When I got to practice, I mixed Creatine Monohydrate powder with some blue Powerade and started downing it. I needed a boost even if it was from the one thing I was banned from last year for getting addicted. I put the powder back in my bag and got out of the car.

I put the bag over my shoulder and walked to the field behind the school. The guys were all stretching, and Zach was looking at a clipboard. I set the bag down and walked over to Dane.

“How’s Coach?”

“Better. He’s taking the next week off to rest. Chemo is a bitch.”

“Hailey, we may have a problem if you keep wearing shorts like that to practice,” Trevor said when he walked over.

I bent over, touched my toes, and licked my lips, making most of the team blush. I started cracking up. I stood and lifted my arms over my head to stretch my back. “Stop thinking with your dicks, and we won’t have a problem.”

Trevor laughed. “Damn, you’re a feisty one. We just might keep you around, Hales.”

“If you want to win, that’d be wise.” I smirked.

We all stopped laughing when Zach blew the whistle.

Dane wiped his hand across my chin. “Drooling.”

I smacked his hand away and laughed. “Am not!”

Zach didn’t look happy that we were talking after he blew his whistle.

“Since you guys have so much energy, let’s start practice off with some running.” He pointed to the opposite field poles. “Foul pole to foul pole until I blow the whistle.”

I cringed. I didn’t want to run. My feet had blisters from running so much last night.Dane smacked me on my ass.

“Let’s go!” He started running.

I laughed and jogged beside him.

I was surprised when Zach ran by us and set a pace toward the front. I was even more surprised when he took his shirt off.

Dane nudged me. “If I was gay, I’d totally fuck that,” he said in a teasing tone.

My mouth fell open, and then I burst into laughter.

“It should be a sin to be that hot. Right?” I said quietly through my laughter.

“Yeah, girl,” Dane said in a feminine tone, making me laugh harder.

We ran for a while, then came to a stop. Zach looked at all of us. “Okay, get into positions. Hales, take the mound.” He grabbed a ball and tossed it to me.

I caught it and walked to the mound. I warmed up by tossing the ball to Gabe, the best batter on our team.Zach crossed his arms in front of his chest as he watched us.

By the end of practice, we were all laid out on the field, dying. We were literally dying.

“For my last meal, I want popcorn and hot dogs,” Dane said from beside me.

“Steak. Coach Elliot’s steak,” Gabe said and then looked at me. “What about you?”

“A big warm cinnamon roll. With ice cream.”

I heard Zach chuckle, then felt him nudge my foot with his. “That’s your death meal? You guys need to work on your imagination. Now get home and rest up. We have another long day of practice tomorrow.” He walked over and looked down at Dane. “You staying the night again?”

Dane sat up and wiped sweat from his forehead. “Yeah. If that’s cool with you?”

“Of course. You wouldn’t have your own room if I minded.”

Dane stood and held his hand out to me.

Once everyone had gone and Zach was picking up the equipment, I limped over to the bench. Before I had even untied my shoes, Zach was kneeling in front of me.

“You’re limping. Why?” he asked as he gently pulled my shoe off. He cursed. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me you had sores on your feet?” He continued to pull my sock off slowly.

“No pain, no gain, right?” I really had to stop quoting shit to him. I smiled. “I’m fine. I’m used to it.”

“Yeah, if you’re in the military.” He grabbed a Ziploc bag full of alcohol pads out of a first aid kit and opened it. “In baseball, it’s a good way to get an infection. This is going to sting.” He wiped my foot with the pad, and I hissed. He stopped and blew on it. “Better?”

“Sort of.” This was weird. I didn’t like anyone babying me. I pulled my foot back. “I’m fine.”

He grabbed my foot again. “Do I need to sit on you like I do the other guys on the team?” He raised an eyebrow at me.

I shook my head.

“Good, then let me get your feet cleaned up and wrapped.” He worked quietly until he had both my feet fixed up. “Done.” He repacked the bag and grabbed up his stuff.

I put my shoes back on, and Dane walked me to my car. “Why do your feet look like that anyway?”

“It doesn’t matter, Dane. Talking about it won’t change anything.” I put my bag in the trunk.

“Why don’t you come over tonight? I’m sure Coach Elliot would love to see you.”

I heard Zach chunk the bags in the back of his truck. “You’re always welcome,” he said before getting into his truck and starting it up.

“I need a shower. I stink.”

Dane nodded and made a face. “Yeah, you do, but we all do. So, go get a shower, and come over.”

