Page 89 of The Love We Make

They usually sat up there and giggled and didn’t really pay attention to the game. But not Madison, she was laser-focused on my next pitch.

I smiled at her as I waited for the next hitter to get into the batter’s box. She gave me two thumbs up. I was one hitter away from pitching the whole game.

My parents and her parents were both there too. They were sitting in the bleachers on the front row, in front of Madison and her friends. I gave them a quick wave too.

Finally, the umpire got my attention by yelling, “Play ball.”

I zoned back into what I needed to do. This wasn’t exactly the World Series. It wasn’t even a playoff game. I mean, it wasn’t even high school level yet. But it was important to me. Every pitch was important to me. Every level held an opportunity to get better and learn.

I leaned in and got ready to throw my pitch. At this level, all my pitches were fastballs, but dad had been teaching me curves and change-ups. Even a slider. Coach just didn’t like it when I threw them because he said it “wasn't fair” but seriously, it was fair. The other team could just learn to throw them too, or how to hit those pitches. Right?

“It is little league, Ethan, not the pros,” Coach had said.

Whatever.

I still made quick work of the hitter and ended the game.

I was in the dugout gathering my things into my bag when one of my teammates, Ronald, got my attention, “You have a crush on that blonde girl?”

I looked up and tried to figure out who he was talking about.

“The girl next to your friend, Madison,” he added, helping me narrow it down.

“God no,” I said, shaking my head.

“You just seem kinda into her, that’s all.”

“How did I accidentally make you think that?”

“You kept looking over to her while you were on the mound.”

I laughed and shook my head, “No, doofus, I was looking at Madison. She always gives me a thumbs up and stuff.”

“So you have a crush on Madison?”

“What? No way!” I practically yelled. “I have a crush on someone else.”

I was a tad defensive but hopefully I got my point across. People always thought Madison and I liked each other. But still, every time someone said it out loud, I got mad. It wasn’t ok to crush on your sister, didn’t they get that?

Though, everyone knew Madison wasn’t actually my sister, but still.

Ew.

“So who is your crush?” He asked.

“None of your business,” I huffed back.

“Well since it's not Madison, I guess it’s ok if I have a crush on her.”

No it wasn’t ok. I wanted to take my bat to his throat. But if I got mad, he would think he was right. That I really did have a crush on her myself.

I settled for an eye roll.

I started to walk toward my parents with my bag slung over my shoulder. Madison was there with them. She was riding with me and my parents so her parents had left already.

“Hey,” I said tiredly when I got close.

“Good game, man,” my dad said happily.