Page 23 of The Way We Swing Back

“This is awesome” was the only one that made it out.

“Not a problem, East,” he said, a fist coming up between us.

I pounded it, a part of me wanting to wrap him in a hug, to show him what this meant to me. To feel his touch again.

I didn’t know what to do with my hands—caught somewhere between the joy of such a great gift and how badly I wished I hadn’t shown up empty-handed.

A voice came from the door, and whatever was left of that second was gone: “What are you two up to?”

“Nothing, Cal, just giving Easton his gift,” Tanner said, his eyes leaving mine and heading toward him.

“Oh, what’s that?” he said, walking toward us.

“Sliding glove for baseball,” I said, handing the Grinch over to him. “Pretty cool, huh?”

“Oh, right. Tanner told me about that,” he said. “Pretty cool.”

His smile didn’t falter, and I didn’t know Calvin well enough to know if it was genuine. But my instincts kicked in, sending a sense of unease through my body. Or was it jealousy?

When no one talked, Calvin filled the void. “He’s great at giving gifts. He even got me this cashmere sweater that I’ve been begging for. He picked out the perfect color!”

Calvin looked at me, expecting a response better than the eye roll I wanted to give. “Pretty cool,” I said.

The three of us headed downstairs and finished the night’s second (then third) game of Ticket to Ride. I caught Calvin watching me as we packed up the game. His smile was still there, but I still couldn’t read it. Maybe it was nothing.

Music played softly in the background as I stood, and I said goodbye to all the Quinns, not wanting to leave but knowing I had to. Not my house. Not my boyfriend.

“Easton, wait,” Gavin said, “I need your help with something because of the cast.”

“Sure,” I responded, having heeded Mr. Quinn’s request. I twisted toward Gavin, expecting to have to pick up a box for him.

“I have to poop, and I need you to wipe my butt,” Gavin giggled, the gremlin laugh louder than the music.

“Good lord, Gavin, just stop talking,” Zach said, picking up the car keys from the basket next to the door.

After telling Gavin to wipe himself with his other hand, I followed Jake to Zach’s car so he could drive us home and we could get ready for Christmas morning. I hated having to ask for rides all the time.

I entered my house as quietly as I could, placing my shoes gently in the closet next to the door. Grandma was a light sleeper, and my grandparents had likely gone to bed hours ago.

Before getting into bed, I slid the sliding mitt back into its box, setting it on my nightstand like it was a gold bar. Instinctively, I moved toward the bottle under my bed but pulled up as I saw the Grinch staring back at me. I didn’t need a drink tonight.

Tomorrow would be Christmas morning, but I already knew nothing would top getting a gift that thoughtful from Tanner.

Chapter 11

Christmas break had come and gone far too fast; having Tanner back had been the best part of the winter, even with him and Calvin never leaving each other’s sides while refusing to shut up about the spring break trip they had planned.

We reached the middle of January, and I was still on the PT grind. Gavin’s cast had come off the previous week, and Mrs. Quinn had asked Nate if he could show Gavin stretches to get his strength back, so he was following me into the building from hell.

Emily the receptionist smiled at us as we entered, but Nate cut us off before we got to her desk, telling us he was ready.

“Nate. Question,” I said casually as I took off my jacket. The question had burned an imprint on my chest over the last two weeks, as I didn’t really want to know the answer.

Nate looked at me with a sad smile. “Shoot.”

“What are the chances I’m cleared by the start of the season to throw? Practices officially start in six weeks.”

Nate sighed, answering my question before he spoke. “You’re unlikely to play in the high school season this year, Easton. There was too much damage to your shoulder when we started. I’m hoping before summer. I thought you understood that.”