Page 72 of Crew

“He’s out in the shop. Why?”

“I need to talk to both of you. And Finn, if he can swing by. Can you call him?”

She nodded. “Of course, is everything okay?”

“I’ll explain when everyone gets here.”

She disappeared down the hall, and a minute later, I heard the back door creak open.

My dad stepped inside, wiping his hands on a rag, and stopped in the doorway. His stare found me and for a second, he just stood there. Then he crossed the room and pulled me into a hug that caught me completely off guard. “Didn’t know you were coming in,” he muttered. “Damn good to see you, son.”

“You too, Dad.”

When he let go, I motioned to Knox. “This is Knox. We’re teammates.”

My dad offered a firm handshake and a solid smile. “Welcome. You a corner guy?”

“First base,” Knox confirmed.

“Ah. Good spot. Glad to have you out here.”

“Finn’s on his way,” my mom called from the kitchen. “Y’all want tea?”

“Sure,” I answered. Sweet tea in the south was exactly what I needed to put me at ease. Though something stronger would be better but seeing as it was only ten in the morning—seven back in Portland—tea would have to do.

Mom disappeared again, and we all eased into the living room. My dad took his seat in his recliner, and Knox and I sat side by side on the couch. My knee bounced, and I caught my fingers twisting together in my lap.

A few minutes later, my mom returned with two glasses of sweet tea and handed them over.

“Thank you,” Knox said.

I echoed him quietly, gripping the glass and taking a long sip.

Then the front door opened.

“Well, damn,” came Finn’s voice. “Look what the cat dragged in.”

I placed my tea on the coffee table and stood. He reached me in three strides and wrapped me in a bear hug that squeezed the breath out of me. “About time you came home.”

“I missed you,” I admitted.

“Missed you too, bro.” He stepped back and looked at Knox. “And I know who you are. You’re the Seawolves’ first baseman.”

Knox offered his hand. “Sure am. Nice to meet you.”

Finn shook it. “You’ve got a hell of a swing. I watch whenever I can.”

Knox glanced at me, then back to Finn. “Thanks. Appreciate that.”

Finn dropped onto the arm of the couch and leaned forward slightly. “So, what’s going on?”

I grabbed my tea, took a slow drink and looked at the glass.

No turning back.

I’d played this conversation a hundred different ways in my head—on planes, in hotel rooms, alone in the dark after road games. Sometimes they got angry. Sometimes they didn’t believe me. Sometimes they hugged me and said they already knew.

But not once had I actually pictured myself in this exact room with Knox sitting beside me, his leg brushing mine, and my family staring at me.