Sideline Play

I’ve lived and breathed baseball since I was five years old. The game is my religion, the field my house of worship. Nothing and no one comes before it.

Until her. Scarlet Jones. My teammate’s sister and my coach’s daughter.

I should stay away. Yet I can’t help myself and when I’m injured during a game and require surgery, the first thought I have isn’t that my career may have just ended. It’s that if it does, I lose her before ever having her.

I have three months of rehab. Three months of her living with me full time. Three months to convince her we’re worth the risk.

Scarlet

At thirteen, Remington Tate was my very first crush.

At fourteen, my brother announced to him and the entire team that his rookie poster hung in my closet.

At eighteen… well, I don’t talk about that anymore. Two years of weekly trauma counseling was more than enough.

Now at twenty-one, things have started to shift. I’m falling for Remington all over again. Each glance, smile, and touch have slowly worked their way into my heart. And as we play house during his rehab, I can’t help but wonder about what we could be.

To find out, I'll have to expose the fractured pieces of myself, and I'm not sure I can do that. Even if he makes me feel safe, free, and like I finally want to try.