I was on my second Monster drink when Dane met me at his truck.

“Every time I’ve seen you today you’ve been drinking one of those nasty things.”

It was good to see an actual smile on his face.

A car pulled up and parked. Coach Elliot and Millie got out. Millie ran straight to Dane.

“Dane!” She launched herself against his legs.

Coach Elliot walked over to us. “You guys ready for practice?” he asked with a smile. He looked better today than he had been. He saw the drink in my hands. “Those are horrible for you, Hales.”

“Yeah, they work though.”

I wanted to ask where Zach was, but they would see the disappointment on my face. I smiled. “You look good today, Coach.”

“Thanks. I feel good today which is good since Zach had an emergency.” He motioned toward the drink in my hand. “They may work, but they do a number on your heart.”

“They are the one unhealthy thing my dad actually approves of. I promise I’ll be fine.” I smiled at Millie. “Hey, Millie.”

Millie smiled up at me. “Hi, Hales.” She wrapped her arms and legs around Dane’s leg as he tried to walk.

Dane laughed. “Millie, I need to be able to walk.” He bent down so she could climb on his back. “Hop on, little monkey.” I grabbed Dane’s bags so he could carry her. I saw him wince.

“Dane, maybe you shouldn’t carry her because your back is still—” I stopped when he shook his head.

“I’m fine. Don’t talk about it around her,” he whispered.

I nodded and cringed a little when I put the bags on my bad shoulder. I switched them to my other shoulder.

“Come on, monkey; let’s go help your dad set up the pitching machine.

“I’m gonna run to the bathroom really quickly,” I said to Coach before heading toward the bathroom I pulled out my phone and called Zach.

It took a minute before he answered. “Hey.”

Zach sounded exhausted and upset. There were sirens in the background.

“What’s going on?”

“My crazy ass manager set my pizza place on fire when I fired her. With me inside!” He sighed heavily. “Luckily, I got the fire out before it got too bad.”

“Holy shit! Are you serious?”

I went into the bathroom and leaned against the wall. “That’s crazy. So I guess I won’t see you tonight?”

I sounded clingy. Ugh. He was dealing with a major issue, and here I was sounding like a clingy little teen. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound whiny.”

“You didn’t sound whiny, and you will definitely see me. I need you to make me smile.”

“My parents are out of town tonight for something with Coke. Want to come over?”

“Aren’t you being rebellious,” he teased. “And yeah I want to come over. What time?”

“Just whenever you can. I’ll text you when I’m done with practice.”

“Sounds good. What do you want for dinner?”

“Something really unhealthy.” I laughed.

“I can take care of that. I have to go. The paramedic wants my attention.”

“You’re okay, right?”

“A few scrapes, bruises, and burns but nothing major. Now go get your sexy ass to practice.”

“Yes, sir.” I hung up and went back out to the field.

Dane pulled me to the side when I came over. “Coach is making you sit out of this practice.”

My mouth fell open, and I swear steam was coming out of my nose and ears. I went to give Coach a piece of my mind, but Dane grabbed my hand, and it pulled my shoulder. I screamed in pain.

“And that’s why. Looks like lover boy tattled on you.”

I grabbed my shoulder and sat down with a pout. I glared up at Coach as he walked over. Dane went out to the field to practice.

“I’m fine!” I yelled.

“Your shoulder is two times bigger than normal, and you couldn’t even carry Dane’s bag on your shoulder. I saw you wince.” He sat next to me. “I don’t want you out this season.”

“If you don’t let me practice, my dad is going to flip out!”

“So what the hell do you want me to do then?” He sighed and looked over at me. “Hales, if you’re not careful, you will ruin your career before it even starts. If you want to practice then I’m going to teach you to throw with your other arm.” He stood. “Or you could go soak in an ice bath. One of the two.”

“Okay then.” I stood and grabbed my glove. “Teach me to throw with my other arm.”

He nodded. “Come on.” He got the guys practicing then started showing me how to train my other arm. We worked for a while until Coach looked out on the field.

“Trevor, sit!” Coach Elliot said when he saw Trevor limping. “Tomorrow we’re hitting weights. I can’t have my team out of commission before the season even starts!” He snapped.

