Page 73 of Liam

Benny stops dancing and runs to his mom. “Mama, can I show Addie what’s in my backpack?”

Mia puts on her mom voice. “If Addie would like that.”

“I would love nothing more,” Addie says.

Benny runs to the car, opening the back door to retrieve his backpack, then races back to Addie. He sits on the dirt ground in front of her, and without a beat of hesitation, she does the same. He unzips the backpack, pulling out a bag of rocks. One would think, going by Addie’s reaction, he’s just revealed a case of diamonds. I watch him explain the more interesting rocks to her before he sets the bag aside and shows her a yo-yo. “I’m learning tricks!” he tells her.

I sit down beside Mia. “When did he get into yo-yos?”

“When his papa purchased a toy company.”

I chuckle.

“Technically, he purchased Benny a toy company, and I’m pretty sure he did it just for the inventory.” From what I understand, Mia’s dad hasn’t always been the best dad, but he’s sure making up for it with Benny.

“You can have my spare,” Benny tells Addie, handing her a yo-yo. “It’s a trade for the fidget clicker.”

“Are you sure?” she asks. “We don’t have to trade. It’s a gift.”

“Then the yo-yo is a gift, too!” Benny stands. “I’ll teach you some tricks!”

Addie stands, too, and while Benny’s yo-yo serves its purpose, goes up and down, Addie’s stays down. “Oh, no,” she laughs out. “How—you make it look so easy!”

“You gotta flick your wrist at the right time, look!”

Addie watches him, her brows drawn in concentration. Then she winds up the string and tries again. Same thing. She laughs out loud. “What am I doing wrong?”

Benny laughs with her. “It just takes some practice. Like hitting the ball. It’s supposed to be hard,” he says, repeating her words from earlier. “You have all this string, and it’s hard to know when to flick your wrist.”

Addie tries again, and this time, the yo-yo goes flying forward, then back, then around Addie until the string is wrapped around her legs. Benny and Addiecackle.

I laugh, my shoulders bouncing, and Mia pushes into my side. I shift my eyes to hers. “You look happy,” she says.

“Yeah.” I circle my arm around her shoulders. “I am.”

25

Addie

More people show up to watch Benny Preston play a little league game than for mycollegegames, and I tell my brother as much. Beside me, Roman chuckles. “I’m sure you’re exaggerating.”

“I’m really not.”

Since Benny personally invited me, of course I said yes, and when I told Roman my plans, he wanted to be here too. “For the nostalgia.”

All of Benny’s grandparents are here, as well as every one of the Preston kids and their significant others. The twins and Lucas are in the dugout, coaching. The only one who isn’t here is Benny’s dad, Leo—the only Preston sibling I’ve yet to meet. According to Mia, he’s stuck at work.

The game takes place at the same rundown ball park where I used to play, and Benny’s uniform is the same as mine was, red and blue—the same colors as the Preston Construction logo—which makes sense considering they sponsor the team, and I don’t know why I never connected the dots before.

The teams break apart and get into position, and while Benny jogs toward the outfield, Liam jumps the fence and heads toward the bleachers… towardme.

“What’s up?” he asks Roman, and they do that generic bro-handshakebrosdo. Then he narrows his eyes at me. We’d spent all night texting, and most of the day, too, so I don’t know what I could’ve done to make him look at me the way he is. He sighs, right before he removes his ball cap, dumps it on my head, then reaches behind him to reveal sunscreen. I take it from him. “Your shoulders,” he deadpans, and it’s all he says before turning and walking away.

“So bossy,” I mumble, adjusting the cap. I squirt sunscreen on my palm just as Roman chuckles. I glare at him. “What?”

He throws his hands up between us, shaking his head. “I didn’t say a word.”

Both teams are… not that great, but that’s to be expected, and it’s not why we’re all here. At this age, in this league, there’s no keeping score. The “crowd,” made up of mostly Benny’s family, cheers loudly when he finally comes up to bat. He’s the last on the team to do so. I can understand the excitement, the sounds of encouragement, but I also have to wonder how that comes across for a kid Benny’s age? If he feels any pressure at all? I mean, his papafliesin to watch him play.

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