I pulled up to Coach Elliot’s and checked the address on the GPS twice. I looked at the giant house and held onto the steering wheel. I jumped and screamed when Zach opened the car door.I grabbed my chest as I caught my breath.

He laughed. “You okay?”

I smiled and laughed as I got out of the car. “Now that I know it’s just you and that I’m not being attacked, yeah.”

He smiled and shut the door. “You’re a little early. Only a couple of the players are here.”

“Punctual is my middle name.” I laughed. “Okay, that’s not completely true. But seriously, my dad set three different alarms on my phone to be sure that I was early.”

He chuckled. “Our dad was like that. Used to drive him insane when I would change all the clocks and alarms in the house.”

I opened the trunk and got out my bag. “Good idea. I will remember that.” I smiled.

He took the bag from me and put it on his shoulder. “Let’s get inside. I promised a very beautiful young lady that I’d take her shopping.” He smiled as we headed inside.

“The redhead from your restaurant? I guess Dad didn’t get rid of her after all.”

“No, not her. Someone prettier and not a psycho.” He put the bag down as we entered the house, and Millie ran over to us.

“Uncle Zach, are you ready?” she asked excitedly as she bounced up and down.

I swear my heart melted into a big pile of awwww.

“Hales!” Dane came over and held up his hand to high-five me.

“Umm, the guys back home always welcomed me with a slap on the—” I wiggled my eyebrows.

Dane dropped his hand slowly and looked at me oddly.

I burst into laughter. “Kidding. All of you don’t have to be so weird around me, okay?” I slugged his shoulder.

Dane rubbed his shoulder, half grinning. “Alright. I promise we will try.”

Zach chuckled. “Elliot is out back grilling. I’m taking the love of my life shopping.” He scooped Millie up.

“Grilling this early in the morning?”

Zach nodded. “Steak and eggs. Elliot believes in packing his players full of protein.”

“Oh.” I watched him and Millie leave. Dane laughed.

“What?”

“Just watching to see if you’ll start drooling like all the other girls do around him.”

I rolled my eyes and looped my arm in Dane’s as we walked to the back where Coach was. A few of the other guys were out there throwing the ball back and forth.

“Hey, Hales, welcome to our home.” Coach smiled at me, then flipped a steak. “How do you like your streaks?”

“Medium-rare, but I can’t have that.”

“And why not?” He asked as he put a few done steaks on a plate.

I took my arm from Dane’s.

“I’m on a strict diet during the season. My parents have these crazy rules.” I smiled a little.

He nodded. “Then what can you have?” he asked as he looked at me.

“I can eat the eggs. Red meat is just a big no-no according to the nutritionist my parents hired.” I played with the hairband on my wrist. “Don’t worry about it, though. I ate before I came.”

He nodded. “I understand.” Elliot looked at Dane. “Dane, can you take over while I go get the eggs started?”

Dane closed the grill lid and looked at me with a raised brow. His blue eyes brightened when he smiled. “I prefer to eat right too, but steak is okay. It’s just meat.”

“Red meat. Research says red meat is high in saturated fat which raises blood cholesterol.”

Dane adjusted his ballcap, causing some of his red, shaggy hair to peek out, and looked at me stupidly. “We’re seniors in high school. I don’t think we have to worry about cholesterol yet.”

I shrugged. “Tell my parents and nutritionist that.”

“That’s intense, man.”

More guys showed up and headed out to the yard to practice.

I nodded. “Yeah. I’m gonna go stretch.”

I went out onto the grass and started stretching like I always do. I was in my zone until I realized how quiet it was and stopped to see all the boys watching me. I adjusted my shirt when I realized it had raised up on my stomach some.

“Come on; you act like you’ve never seen a girl before.”

I picked up a ball and threw it as hard as I could at one of the guys, Trevor I think. He moved out of the way because there was no way he’d catch it. Everyone laughed.

“We came here to practice. Now get those hormones in check.”

I made my way out to the pitcher mound and took a minute to take in the awesome mock field Coach had in his backyard.

“Let’s get to work,” Coach said as he came back out. “We’ll take a break in thirty minutes to eat, then start up again.”

I watched Coach as he rubbed his head a little, then picked up a ball and tossed it to me. He looked pale. I watched Dane take notice to how bad Coach looked. I got ready to pitch the ball to Trevor when Dane yelled. The ball fell from my hands when I saw Coach leaning against Dane, struggling to stand.

