Lux's POVâWhat are you doing here?â I asked Alec, trying to keep my voice steady, and he looked at me with unreadable eyes. âI came to see Lake.â I opened my mouth to say Lake was not home, but Alec interrupted, "And you."My throat tightened and I swallowed hard, becoming acutely aware of everything. How close he was, how warm the hallway felt, and how my voice was not nearly as strong as I wanted it to be when I said, "Lake's not here. And Iâm busy.âI didnât even ask what he wanted to see me about. I couldnât. A voice in my head snapped, âWhat are you doing? You wanted to talk to him.â And I did. But how was I supposed to talk to him when I couldnât even look at him without my eyes roaming?He smelled so good, fresh with hints of something earthy and fruity, and clean enough to make you want to lean in a little closer. His hair was also freshly cut, which I had not noticed earlier because he was wearing a cap. And that shirt he was wearing didnât help anything.There was a glint i
Lake's POV The second coach announced the last name, and the locker room erupted. Cheers broke out, others banging on the locker in celebration as bottles burst like firecrackers.The air was filled with the sharp fizz of champagne and the echo of voices shouting over one another. It was a good kind of chaos. And as I stood there, still attempting to quiet the pounding heart that had been raging in my chest while I waited impatiently for my name before it finally rang out. Coach raised his hands to quiet the room. However, even he recognized its futility, so he shook his head and laughed.He called over the commotion, "All right, I will keep it brief. The first team meeting is scheduled for Thursday at precisely five o'clock. Congratulations to all of the team members. You earned this!â That was all he managed to get in before the noise engulfed him once more.Before I could react, Alec had me in a bear hug, damn near lifting me off the ground."Congratulations, man!" he shouted over
Third Party POVOlivia had no idea how long she had sat there, crouched behind the corner wall, tears running hot and silent down her cheeks. Her body felt like stone, except for the trembling in her hands.The air in her lungs still burned from the impact of what she had witnessed, but a whisper inside her head fought back against the truth.It doesnât have to mean itâs over.Maybe he was bisexual. That had to be it. Lake was anything but feminine. He possessed a grounded masculinity that always set him apart. He wasnât soft or dramatic or flamboyant, he wasnât like that. No, it had to be Kairos. Kairos was the problem, the one confusing everything. Lake wasnât gay. He couldnât be.Olivia wiped her face with the sleeve of her jacket and forced herself to stand. Her knees barely held together as she peered around the corner again, eyes stinging and stomach in knots. This time, however, things were worse. Kairos leaned over the table, hands on Lake, lips all over Lake's, and Olivia ret
Third Party POVOlivia looked back once before quietly slipping away from the girls. Neither of them noticed, not Lux, Becca, or even Yari. "Good," she murmured under her breath, quickening her pace down the narrow steps of the bleachers.She couldn't deal with their questions about where she was going and why. What would she even say? âOh, Iâm just chasing after Lake because Iâve decided now is the perfect time to throw my heart at him and hope it sticks? Yeah, no.âShe had overheard Reed directing Lake and his friend. She remembered the name of the spot, pictured the street corner clearly in her mind, and she had to hurry if she was going to catch up.However, once she was out of sight of the stadium, she slowed down. Her legs continued to move, but each step forward felt like she was carrying the burden of a thousand what-ifs with her.How would she go about doing this? How was she supposed to look him in the eye and finally say what sheâd been rehearsing in her head for months now
Lake's POVMy arms were already heavy, and my breath slurred in my chest when I stepped up to the plate for my final round. Tryouts at this place were not a game; you had to earn your spot. And as a first baseman and designated hitter, theyâd run me through everything.I went through fielding drills, scooping grounders, reacting to line drives, and perfecting that stretch across the bag before moving on to batting. The test was no joke.But, eventually, I was done, and the coach gave me a firm nod as the whistle went off. I jogged off the field, adrenaline still humming but beginning to wear off, and instead of going around the dugout and walking the long way, I hopped the short fence and climbed over to the stands.My thighs ached, and my shirt was stuck against my back. I was dead tired but buzzing.Cheers met me as soon as I started across. Luxâs group was still loud as I made my way towards them. âThat was so impressive!â Luxcalled out before I could get to them, holding out a wat
Third Party POVOlivia sighed and placed the phone against her ear. "Hi, Mom," she said, trying to sound upbeat, and her mother's voice on the other end was tinged with excitement, asking how things were going.Olivia replied, "It is going well," but even she could hear the flatness in her voice.There was a brief silence on the other end before her mother spoke again, this time in a softer tone. âAre you sure? You donât sound like yourself.âOlivia closed her eyes, knowing what was coming even though she insisted she was fine. âHow are things going with⊠you know?â"I have not had a chance to talk to him yet," Olivia admitted, tracing her thumb along the edge of her cup. There was another pause, this time longer, before her mother's disappointed sigh practically vibrated through the phone.âOlivia. You have to do what we talked about. You need to move fast. If you wait too long, another girl will step in, making things much more difficult for you.""I know, Mom," she replied quietly.