Trevor cursed as he went over to sit on the bench.

“Dane, come catch with Hales while I go look at Trevor’s knee,” Coach said, handing me the ball.

Dane came over, and I tossed the ball to him. “Sorry about last night,” Dane said as he threw the ball to me. I caught with my bad arm and clenched my jaw. I threw it with my left hand to him. “It’s fine, but are you okay?”

He nodded and smiled. “I have a group of people who care for me. I don’t need that sorry son of a bitch. It just sucks.”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“What about you? Your dad was tough on you yesterday. Zach said your arm looked like shit. He was right. It’s bad. I guess you’re kind of abused too.”

I stopped throwing the ball and raised a brow. “Excuse me?”

“I didn’t mean it like... Well, I don’t know. Seeing how crazy your dad gets over baseball is kind of like abuse. Don’t get pissed; it’s just my opinion.”

“My dad does not abuse me, Dane!” I was pissed.

“Whoa, Hales, calm down. I am just giving you my opinion. Look at your fucking arm! What parent would be okay with that and push you harder? And your feet? What parent makes their kid run until their feet bleed?”

I threw the ball so hard Dane missed it. I threw my glove down in the dirt and stormed into the dugout.

“What’s going on,” Coach Elliot asked. He was icing Trevor’s knee. He got up and grabbed an ice chest for Trevor to prop his knee up on. “Don’t move,” he said sternly then walked over to me. “Talk to me, Hales.”

“I’m going home.” I grabbed my bag.

Dane came over. “Hailey, I’m sorry.”

Coach stepped in front of me. “What the hell is going on?” He looked at both of us.

“It doesn’t matter. I just need to leave. I need to go ice my stupid fucking shoulder since my dad is soooo abusive!” I looked at Dane with all the anger I could muster up. “Fuck you, asshole!”

Coach sighed. “I think we need a team night. I will text you with details.” He moved out of my way.

I shoved Dane when he tried to step in front of me.

“Hales,” he said in quiet, apologetic tone, but I kept walking

How dare he say my dad was abusive. He didn’t know my family like that.

WHEN I GOT home, I texted Zach to let him know I was getting in the shower, and he could come over whenever. I ignored his reply asking why practice was over so early.

I got out of the shower, dressed, and went to the kitchen. I grabbed a bag of frozen veggies and put it on my shoulder then headed to the living room. I heard a knock at the door.

I opened the door and smiled a little at Zach. “Hey.” I moved out of the way so he could come in. He came in carrying bags of stuff. I noticed his hands were bandaged a bit, and he had bruises on his arms.

“Why’d you tell your brother about my arm?” I grabbed some of the bags and showed him where the kitchen was.

“I wrote it down in the coaching log just like I do for all the players. When he asked me about what I wrote, I told him.” He put the stuff on the counter. “It’s what I have to do, Hales.”

“He was going to make me sit out of practice.”

He started pulling out all kinds of junk food. He sighed and looked at me. “I’m sorry. He doesn’t want to lose his best pitcher.”

“I was pitching with my other arm, and it wasn’t going so well. Dane pissed me off too, so I just left. That’s why practice was over early. Well, over early for me anyway.”

He kissed my head. “That doesn’t sound like my girl. Quitting something isn’t you, but you probably just need some time to unwind. And plenty of junk food.” He smiled at me. I looked at the junk food and smiled.

“What do you want to do tonight? And why are you and Dane fighting?” He asked as he moved behind me and wrapped his arms around me.

I grabbed the box of Twinkies. “Pig out on these and watch a movie in my room?” I tilted my head back to look up at him. “I’ll explain the whole Dane problem once we get upstairs.”

“Sounds good to me.” He kissed my head again and started grabbing stuff up.

I headed upstairs, and he followed behind. “And no making fun of my room.”

He chuckled. “I will do my best.”

We came into my room, and Zach put everything down on my desk. “Now why would I make fun of your room?” He smiled and pulled me to him. I set the box of Twinkies down.

“Because... I don’t know.” I laughed. “Is it weird being with a girl who still lives with her parents?”