“Call an ambulance!” Dane shouted as he lowered Coach to the ground.

Trevor was on his phone, calling 911. He walked over to Dane and Coach, and the entire team followed. “An ambulance is on the way,” Trevor said as he knelt down next to them.

Coach Elliot’s eyes were starting to close. “I’m... okay… Call Zach.”

We all took off to the front of the house when we heard sirens. We showed the medics where Coach was and watched as they lifted him into the back of the ambulance. I looked at Dane who looked like he might pass out himself. I touched his shoulder.

“Hey, you okay?”

“He’s like an older brother to me.” Dane wiped his eyes. “He’s been battling cancer for the past year.”

“Come on; we’ll follow the ambulance to the hospital.” I took his hand and led him to my car.

The whole team got in their vehicles and followed the ambulance. Dane rode with me and called Zach on the way.

“What’s up, kid?” Zach’s voice rang out cheerfully through the speaker.

“Elliot’s on his way to the hospital. He started to pass out during practice.”

“Shit!” I yelled. “There’s stuff cooking at the house!”

Zach didn’t respond for a second. “We’re on our way. I’ll get Brink to go to the house. Are you on your way too, Dane?”

“Yeah, we all are. I’m riding with Hailey.”

“Alright. I’ll be there as soon as I can. You’re on the list for them to talk to. If they let you know anything, call me.”

“I will.” Dane hung up and stared out the window.

“So, he means a lot to you?”

“Yeah. My parents pretty much suck. Coach saw potential in me one day at recess in middle school and taught me everything I know now.”

I pulled into the hospital parking lot, and Dane jumped out before we even came to a complete stop.I parked, then went into the waiting room with the rest of the guys. We filled the room and waited for news. Twenty minutes went by before Zach showed up carrying Millie.

He walked straight over to Dane. “Any news?” Millie was holding on tightly to Zach’s neck.

“No, just doing blood work and shit. He’s awake, just in and out.”

Dane took Millie from Zach. “I’ll take her to get a snack or something.”

Dane looked at me. “Come with us, Hailey?”

I hadn’t even realized I was staring at Zach until Dane’s voice snapped me out of it. Dane and a few of the guys on the team were laughing at me.

“So embarrassing,” I mumbled as I followed Dane.

Millie looked at Dane. “I want my daddy, Dane.” Her arms were wrapped around his neck. Tears started to fill her eyes. “I don’t want him to go be with Mommy!” she cried out as tears fell.

He took off his hat and handed it to me. He set Millie down and put his forehead to hers; her little fingers played with his hair.

“He’s not, Millie. He’s not.” Dane’s voice shook a little.

“Promise?” she asked as she wiped her eyes a little.

“He’s a fighter. The doctor said he’s going to be fine, just gonna be sick while going through treatments. Remember when Dr. Jack talked to you?”

She nodded and rubbed her eyes, then started playing with his hair again. “He said Daddy would get sick then better.”

He nodded with a big grin on his face. “That’s right. Now, let’s get your favorite candy bar and then go find your dad something fluffy.”

“It’s got to be big too.” She kissed his cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, Dane.”

“I love you too. So much. You’re like my little princess.” He ruffled her curls.

She giggled, then took his hand in hers.

We sat down at a table in the cafeteria and watched Millie eat. She watched a movie on Dane’s phone, giggling at all the funny parts.

“You’re good with her.” I nudged Dane. “Who knew? I took you as the jock type.”

Dane laughed and put his hat on my head. “Yeah. There’s more to Dane Welch than most think. Did I ever say sorry for whistling at you on the pitcher’s mound at tryouts?”

I adjusted the hat so it fit snugly. “Yeah. No biggie. You’re not so bad I guess.”

“Why’d you whistle at Hailey, Dane?” Millie asked as she took her eyes off the phone.

Dane blushed. “Hailey is pretty, and that’s what boys do when girls are pretty.” Dane looked at me. “Don’t worry; it’s not like that. I’m not into you like that.”

I raised a brow.

He laughed. “Whoa, that sounded bad. I think you’re really cool and hot, but it’s not… Okay, yeah, I’m gonna stop talking now.”

We both looked up when Zach came walking over.

“He’s awake and wants to see his little trouble.” Zach smiled a little and picked up Millie. “He also said he wants to see his little brother.” He looked at Dane. “Do you want to take her with you, or do you want me to go with you?”

