Page 5 of Foul Line

Sadly, I don’t think I am.

I stand, walk over to her, and put my arm around her for the second time this morning. “I know it was hard for you to watch all that last year. Trust me, it was hard for me too. But it didn’t change anything, and it won’t change anything.”

Mom blinks. The corners of her eyes are glassy with unshed tears. “Regardless, I’m talking to Springs while you’re gone.” She turns away, so I just hug her tighter. My mom’s stubborn. Talking to her now won’t solve anything. We’ll just keep going around and around in circles, saying the same things. I just have to prove to her that next year at Rockport will be different. To do that, I have to get the Ballers on my side—and the only way to do that is to take Lake down. He’s the only thing standing between me and them. Between me and the best senior year ever. I don’t know how I can ever trust them in my personal life again, but I don’t need that to be their teammate and nothing else.

I give Mom a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

“Six,” she says, her voice not only fired up, but sad now, too.

“I’ll have my cell phone. We can video chat.” It’s been like this every year. Dad and I go off and leave her for most of the summer. Before, she’d take the opportunity to go on a vacation with some of her girlfriends, but she’s not in the best place right now. I offer it to her anyway, hoping to change her mind. “Why don’t you take off for a little while, Mom? Go on a cruise or a health retreat or something.”

She shrugs. “I’ve thought about it.”

I nudge her. “Think harder. I’m sure you can get a few of the girls to go with you.” I step away from her and grab an apple from the fruit bowl on the counter and bite into it. “Just don’t go anywhere I want to go.”

“Just for that, I’m going to go everywhere you want to go.”

My mouth drops in mock horror. In all honesty, I’d love for her to take a trip for herself…mainly because I’d rather her do that instead of trying to plan my transfer to Springs next year because it’s not happening. “You wouldn’t.”

She smiles. “Have fun at camp, Tess.” Her demeanor changes. “I’m a phone call away, and your dad’s right there. I promise you he’ll be there for you. All you have to do is say the word.”

“I know, Mom.” After I give her a small wave, I kiss her on the cheek and then grab my bag before heading out the door. I throw my bag into the trunk along with another one and then go around the side of the car. The drive to camp is a couple of hours long. The camp itself is situated on a really beautiful piece of land, right next to a lake that even has a manmade sandy beach along with kayaks and canoes and a platform to swim and dive off of. It’s one of my favorite places in the whole world.

My phone pings in my pocket. Expecting a text from Dawn, I bring it out so I can answer before I start the long drive. It’s not from Dawn though. It’s a text from Ryan Linc.The hell?I click on it and then have to suppress a smile. The freaking balls on this guy. What the actual fuck?Sloan’s Jeep won’t start. We need a ride.

I slide into the front seat, a smile on my face as I start the car. With the phone still in my hand, it pings again.Your dad already left.

I know he already left. He always leaves early because he has a ton of shit to do before the rest of us get there. I tinker with the idea of not messaging him back, just letting him wait there in oblivion, wondering if I’m going to come to their rescue or not. I’m fucking not, by the way.

Getting comfortable in the seat, I think about the perfect response. I could tell him I’ve already left too, but I don’t want it to go down like that. I want him to know I’m telling him no. Act like a dick, get the repercussions of a dick. I type out the short message, smiling the whole time. Do they really think I’ll help them? Do they really think I’d put Lake anywhere near my fucking car? Fuck them.Um, no.

Then, I put my phone on silent and enjoy the ride all the way to Camp Holly…by myself.

4

Istep out of the car onto the stone parking lot at Camp Holly and breathe in deep. The air always seems fresher out here in the middle of the vast forest and uninterrupted sunshine. It sets me at ease, even knowing what’s to come.

Past the main building and the section of cabins closest to me, I see glimpses of the glistening lake water below. The sun plays across the surface until it’s shining like diamonds, a myriad of sparks in the beautiful landscape before me. Orange buoys connected with rope bob in and out of the water, signifying the only swimming area. To my left is the outdoor basketball courts. They’ve always been here, but my dad also put some money into the camp, building an indoor court as well as a weight room for our use while we’re here. That building is further into the woods, only accessible by a trail lined with woodchips.

Coming to camp after the incident with Ryan used to make me uneasy. Now, though, there aren’t as many players here that remember that year. We’re the seniors, so all the upperclassmen who teased me unmercifully about it are away at college, and therefore, ineligible to attend camp. Timothy Dale Camp is strictly for high school and younger kids only. Also, invitation only. The best three players for each position in the whole state are invited. For shooting guards this year, it’s me, Lake, and River. I have no doubt River is good. My dad scouts the players himself, except for me. For me, he has other unbiased parties come in to help. As soon as I’m off to college next year, he won’t need to justify his choices, which will probably be a relief to him.

Leaving my bags in the trunk, I head toward the main building to sign in. There, I’ll be given my cabin assignment and a schedule for the whole six weeks of camp. My dad works on camp specifics all year. What coaches he’s going to bring in, what kids, and what he’ll focus on while we’re here. Whatever else he is, he’s dedicated to making youths better at basketball. He wants to give those who were like him at this age a chance—a shot at making it big. I admire him for that.

The door to the biggest log cabin at the camp still opens with a creak. Despite the skylights and the many windows in this section of the main building, it always seems so dark in here with all the wood interior. Up ahead, my dad is standing with another gentleman. When I get closer, my dad glimpses me out of the corner of his eyes. “Pumpkin,” he says, all smiles. Camp is a year’s worth of work all condensed into six weeks. He’s either stressed or enjoying the culmination of all his efforts. Right now, it looks like everything is going smoothly.

“Hey, Dad,” I smile.

“I got you all signed in already.” He heads over to the table, picks up a set of keys, and then throws them to me. “You’re in Whispering Winds again.”

I chuckle at that. There are perks to being my father’s daughter. I get the cabin closest to the water. If questioned, my dad says it’s because the cabin is a little further away from the others in our section. You know, on account of needing privacy because I’m a girl at a mainly all-boy camp, but really, I think he knows how much I enjoy being on the water.

He looks behind me. “Where’s Ryan?”

I raise my eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

“He told me Sloan’s Jeep wouldn’t start, so I told him to call you.”

I keep my voice neutral. “Oh, that,” I say. “You know how small my car is. I’d never fit everyone in there with their bags and everything.” I smile to take the edge off. I don’t think he trusts the rest of the Ballers as much as he used to after the incident with the panties, but he does trust Ryan. He’s dating his mother, after all. I don’t know the extent of the conversation they had after that game, but whatever came out of it, Dad still loves Linc.

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