“Sweetheart, I bounce between my run-down cabin and my brother’s house. A house that has my brother, niece, Quinn, Brink, and now Dane living in it.” He smiled. “Your house has fewer people in it than mine.”

“Yeah, but are you sure me being young doesn’t bother you?”

He shook his head. “You’re more mature than most girls my age.” His eyebrows scrunched. “Do you have a problem with my age?” He moved back a little, looking unsure for the first time since I met him.

I shook my head. “I admit, it’s kind of intimidating sometimes. But I don’t have a problem with it.”

He smiled. “Good.”

I laughed and wiggled free from his hold. I grabbed the Twinkies and jumped into my bed. I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.

“Coming?” I asked with a smile.

He chuckled and sat down on the bed next to me. “So what’s going on with you and your best friend?”

I hit play on the remote when the movie went to the menu. “Dane said something about my dad that really hurt.”

“Well he’s not a big fan of dads at the moment. Do you want me to talk to him?”

“No. But he called my dad abusive, Zach. You saw Dane’s back and arm. That’s abuse. My dad is not abusive. He cares about me and just wants what is best.”

Zach looked like he was lost in his thoughts. “There are different forms of abuse, but your dad does care about you. Just give Dane time. I’m sure he’ll apologize eventually.” Zach looked at me. “I think your dad hates me even more now.”

I digested every word he said, focused on the fact that he said there are different forms of abuse. “Wait, back up a second. Why did you say there are different forms of abuse?”

He looked at me, and I could tell he really didn’t want to answer that question.

“A person does not have to inflict the pain for it to be abuse, Hales. My dad was a huge baseball fan and pushed us to be the best we could be, but he never made us run until our feet bled. And now you’re about to yell at me.”

I sat up and moved away from him. I narrowed my eyes. “Are you fucking kidding me right now? You agree with Dane? My dad teaches me to work through pain. He is making me work through shit, so I don’t become some big, whiney baby! Do you know how hard it is to be a girl who is going to try out for an all-guys, pro team? I have to be able to prove myself!”

Zach let me rant without saying anything. “Hales, I don’t know how hard it is. I know how one injury can ruin a career though. And what ruining that career can cause. I don’t know your father like you do. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything against your father.”

I was fuming. I got out of bed and went to the closet to find my running shoes. I found them, slipped my feet in, and laced them up.

“I’m going for a run. You can see yourself out.”

I walked out of the room, down the stairs, and slammed the front door on my way out. I put my earbuds in and ran until I worked off some anger.

Dad was not abusive.

He cared.

He taught me to be driven and self-motivated.

He taught me not to back down.

He taught me to be tough as nails.

He had my best interest in mind.

That’s not abuse. That’s a father teaching his daughter dedication and how to be a hard-worker despite adversity and pain. My parents wanted me to be independent. They wanted me to go after what I wanted without letting anything stand in my way. They loved me, and everything they did or pushed me to do was for that single and important reason.

Zach and Dane cared for me too. I couldn’t be angry with them for stating their opinions. Like my parents, they wanted what was best for me. They meant well. After I calmed down, I ran back to the house.

I went up to my room. I stopped in the doorway. Zach was asleep in my bed. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and kicked off my shoes. I walked over to my dresser and pulled out some clean clothes, planning to take a shower. I shut the top drawer a little too hard, and it woke Zach up.

I chewed on my bottom lip. “Sorry,” I whispered.

He stood and came over to me. “Me too.” His crooked smile showed up. “So, that was our first fight.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “You want to make up?”

I laughed and shoved his shoulder. “Go back to bed, you slut,” I teased. I walked to my door and stopped. I laughed when I saw him really going to my bed.

“Zach?”

“Yeah.”

“I was kidding.” I laughed some more. “I’m getting in the shower, and it’d be way more fun if you came in with me.”

He jumped up from the bed with that grin that made his dimple show. I loved it when I got to see that dimple.

“Yes, it would be.”

“Do me a favor and smile like that all the time. Your dimple is my favorite.”

I walked backward into the hall, stripping slowly as he followed me. I laughed when he started doing the same.