“I’ll ask the rents.”

He nodded. “Cool. Just text me if you’re coming. We always have fun.”

“Will do.”

I went home and cleaned up after getting permission from my parents to go out. I ran my fingers through the blonde curls so they’d loosen into light waves. I grabbed my leather messenger bag and put it over my shoulder before sliding my feet into a pair of sandals.

I went downstairs and smiled at my parents who were making out in the kitchen.

“Ewww guys.” They pulled apart and started laughing. While majorly disturbing to catch your parents like that, it was nice to know after so many years they were still crazy about one another.

“You look nice!” Dad said, taking my hand and spinning me around. “Not trying to impress anyone, are you?”

Mom laughed. “Craig, stop it. She knows dating isn’t allowed. She has too much to focus on.”

“I just feel like looking like a girl. I sweat like a pig all day.”

Mom looked at my feet and saw how bad they were. “Your feet look terrible, Hales.”And just when I thought she might realize how hard they make me work and feel a little sorry for me, she ruined it by saying, “Looks like hard work. Good job, honey.”

I looked down at my feet and kicked off the sandals. “I’ll go put on my Toms instead.” I hugged my parents and slipped on the black Toms on my way out the front door.

I PULLED UP to Coach Elliot’s and Zach’s and parked behind Dane’s truck.Dane came out of the house and jogged over to my car.

I got out, and he lifted my chin with his hand. “What the hell?” I smacked his hand away.He laughed. “Just seeing if it’s really you or not. What’s that shit all over your face?”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s called make-up. I’m a girl, ya know.”

The door opened, and Millie came running out. She wrapped her arms around one of Dane’s legs.

“You look pretty,” she said with a smile.

I raised a brow at Dane. “See, that’s how you talk to a girl who looks nice.”

Dane laughed and picked up Millie, putting her over his shoulder. She giggled the whole way into the house.I was shocked to see Quinn, her husband Brink, Zach, and Elliot. I felt like I was intruding on family time. Coach looked a little better. I walked over and gave him a hug.

“I heard you’re doing amazing in practice.” Coach smiled.

“I’m trying.” I looked at Zach who was smiling proudly.

Quinn reached out her hand to me. “I can go hang up your bag in the closet.”

I slid it off my shoulder and handed it to her. “Thanks.”

“Well, babe, I have to head back to work,” Brink said as he kissed Quinn.

“But it’s so late,” she whined and wrapped her arms around him.

Coach Elliot chuckled.

Zach rolled his eyes. “She’s using that tone, Brink. You may as well give in and stay home. It will save you time.”

Dane pulled up a stool for me and patted it.I sat down at the bar next to him.

Brink looked down at Quinn. “I have a big case tomorrow. I need to go look over my notes.”

“Can I come with?” She smiled really big. She was like Barbie. Perfect. There was no way he’d say no to that face.

He raised an eyebrow at her. “I get nothing done when you come. If I say yes, I may as well not leave the house.” He kissed her nose.

Coach Elliot was watching them as he played with his wedding ring.

Zach burst out laughing when Quinn pouted and Brink frowned.

“I’ll behave. I swear,” Quinn said, lightly touching the buttons on his shirt.

I smiled at Dane. “They’re cute.”

He laughed. “You have no idea.”

Brink sighed. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Quinn followed him out practically skipping.

“Told him she’d get her way.” Zach shook his head and went into the kitchen. “It’s why I have that damn restaurant,” he muttered.

Coach got up and went to the couch with Millie.

“What are we eating tonight?” Dane asked and got up.

“What do you want?” Zach asked, turning to look at both of us.

“I can eat later. You guys don’t have to feed me.” I tucked my hair behind my ears.

Dane laughed. “Shut up, Hales.”

“We are feeding you,” Zach said as he looked at his phone. His expression turned angry. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” he snapped and headed for the backdoor, dialing a number on his phone.

“What do you want to drink?” Dane asked as he fixed himself a Coke.

“Not that, that’s for sure. You’re allowed to drink that during the season?”

“He’ll work it off in practice,” Coach said with a smile.

“My parents would freak out.”

Dane shrugged. “Well, they aren’t here.”

“I already corrupted you, Dane. Don’t corrupt Hales, too,” he teased.

Dane poured two drinks anyway. He handed it to me and motioned for me to follow him outside. Coach Elliot laughed as we walked out the door. We went out on the deck, and Dane set his cup down.

“Watch this.” He flipped a switch, and the entire backyard lit up from lights strung in the trees.

