Chapter 31
LANEY
Baseball is proving to be a challenge for me. I’ve been struggling to remember names and even have to carry around a notebook with some terms so I don’t forget them in the interviews.
Elizabeth is a new hire, and she’s taking over the lacrosse sideline position. I wish that was me, but I’d already agreed to take on baseball before moving across the street from the lacrosse house.
I have to be on the road to the field in the next twenty minutes, and I’m moving like a sloth.
It’s been two days since I last reached out to Burton without an answer back. His truck pulls in late at night and leaves early in the morning, not like I’ve been stalking him from across the road.
Why would he be so lovey-dovey all weekend and then ghost me?
It hurts to think of it like that because I was falling for the guy. He’s the perfect golden retriever male, and yet something was off after the game when he got hurt. No, he was just hurt then. But he doesn’t usually wait this long to respond to my texts.
Maybe some time apart is what we need, though. There are so many great things about this area, and I don’t need to get my heart broken by someone who’s not ready for me to be in their life. Or not willing to let me in.
And yet there are so many little instances that help me know it wasn’t all in my head.
Like the Skittles jar that’s half-eaten on the small desk in my room. I enjoyed every one of those green Skittles at the time.
My car runs with no problems now because he fixed it without asking. And without getting paid back.
And then that kiss under the fireworks that led to a weekend of kissing and feeling like things were finally moving along in the relationship department.
I blow out a breath and focus on what needs to be done. I’m dressed in a pair of flowy black pants, wedge heels—because I don’t want to be sinking into the dirt when I’m doing interviews—and a light purple blouse that matches one color of the baseball team.
I’m determined not to let things get to me and to do my job. Maybe a visit to the farm would be good for me to spend time with Grammie and Grandpa after the game. Some Pearl snuggles would definitely boost the good hormones.
I have tomorrow off, and a little country air might be just what I need to clear my head.
The drive to the field takes me a little longer than I’d planned, but at least I’m here with a few minutes to spare.
I check in with the announcing team and get everything ready before warm-ups end. I’ve even added a few extra terms to the notebook to make it look like I’ve been doing this forever.
And the best part about it is, there’s not a lacrosse player in sight named Courtney Burton.