“I can take her,” Dane said as he stood. As he walked past me with Millie, he winked.

I wanted to forget that I was totally checking Zach out in the waiting room, but I had a feeling that was going to be the ghost in the room for a while. I stayed sitting down and looked up at Zach as I moved the saltshaker back and forth between my hands.

He sat down across from me and put his head in his hands.

“I’m glad you’re getting along with everyone. That’s important in a team.”

“There’s no I in team.” I laughed at myself. “Sorry. That was lame. I really suck at talking. Sorry.” I only suck at talking to him. He made me babble like a stupid girl with a crush.

Shit. That’s what it was. I had a effin’ crush. Dear God…

He looked at me and gave me that damn crooked smile. Adorable. So adorable. “I think you talk just fine.” His eyes stayed on mine too long, and then they traveled down my face and neck and, if I wasn’t mistaken, to my chest. He cleared his throat. “So, did you guys get to practice any?”

I started watching his lips instead of listening. I felt like an idiot. Coach was upstairs feeling like shit, fighting cancer, and here I was checking out his brother’s damn lips.

“You okay?” he asked, looking at me oddly.

“I think so. Why, are you?” I looked at his eyes.

Bad mistake. They were perfect too. What the hell was this guy made of? I cursed when I noticed I had spilled the salt everywhere. He stopped me from cleaning up by placing his hand over mine. My eyes lingered on our hands.

“I’m sorry, Hailey. I’m sure this is awkward for you. I mean, you just moved here, and all this shit happens.”

“It’s… it’s fine though.” I slowly inched my hand away from his.

He dusted off the table with his hands. “It’s why I’m the assistant coach and why the school agreed to let me help. It’s been a rough year.” He finished getting all the salt off the table, then looked back at me. “I’m sure everyone is hungry. I’m going to order everyone pizza from Quinn’s. Do you want anything special?”

I shook my head. “Can’t.”

“Why not?” He leaned back in his chair.

“I should probably just head home.”

“Oh.” His face fell. “I guess you should. Tell your dad I’m sorry about practice. I will be doing practice tomorrow at the school. Hell week starts. We start at eight and end around five.”

“Bring it on.” I smirked as I stood. “I’m gonna go say bye to all the guys. Do we meet at the school in the morning?”

He laughed. “I like you. And yeah, eight sharp.” He stood and stretched. “I’m going to go check on my family. I will see you in the morning, Tiger.”

“Rawr,” I said, pretending to claw at the air. I immediately wanted to hide under a table. I was never this awkward. It was like I lost all ability to act normal around this guy. “I’m… just gonna go. Tell the guys bye for me.”

I dialed Dad’s number as soon as I was out of his sight.

“How’d practice go?” he asked immediately.

“Well, didn’t get much practice in. Like zero practice. Coach Elliot passed out. He’s battling cancer. Did you know that?”

“No. I didn’t. Wait, so what does that mean for the team?”

I got in my car and cranked it up. “It means Zach is the assistant coach and will be coaching us when Coach Elliot can’t.”

Dad let out a relieved breath. “Good. Are you heading to the field to get some practice in then?”

“No, I was coming home.”

“No, you’ll practice. Meet you at the field in ten.” He hung up before I could argue.

When I got to the field I saw Dad with his stupid whistle. Great. I got out of the car, and Dad’s eyes went straight to the hat on my head.

“You better not be fooling around with one of the guys on the team, Hailey.”

“I’m not. We’re friends.” I shrugged. “Just throw me the damn ball.”

“Language,” he raised a brow.

“I’m hungry and exhausted, Dad.”

He got out his stopwatch. “Run.”

While I ran, he shouted out one of his stupid speeches about how the greats didn’t complain about being hungry or tired and how they worked their assess off and gave their all.

“Faster, Hailey!” he yelled.

I ran as hard and as fast as I could. Sweat was pouring down my face, and my feet were killing me. I ran until I couldn’t go anymore.

I fell onto first base, and Dad loomed over me.

“Now, do you want to tell me you’re hungry and tired again?”

I shook my head. I loved my parents. I really did. But I felt like this was getting out of hand. I couldn’t argue, though. I had goals and they were just making sure I met them.

We spent the rest of the night practicing and didn’t get home until super late.

8:00 am practice was going to suck ass.