Page 157 of Liam

“No. He always does it when I’m out in the sun. I think he’s afraid I’ll burn alive.”

Griffin chuckles. “You know what you got there, Addie?”

I smile as I face him. “A good man?”

“Agreatman.”

Soon enough, the Prestons begin to arrive, and I introduce Dayna and Griffin to them all. But… they’re not the ones I’m nervous to introduce. And, going by the way Roman climbs the steps as he approaches us, I’m not the only one nervous. I hug Roman a little longer than necessary before finally releasing him and turning to Griffin. He’s already on his feet, his smile wide, and more importantly, genuine. I introduce them, even though they’ve known each other for years.

Turns out, I had nothing to be nervous about because Griffin and Roman hit it off with baseball talk, and Dayna—she’s just happy to be here.

Logan shows up with a giant speaker, and behind him, Lucas walks onto the field with Chicken on a leash. Chicken—who’s dressed in a bright blue and red tutu and a Prestons jersey.

“Y’all are actually crazy, you know that?” Lucy laughs out. “Wait, is that Katie’s tutu?”

Logan chuckles. “She ain’t wearing them,” he tells her. “Look at her.”

I look down at the fence line where Katie and a little boy are playing with a dump truck, loading it with rocks, her frilly skirt and shoes left discarded beside her.

Lucy sighs. “I guess this is what happens when she has eleventy-three uncles, huh?”

The final game of the season starts, and none of us really pay attention until Benny’s up to bat. The cheers that come from our section are so loud it’s ridiculous, and everyone here knows it.

“Wow,” Griffin chuckles, nudging my side. “There are more people here than our games. Better atmosphere, too.”

“That’s what I told Roman, and he didn’t believe me.”

Roman leans forward so he can look past Griffin and tells me, “Damn, I miss watching you play. I bet you’re so good now.”

“That’s because I’ve had two of the best coaches ever.”

“All right, Benny!” Logan cheers, his hands cupped around his mouth.

Benny walks up to the plate, the bat rested on his shoulder. He doesn’t get into position right away. Instead, he points the bat toward us.

“Here we go,” Aubrey murmurs.

A second later, music plays from the massive speaker behind me, and my eyes widen when the song starts. “No.” I turn, facing the entire Preston family. “No, you guys!”

Cameron and Leo put their arms around each other’s shoulders, swaying as the familiar song leads up to the chorus. Mia shakes her head, laughing. “Look at Benny!” she shouts over the music.

Benny is still at home plate, holding the bat in the air, a hand at either end, his hips swinging from side to side. Before I know it, before I canstopit, it feels like the entire universe shouts, “Sweet Addie-line!”

“Buh! Buh! Buh!”

I turn to Roman. “Did you know about this?”

His shit-eating grin gives him away.

Dayna links her arm through mine. “Addie!” she laughs out. “What is happening?!”

I shake my head. “It’s the Preston Effect!”

“Buh! Buh! Buh!”

Benny strikes out.

Lucas lets Chicken off the leash.

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