“Whoa!” I took off into the yard with my drink in hand and stood in the middle. I looked up at the lights that hung everywhere. There had to be millions.

Dane stood beside me. “Pretty amazing, huh?”

I nodded.

“Coach Elliot did this for his wife who passed. Sometimes he’ll come out here and just sit for hours. She loved the lights.”

“How’d she die?”I took a drink and closed my eyes. “Mmmm, heaven. This Coke is my best friend right now.”

Dane laughed, but it faded. “She died giving birth to Millie.”

“Damn...” I looked at him sadly. “That’s terrible.”

“Yeah. This family has been through a lot. I think it’s why they get me like they do.” Dane smiled when I took another drink. “Good, huh?”

“It’s glorious.”

We both laughed.

Zach came out with a beer in his hand. I noticed Dane scrunch his nose at the sight of it. “Did you guys decide what you want for dinner? I’m going to cook so Elliot doesn’t have to.”

“Hales is rebelling tonight, so, go big. Cook the unhealthiest thing you can.”

I frowned at Dane. “No.”

Zach smirked. “You sure? I make a mean cheeseburger.”

My mouth watered just at the thought of it. “Okay, but no bread.”

He laughed and went back inside.

Dane took my hand and pulled me further into the backyard.

“Where are we going?”

We stopped, and he took my cup from me, setting it down in the grass next to his.

“Dane, what the hell?”

He laughed and put his finger to his lips. “Shhh.” He crooked his finger at me to come closer to him.

I raised a brow and crossed my arms in front of my chest. “You’re being weird.”

He put his finger to his lips again and pointed up.

I looked up and gasped. It was an owl.

“She never leaves. Millie says it’s her mommy watching over her,” he whispered.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the bright white owl. “But this is a Snowy Owl, right? Isn’t Georgia too hot?”

He nodded. “Yeah. That’s why it’s so weird it stays here in Georgia, and we pretend like it’s Millie’s mom reincarnated. Don’t tell anyone though; animal rescue would be on this in a heartbeat, and it’d crush Millie if they took her away.”

“I won’t,” I whispered.

“You showing her Sam?” Zach asked as he came over to us.

Dane smiled. “Yeah, I think I’m weirding her out though. I really think she thought I was bringing her out here to kiss her,” Dane teased.

“I’ll break your face if you ever try that,” I assured him.

Zach mumbled something under his breath that sounded like “so would I” before he walked off quietly. I watched him go onto the deck and start grilling. When I turned back to Dane, he cupped the back of my head and kissed me. I shoved him so hard, he stumbled backward.

He burst into laughter. “If you’re going to have a chance with Zach, you’re gonna have to get better at that!”

I wiped my lips. “Excuse me? Why the hell did you just do that! Ugh!”

“To see if you’d really break my face!” Dane was laughing so hard, but I didn’t find it funny at all.

I rolled my eyes. “Jerk.” I smiled a little. “And if you ever want a girlfriend, you’re gonna have to do better than that too.”

He laughed. “You are so into Zach.”

“Am not.”

“Hales, it’s so obvious.”

“Would you pipe down? He’ll hear you!”

He smiled. “Sorry.”

I ran my fingers through my hair. “He’s way older than me, Dane. Yeah, he’s hot, but I know not to pursue him.”

“What if I told you he’s really not that old?”

I raised both brows. “What?”

“How old are you, Hailey?”

“Just turned eighteen a week before we moved.”

Dane’s smile grew. “So, see? It’s completely legal. He just turned 26.”

“Ummm, that’s still an eight-year difference! Totally not okay. Plus, he’s the assistant coach. Wrong on so many levels.”

Dane grabbed my shoulders. “Don’t take what I’m about to say wrong, okay?”

I waited with a raised brow.

“You’re not a typical high-school girl. I know the guys at school, and you’re way more mature than, well, everyone. You have that pretty head of yours on straight, too straight, might I add.”

I laughed and blushed a little. “Oh.”

“Oh?”

I laughed some more. “Yeah. Oh. I’ve never heard that before, but thanks, I guess? Also, for my first kiss, that sucked, man.”

“First kiss? Are you for real?”

I shrugged. “Not allowed to date.”

“Dinner’s ready!” Zach yelled across the yard.

We grabbed our drinks and started walking.

“Okay, I get not being allowed to date, but you were on an all-boys baseball team in Florida. You were around guys all the time, and you’ve never been kissed?” Dane asked in shock.

“With a dad like mine, boys are really scared to come near me. He’s intense.”

