Page 65 of The Run Back Home

I part my lips to argue, then smack them shut. "Okay, that's fair."

"Is that a yes?"

I sink back, exhaling a deep breath. "I don't know, Dyl. I kind of just planned to chill this weekend. I have to go to my parents' on Sunday for family dinner, so I need to mentally prepare."

"And what better way to prepare than throwing back a few free vodka sodas and dancing with a rando you know is established enough to afford you?"

I narrow my eyes.

"Come on," she continues, nudging my shoe with hers under the table. "One night. What could possibly go wrong?"

And there it is—the reason I still haven't texted Jace. Because I've finally gotten at least a version of him back, and I'm terrified that any wrong move could push him away again.

Dylan's question hangs in the air the same way my thumb hovers over Jace's number.

I think about how she's so effortlessly excited about talking to someone, how she goes after what she wants without overthinking it, without convincing herself out of it before it even happens.

Maybe I need to be more like that. I've done it before—when I took this job and left Mage. Maybe I can find that energy again. To go out with her. To send Jace a message.

With that in mind, I decide to do it… but a new email notification distracts me instead.

I open it and read:

Hi Lenora,

I still feel horrible about the Golden City thing. I really thought being closer to Mage Hollow might be nice. With that said, I've been doing my best to find you something in the dream placement we discussed, but before I pursue it further, I wanted to confirm you were still interested. I won't make the mistake of assuming again, but you're coming up on the halfway mark at G.C. General, so now would be the time for me to reach out to my contacts.

Let me know what you think.

Kent

"What?" I whisper, mostly to myself, rereading the last few lines.

"I asked if you're in?" Dylan says.

I look up, my head spinning from Kent's email, Jace's number, and Dylan's plans.

About how I'm almost halfway through my time here already.

How eventually I do have to leave Golden City…

And suddenly, texting Jace feels even more complicated than it did before.

13

Jace

Pulling one arm across my chest, I find my family in the stands from the dirt. My eyes fly to their usual seats, and a smile grows immediately when I see my mom and stepdad both leaning over Vienna, dabbing at the ice cream dripping down her chin.

Having them here these last few months has meant the world to me. Being able to see V's excitement after a good play—or my mom's forgiving face after I strike out. Even Tom comes to support every home game he can make.

I still feel lonely sometimes, though—a big city, high expectations for a kid who could technically still be on his parents' insurance. But having a few friendly faces in the crowd helps.

Even if, in the back of my mind, there's still something missing.

I shoot two fingers into the air toward V, who stands with a mini helmet full of ice cream still in her palm. She waves with her free hand, a full mustache and part of a beard of thin chocolate moving with her mouth as she flashes me a smile.

I laugh to myself, turning to catch the warm-up ball the outfield throws back in. It lands in my glove with a snap before I toss it to Mitchell at the mound.