Chapter 25
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
CARSON
"I want you guys to be flawless by the time season rolls around. I'm not seeing that today, too many errors."Coach growls, continuing, "If you guys don't learn to trust each other and play as a team, you'll never make it to state this year."
I hear a loud thump as Nash slams his hand into the locker behind me, causing half the team to jump. Coach turns his eyes to him. "And you," he points at Nash. "In my office. Right now."
I can’t help but laugh internally, Nash the dramatic. No doubt Coach is ripping him a new one for acting out. Probably touching base about Drayton Lewis moving to Legacy.
His arrival isn't going to phase me, but I don't plan on handing over my position. It will be my pitching that will bring home that State Championship trophy, just like last year.
I grab my stuff, slinging my bag over my shoulder. Nash and Coach walk out of his office about the same time.
"Carson, you still going to Tennessee this weekend?"
"Yes, sir, you know it's my first choice."
He laughs, "Let's get a visit in before you start ranking. Let me know how it goes."
"I will," I nod.
"And Nash," he warns. "Behave. Remember what I said."
Nash rolls his eyes, forcing the door open dramatically.
I give Coach an apologetic smile and unlock my truck with the key fob.
Nash slings his bag into the bed and slides into the passenger seat, shutting the door without a word.
We usually hang with the guys after practice, or at least talk in the parking lot, but it's pretty obvious Nash isn't having that today. In fact, he's been on edge all week.
Cori showed up at school on Monday, and everything was different, like the entire dynamic between them had shifted. It makes me wonder what happened after I left the other night.
Did she sleep with him? Did she want to?
I didn't want to leave. Actually, I wanted to drag her away from him.
Avery called me over to talk about how we would tell the world about our breakup, but we both decided it would be best if we kept it quiet while she was away, and we'll figure it out when she gets back, right before Homecoming.
I felt bad because my body was there with Avery, but my mind was in Nash's bedroom, with Cori.
"What happened the other night when Cori and I brought you home?"
"Nothing," he snaps.
"Well, something happened. You've been acting like an asshole all week."
"Yeah, well, in case you forgot, Drayton is sleeping in the room right next to mine."
I shake my head, "No, Nash. It's more than that. What happened?"
"I told you, nothing happened. Just leave it alone."
"You went from kissing her in the parking lot last week, making everyone believe that you guys were Legacy's new power couple, to completely ignoring her."
He types furiously into his phone, "I changed my mind. I don't need to pretend with her to bring her to her knees."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
He just laughs, which pisses me off even more for some reason. She's just a game to him.
"Listen, I don't know what you're doing with her, but she's been through a lot." I think back to what she told me in the car the other night about her life in Chicago.
"We all have," he barks.
"Did you sleep with her?" I sigh. I didn't want to ask, but I needed to know.
"No," he drops his phone into his lap, aggravated that I even asked. He turns his head to me. "Did you?"
I look at him, the pure jealousy and rage virtually radiating off of him.
"No," I quickly retort. "Well, I did sleep with her, but I didn't have sex with her."
"Why was she wearing your hoodie?" he asks. "Why does she have it?"
"She was cold, so I gave it to her. It's not a big deal."
I regret my words the instant they fall from my lips because I'm lying to him. She is a big deal. I grip the steering wheel tighter, my tricep burning from throwing a bullpen at practice earlier.
"Do you want her?" I ask, feeling the tension between us skyrocket.
"Do you?"
Yes.
I think to myself, she's everything I want. She's practically me in a female body. We have so much in common, it's crazy, but I remember how Nash kissed her. The way he looks at her. He's my best friend.
"Carson?" He asks.
"I… we're just friends."
"Friends that sleep together," he spits.
"She just needed a friend. She's been through a lot."
He pauses, shaking his head, "Why do you keep saying that? Don't coddle her. She won't break."
I huff, "I know, man. She's strong, maybe too strong."
He smiles, wiggling his eyebrows, "It was pretty badass the way she stood up to Jovie last week."
"Yeah," I laugh. "She's a handful. Even for you."
He waves me off, "She's nothing."
But I knew better. I knew it was more, and she was far from nothing, for both of us.
"So remember,” he says. "No matter where you decide to play ball, we're a package deal."
I laugh at his subject change, "You don't want any say on where we go?"
He shrugs, "Nah, you are the academic one. I'm gonna major in parties and blondes. So wherever you choose, make sure the selection is nice."
