and Emma I say hi.

Jonas: I will.

We found a jersey and hat for Hadley to borrow, and it’s so cute, I can barely look at her. She’s wearing the hat backwards, her long blonde hair loose around her shoulders, and the jersey is unbuttoned, open over another shirt and a pair of tight shorts.

I know I'll never get to see her wear my hockey jersey, but damn if this doesn’t make me want it more than anything.

The other thing I want is for all the people around us to disappear. Me, Hadley, and an empty stadium. That’s the dream. Because my dad sits on one side of me, and as I glance down the aisle, Hunter and Natalie wave at us and start stepping over fans. Hadley squeals and jumps up, hopping across me to hug them—and giving me a fantastic view of her legs in those little shorts. I avert my eyes, and end up locking gazes with Hunter.

Is it me or does his mouth tighten? Is he glaring at me? Can he tell I slept with his sister? Guilt gnaws at my stomach.

Hadley is her own woman, able to sleep with whomever she wants. She’s consented fully and enthusiastically whenever we’ve been together. She does not need her brother’s permission.

I know all this. But I also know how protective Hunter is and why. Things are not good between them and their dad—Hadley is the only family he has right now.

Besides Natalie. She waves and bounces on the balls of her feet, and after Hadley shifts, I stand to hug them both, too. Though I still feel dishonorable about the whole thing, it’s nice to see them.

My dad knows Hunter, but he hasn’t met Natalie. I introduce them, and as soon as we get seated, the P.A. announcer asks everyone to rise to their feet for the National Anthem. Because it’s the Fourth of July weekend, there’s all sorts of extra fanfare—a bald eagle soars through the stadium, which is amazing to watch, and then the Great Lakes Naval Station pilots do a flyover.

It’s good, because it all distracts me from Hadley. How enticing she smells, how shiny her hair is, her mesmerizing legs. I’m wedged between my dad and Hunter with Natalie and Hadley on the other side of her brother. She’s three seats away—I should be able to focus on the game.

Dansby Swanson, my current favorite player, is up to bat. We’re along the third base line near the outfield with a good view of home plate. The Cubs aren’t having a great year, so I don’t know if they have much of a shot of winning this game, but I don’t know if the Guardians are that great, either. No matter what, it’s a great day to be out at the Friendly Confines.

Hunter shifts in his seat to stare at me. “So how’s your summer going, man?”

“Great.”Sleeping with your sister.“Um, yeah. It’s been good.”

“Are you working on campus or something?”

“No, I have pediatric clinicals. Plus spending a lot of time in the gym, getting lots of training in.”

“Wow.” His eyes shine with pride and admiration. “You’re serious this season.”

I have to be. I can’t let them down again. Plus, my scholarship. My future.

“Just doing what I can for the program,” I say, adjusting the bill of my hat to block the sun.

“You’re gonna have that pro career in no time.” He smiles, turning to the game at the crack of a bat. “Everybody will be after you to sign next year.”

Will they? My stomach lurches at the thought. Who would I pick? The thought of leaving my team, getting to know a bunch of new guys, being constantly traded sends a shiver of anxiety down my spine. Is that what I should want? I could help my parents financially with Emma, set aside some money for her future. Even if I couldn’t visit because of the grueling schedule.

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