Dane chuckled. “Yeah, you’re right about that.”

“He means well though.”

We walked up the stairs and onto the deck.

“Who means well?” Coach Elliot asked as he handed me a plate.

“My dad.” I smiled.

“Dane turned on the lights, so I thought we’d eat out here.” Zach came out with his arms full of condiments.

Coach smiled. “I like that idea.” He turned his attention back to me. “Dads usually mean well, but sometimes we can be psycho,” he said, pulling Millie onto his lap.

Zach put a burger on my plate then handed me a little salad; he didn’t have one fixed for anyone else. I smiled. I noticed Coach watching Zach’s movements closely, but Zach refused to look at anyone.

I laughed. “The salad is perfect, but there is bread on my burger. My dad is gonna kill you.”

He shrugged. “I can take care of myself,” he smiled a little and then sat down.

“Are you ready for school?” Dane asked me.

“Yes and no.”

I took a bite of my burger and, oh sweet baby Jesus, it was heavenly. I moaned a little. “Wow. So good.” I smiled at Zach.

He opened his mouth to say something, but Coach spoke up. “Think before you speak in front of your niece, and remember, Hailey is a kid on the team.”

I scrunched my nose at his emphasis on the word kid. I was eighteen. Not a damn kid.

Zach closed his mouth but smirked a little.

“I’m confused,” I said looking at Zach and Coach.

“Zach was about to say something highly inappropriate I’m sure. He had that look on his face,” Dane said with a chuckle.

Zach shrugged. “Maybe.”

I laughed. “Oh. Okay.” I turned a little red and then continued to eat.

Zach smiled bigger and took a bite of his cheeseburger. Coach Elliot helped Millie but didn’t take a bite of his own food

“You need to eat,” Zach said firmly to his brother.

“I know. I know.” Coach grabbed his burger and took a small bite. “Happy?”

Zach nodded.

After we all finished eating we went in and turned on a movie, except for Zach. He volunteered for cleanup duty. Millie sat between Dane and I and was out before it started.

Dane looked at Coach. “You need to rest.”

He nodded. “I’m going to go tuck my little trouble in. Night.” He picked up Millie and headed up the stairs.

“Where’s everyone going?” Zach asked as he came into the living room.

“To bed,” Dane said as he yawned. “Guess I’m headed there too.”

I nudged Dane before he stood. He smiled, winked, and left the room.

“I guess that means I should head out.” I looked at Zach.

“You’re gonna bail on me too?” He asked, looking depressed.

“I don’t have to. I have been wanting to see this movie.” I felt weird staying, but I honestly wasn’t ready to leave.

His smile came back full force. “Good!” He plopped down on the couch next to me and started the movie. “I haven’t seen it either.”

I got comfy and kicked off my shoes. Zach stretched out his legs, crossed them at the ankles, and rested his arms on the back of the couch.

He smelled amazing. Like charcoal and cologne. What was this movie even called again? Being this close to him was making my brain stupid. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. I was going to kill Dane.

“You okay?” he asked as he looked over at me.

I nodded. “Where’s your bathroom?”

“Down the hall and to the left. You want me to show you, or are you good?”

I stood. “I’m good.”

He moved his legs to let me by, then looked back to the TV.

I went to the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror. I’m eighteen. He’s twenty-six. Seriously, Dane was going to die.

“You’re such an idiot,” I said quietly to myself. He was the assistant coach. There were laws against that kind of shit.

I washed my hands and went back out.

“Zach, I think I’m just gonna head home.”

He stood. “Oh, okay. I’ll walk you to your car.” He walked to the front door and opened it for me.

“Thanks.” I walked out, and he walked beside me.

He opened the car door for me. “Drive safely.” He looked down at me, and it looked like a battle was going on behind those brown eyes of his.

“Yeah...” I smiled. “Thanks again for dinner. It has to be our secret though.”

He nodded and smiled. “I’d keep any secret for you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Good to know.” I tucked my hair behind my ears. “I have a lot of secrets.”

He brushed a piece of hair out of my face that I had missed. “Like?”

“I think you’re hot.” I turned beet red. “Okay, so that wasn’t supposed to be said out loud. I meant to say something safer like ‘I hide Twinkies under the bed’. Dammit. Sorry!”

He looked stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. “You’re an odd one.”

I laughed to cover up how stupid I felt. “I guess I should go.”

“Be careful. I’ll see ya at practice.” He watched as I pulled out of the driveway, then headed back inside.