Epilogue
Brielle
It was a brilliant idea. The whole being transparent thing and not hiding behind fake stuff. If I learned anything this last semester, it was that life was sure a lot easier if you just told the truth from the very beginning.
Brooks and I have been dating since that first game. There are a few days left of school, but every day has been a blast.
I had to have an honest conversation with Jenessa and ask her to stop videoing Brooks and me.
There’s a time and place for things, but respecting other people’s privacy is important.
Especially in the age of modern technology.
That’s what I told the Teen Writers when they called me for a second interview to “clarify a few things,” I told them exactly what had happened and what I’d learned, and I just found out yesterday that I’ve been accepted into the summer internship in their editing program.
Mom and Dad have put some pretty strict guidelines in place for Brooks and me, but we’re cool with that. Mom and Dad are cool, and I also learned that even though my dad can be terrifying, he’s also usually right about stuff. So why not trust him? It’s less complicated that way.
The biggest conflict has been when Dad found out Brooks likes vegetables on his pepperoni pizza. That wasn’t acceptable, as far as Dad was concerned, and they’ve gone back and forth about it.
Reece—well, he had to learn his own lesson about butting into other people’s business. Granted, this time it worked out well, but Dad told him if he ever “tried a stunt like that again, there’ll be some serious consequences.”
And, in other news, Lia is coming to visit!
This summer just gets better and better.
Did I mention how much I love my best-friend-sister?
She felt really bad about Brooks’s concussion after the sign with that message distracted him.
But he said if she buys him a hamburger when she comes to visit, it’ll all be made right.
The truth of it all is, the day Brooks stepped into my high school was the day my world turned upside down.
His did too.
So he told me.
And we both are very, very okay with that.
Brooks
I always wanted to play baseball. Now, it’s gotten even better since my dad decided to at least try to understand it.
He doesn’t. I don’t think he ever will. I’m not sure what changed his mind, though.
Maybe Mom? She’s been getting together with Mrs. Walters a lot lately and said she was going to try out their church.
Dad said he’s not ready for that type of thing yet, but hey, at least my parents are talking again.
Talking being the key word, instead of yelling.
Mr. Walters took me to a Brewers game—which really ticked off Brielle—but he wanted to “get to know” me better—and, as I expected, have a man-to-man chat.
I know their boundaries for my relationship with Brielle.
It’s kind of nice, if I’m honest. ‘Cause we can just relax and be us in front of her parents, since we know what they’re thinking.
I haven’t made any secret of how I feel about Brielle.
I mean. What guy wouldn’t kill for a girlfriend who can keep track of all the baseball stats while reading a sappy romance novel?
Oh. Yeah. We got the extra credit on that Lit project that I needed.
Mrs. Templeton said I earned it for effort, if not for understanding relationships.
I told her no one in their right mind could make sense of Mr. Darcy and Lizzie.
She didn’t agree, but then I don’t think Pride and Prejudice was ever written for a guy to understand—let alone like.
The recruiter friend of Coach’s never did show up. He probably had other things to do. I’m okay with that, though. The truth is, I know baseball is a long shot, but I’m still going to work hard for it. Because what’s life if you don’t chase your dream?
I’ve got a great group of friends here in Wisconsin. I can see myself being glad we moved here. Even though things started a bit rough, we made it. And that is the honest truth.