Page 40 of Foul Line

Something moving catches my eye. I turn toward the little bit of woods that separates our cabins from the other section to see that the lacrosse team is coming toward us, lacrosse sticks in hand. I smile and wade out of the water. I shout that I’ll be right back before running into my cabin to change quickly. I opt for my bikini with a pair of regular athletic shorts. Since my skin is already slicked with water, it’s a little difficult to get changed, but I’m back out near the water’s edge in record time. The Ballers and the lacrosse guys are just staring at one another. I’ve pulled out all the towels I brought with me and drop them on the sand for the guys to use if they need to before walking up to Chase. He hands a stick over to me. It’s not as if I’ve never held one of these, but it’s also not something I’m used to. The other teammates hold sticks out to the Ballers and soon, there’s more going on here than just showing me how to play lacrosse. The guys are all talking shit. Most of it isn’t serious…for now.

Two more lacrosse guys emerge from the slice of forest with collapsible goals. I arch a brow at Chase. “So, this was your goal all along?”

He smirks, not even bothering to play dumb. “I thought they could stand to be brought down a peg or two.”

“You know they’re just going to challenge you to basketball after this.”

Chase shrugs. “It’s all good.”

Lacrosse is a hard game to pick up. The whole stick factor holds a different element that the Ballers and I aren’t used to. In short, we kind of suck. After the first game that the Ballers dub Big Balls vs. Small Balls, they take pity on us, whether we use big balls or not, and split up the team, so playing skills wise, it’s more even. Lake and River even come down and get in on a play or two. For an hour or so, things are actually blissfully peaceful until Hayes accidentally gets knocked in the mouth by a stick. His temper goes from zero to sixty in nanoseconds. He’s right in the guy’s face, threatening to tear it off before any of the Ballers can even run up to him. Oddly enough, it’s Lake who settles him down while the lacrosse guy looks like he’s going to piss his pants.

“Damn,” Chase says. “That was intense.”

I’m looking at Hayes like he’s a new person. I’ve never seen him like that.

“Maybe it’s time to go our separate ways,” I say to Chase. When he looks at me, I continue. “We don’t need anything like that happening again.” I hand my stick over to him. “But thanks for playing with me. It was fun.”

“So, you like lacrosse now?”

I smirk at him. “I wouldn’t go that far. It was okay.”

Most of the lacrosse players are already leaving. Hayes has turned and is walking in the opposite direction. None of the guys follow him, which makes me think that this is just something that he does. Lake and River take off until it’s just Sloan, Alec, Ryan, and I with Chase giving me a last wave right before he takes off for his teammates. At least everyone took that rather well. There’s a difference between competition and actually disliking someone. At least, that’s how I’ve always felt. I’ve watched my dad go to dinners with other pro players since the time I was little and none of them carry animosity off the court, even if the game was a tight one amongst rival teams.

“Hey,” I say, “Didn’t the cafeteria signs say there was going to be ice cream tonight?”

The Ballers just shrug, so I take off for the main building to find out. Eating ice cream reminds me of when Dawn made me go to the Warriors baseball game just so we could watch Alec. When I look over at him, though, he’s already veering off toward the cabins. “I have to call my parents tonight.”

“Oh, okay,” I say. I watch him walk away and wonder if he’s pissed at me for bringing up all those questions earlier. It’s not like I was going to say anything to them about him wanting to play baseball, but it’s a legit question to start asking them how they think they’re going to be able to go to the same college and keep things the way they are. It seems a bit nonsensical to me.

Sloan whistles low under his breath. “Someone’s getting something.”

Ryan stops walking, so I tear my gaze off Alec and turn toward where Sloan is staring. What I see makes me stop in my tracks.

“Oh shit,” Sloan says. “Is that…?”

It is. It’s my dad…and my mom making out like teenagers against the wall of the main building. What the hell is she doing here?

I turn toward Ryan. His mouth has dropped, and he looks like he’s about to lose it. “Ryan, I—”

He pulls away from my attempt to grab his arm. Then, he stalks off back toward the cabins. My heart is in my throat.

“Shit,” Sloan says.

I glare at the two of them. I can’t say that I’m not a little happy about this, but damn. Why did Ryan have to see that? Why does my dad have to be so fucking irresponsible right now? It’s not just me my dad’s screwing with, it’s Ryan now, too.

I don’t even bat an eye. I run up to Ryan. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“You’re sorry? You’re probably thrilled.”

“Really? Have you forgotten I know exactly what it’s like to be in your position? At least I can say I didn’t know about it ahead of time.”

His throat works. He stops walking and faces me. We’re out of the way of the cabin, thankfully, only because another small cabin is blocking our view. “You’re never going to be able to forgive me for that, are you?”

I shrug. I honestly don’t know.

He steps up until our toes touch. “I didn’t think it was going to last, Dale. Nothing my mom ever does lasts. And besides, do you really think I wanted that to happen? That I want to be lying in bed thinking about you while your dad is a couple doors down screwing my mother?”

I grimace. I really didn’t need that thrown in my face. “Don’t be so crass.”

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