Page 19 of Love & Baseball

“Fine. One week. Fake. And you tell Reece that it was your idea.”

“Fine.” Brielle nodded. Her shoulders lowered. She seemed relieved and bothered all at the same time.

“Fine,” I repeated.

“Fine,” she said.

“Fine.” we both said in unison.

I opened the door.

It was the school hallway, and unfortunately, I was not in Japan.

Chapter 7

Brielle

“WHAT?” Lia’s voice stripped all hearing from my ears. It was so high-pitched and so emphatic that I winced.

Then I joined in. “I KNOW!”

“WHAT THE WHAT?” She half-laughed, half-squealed.

“I KNOOOW!” I replied.

Then we just stared at each other through our phones until I collapsed on my bed, letting my phone fall next to me. But I could still hear Lia, and that was all that mattered. The events of today were beyond extraordinary, and not necessarily in a good way extraordinary. They just weren’tordinary.

“So youaredating Brooks, then?” Lia clarified.

“I guess!” I laughed. I wanted to cry. I was mortified. I was horrified. I was terrified. I was pretty much any word that ended with‘fiedand that didn’t even seem enough. “Fake. It’s all fake,” I added.

“Duh. Of course. But now what?” Lia’s question was pretty much front and center in my brain.

“I have no clue.” I buried my face in my pillow and let out a good, long wail. With my luck, my mom would hear and come charging down the hall, thinking I’d terminally injured myself.

Sure enough. I heard the floor creak. Then a knock. Then, without waiting, my mom—gosh, I love her, but she drives me nuts!—poked her head in the door. Worry was in her brown eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, Mom.” I lifted my head from my pillow.

Lia was quiet. She knew enough not to say anything.

Mom stepped into my room. “Bad day?”

“Mediocre,” I replied.Please go away, Mom.

“I’m sorry, baby.” Mom always called me that. I’d be “baby” when I was in my sixties and she was almost dead. “Can I do anything?” she asked.

“Leave?” I retorted.

A flash of hurt streaked across her face. I tried to soften my words I’d said harshly because I was, after all, in a bit of a pickle.

“I just mean, I’m talking to Lia.” I picked up my phone and wagged it so Mom could see.

Her face brightened. “Oh hi, Lia!” She waved even though I doubted Lia could see her. “How’s Canada?”

“Fine!” Lia laughed and waved back. She loved my mom. I mean, let’s be honest. My mom is cool, she’s just—my mom. It doesn’t matter how cool you are, all moms get in the way at times. This was one of those times.