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Looking up from Jacob’s little hands which were working on a coloring book, Daniel smirked. “We had to stop inviting him.”

Our parents had stayed in New Winford for some time after Dan had kids. But once he bought the barn off of them, they decided to move down south for easier winters. It had been a couple of years since I saw them, no longer traveling for League games near their new home.

I giggled. “I believe that.”

In a familiar silence, we watched as the kids moved around the bases. Out on the field, Meredith stood on the first base line, coaching the little ones that got to her.

“I saw Sarah Greenwood by Field 4.”

Dan nodded. “She’s everywhere if you look around. She and Dani Lawson run this place.”

Biting my lip, I sighed. There was a question plaguing my mind but I knew Daniel would be annoyed by it. So instead, I shook it off and tried to get my mind off of Cleo. It was hard to believe they would have given up softball after school.

They loved the game and if I hadn’t done a bit better than them at bat, they would’ve gotten my scholarship.

“What?” Dan whipped his head to look at me, knowing I was keeping something inside.

Shrugging, I met his gaze. “Is there a rec league or anything?”

Dan raised an eyebrow. “Why are you asking?”

“I’m curious.”

Rolling his eyes, Dan scoffed. “About the league or your ex? Don’t you think it’s better to let them go?”

He wasn’t wrong. Cleo and I had a messy last few years. The end of our relationship had been far more bitter than it should have been. It was a regret I carried with me in everything I did. And it would be a lie to say I didn’t want to make it right.

But I was almost certain Cleo would want nothing to do with me. Especially now that my life was a total disaster.

I pleaded with my brother, widening my eyes in a desperate attempt to beg.

Eventually, he groaned. “Yes, there’s a rec league. But I think you should leave it alone. If you need practice, call some old teammates, not them.”

“Thank you.” I patted him on the back. “Where do they meet?”

Shaking his head, Dan crossed his arms. “Nope. You’re gonna figure that out. I’m not enabling you to reach out to an ex.”

A grin took over my face. I loved a challenge. But I knew one thing to be true: if I had any hope of getting back to my life, I was going to need to get back to my roots. And Cleo was the key.

9

CLEO

The bird chirpingwas fucking annoying.

I clacked my fingers against my laptop, each key making a light tap that satisfied my ears. Flicking my eyes to the nearly empty document open on the screen, I groaned.

This is infuriating.

My chair squeaked against the wood floors as I pushed my chair away from the desk in my tiny office. Usually, the morning birds were a comfort. But now they just kept interrupting my attempts to write. I only had a few minutes before I needed to take off for my softball game.

I’d woken up early because the bright fall sun streamed into my bedroom. So I’d gotten dressed, ate breakfast, and then sat in front of the screen, begging words to flow from my mind down into my fingers.

“Ugh.” I leaned back in the chair and let out a sigh.

After a moment of trying to steady myself, I checked the clock. It was just about time to head to the game but it was the last thing I wanted to do right now.

At least it would be a convenient excuse to avoid this idea for a little longer.