I can't help but laugh, shaking my head, "Whatever you say, bro. We still have a while to decide. Junior year is about attending these camps, so we get noticed and scouted. We want them to be begging for the two of us."
He smiles, "They'll be begging alright. We won state as sophomores and we are gonna do it again, baby!"
"Yeah," I sigh. "If we can get our shit together."
Nash waves me off, "It's just different since Rhett and Sam graduated. The dynamic is new in the infield. Once Crew and Madden get comfortable with Jonah on first base, I think it will all be better."
"Cori is adamant that Crew needs to play first."
"Little Coach Corinne," he rolls his eyes. "And why would Crew be better on first? He's literally played third base since eighth grade. I know this, you know this, and it's never been a disadvantage before."
"She said she'd switch him to first because he's left-handed, and it would cut out the extra second it takes him to turn his body to throw to first."
Nash just gapes at me, and I can practically see his brain working overtime to come up with a smart-ass comment.
"I know," I whisper. "I never really thought about it either, but she's not wrong. How many left-handed third basemen do you know in the majors?"
He shakes his head, "But his glove protects the foul line this way, and it's fine."
I burst out laughing, "But most balls are hit to his left, she's right, and you can't admit it."
"How does Miss Priss know so much about baseball, anyway?"
I think about us laying in my bed nearly every night the past week watching games. Her knowledge is impressive.
"I have no idea, but Coach Clark is her uncle, and she said her dad used to play."
"Whatever," he huffs as I pull into my driveway. Nash's eyes light up at the sight of my dad's trailer in the driveway. "You didn't tell me we were taking the UTVs!"
He jumps out of my truck, grabbing his bags out of the back.
"Yeah, dad thought maybe after our day at camp, we could go ride some trails."
Nash opens the door of the enclosed trailer with two Polaris RZRs inside. "I love Tennessee."
"You boys ready?" Dad yells across the lawn, carrying some helmets from the garage.
"So ready."
He places the helmets in the front of the trailer before turning to Nash, "How's your mom doing?"
His spirit fades pretty quickly, "My dad finally put her in a cage. How do you think she is?"
Dad doesn't push him but places his hand on his shoulder, "She's gonna be alright. When this is over, things will be better."
Nash just shrugs, throwing his overnight bag in the back of Dad's truck. Movement from next door catches my eye as Cori rounds the corner of her porch, stopping in her tracks when she notices the two of us. She slowly raises her hand in a small wave, and both myself and Nash do the same.
We both drop our hands nervously, unsure of who she's waving at.
What a mess.
She lowers her gaze and rushes inside. Nash shakes his head while his lips tilt in amusement. It makes me wonder what's happened between them.
We slip into the backseat while my dad and his best friend, Judson, get in the front.
Nash keeps checking his phone, which is weird for him, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't pique my interest. I lean closer to him to see who he's texting, but the number isn't saved, and I can't read the messages from here.
What is wrong with me?
"Carson, what time does the camp start tomorrow?" Dad asks, turning the radio down.
"At nine."
"Do you know what time you are throwing the bullpen for the coaching staff?"
"I have no idea. There isn't really a schedule, but I'm sure we will find out in the morning."
"Are you nervous?" Judson asks, causing Nash to snort out a laugh.
"Not really. I don't really get nervous," I turn to Nash. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing."
It was like he was holding something in. Hiding it with humor, or trying to anyway, I could see right through him. He is nervous.
"You will do fine," I whisper.
He looks over at me, "Yeah, but my grades at Legacy are fake, and you know it. When we leave, I'm not gonna have that. There will be no inside help."
I sigh, knowing he's right. Being the top of the Legacy food chain has its perks, and for Nash, it's a 4.0 GPA he didn't earn.
"I'll help you. We will be fine."
He ignores me for the rest of the ride and my dad and Judson talk about everything under the sun. I pull my phone out and type a quick text to Cori.
Carson
Headed to Tennessee for a baseball camp. I left my window unlocked for you.
I wait a few seconds, her response causing my heart to flutter in my chest.
Cori
Thank you. You didn’t have to do that…
Carson
I didn't want to mess up your routine. My mom is in New York for work.
Cori
It's not going to be good when she catches me in your bed.
I sigh, remembering she already knows. My mom knows everything. It's almost like she can read my mind. It didn't take long for her to come sneaking into my room in the middle of the night. She saw Cori.
Carson
She already knows. Not much gets by her.
Cori
WHAT?
Carson