Page 81 of Under the Influence

"So remember,” he says. "No matter where you decide to play ball, we're a package deal."

I laugh at his subject change, "You don't want any say on where we go?"

He shrugs, "Nah, you are the academic one. I'm gonna major in parties and blondes. So wherever you choose, make sure the selection is nice."

I can't help but laugh, shaking my head, "Whatever you say, bro. We still have a while to decide. Junior year is about attending these camps, so we get noticed and scouted. We want them to be begging for the two of us."

He smiles, "They'll be begging alright. We won state as sophomores and we are gonna do it again, baby!"

"Yeah," I sigh. "If we can get our shit together."

Nash waves me off, "It's just different since Rhett and Sam graduated. The dynamic is new in the infield. Once Crew and Madden get comfortable with Jonah on first base, I think it will all be better."

"Cori is adamant that Crew needs to play first."

"Little Coach Corinne," he rolls his eyes. "And why would Crew be better on first? He's literally played third base since eighth grade. I know this, you know this, and it's never been a disadvantage before."

"She said she'd switch him to first because he's left-handed, and it would cut out the extra second it takes him to turn his body to throw to first."

Nash just gapes at me, and I can practically see his brain working overtime to come up with a smart-ass comment.

"I know," I whisper. "I never really thought about it either, but she's not wrong. How many left-handed third basemen do you know in the majors?"

He shakes his head, "But his glove protects the foul line this way, and it's fine."

I burst out laughing, "But most balls are hit to his left, she's right, and you can't admit it."

"How does Miss Priss know so much about baseball, anyway?"

I think about us laying in my bed nearly every night the past week watching games. Her knowledge is impressive.

"I have no idea, but Coach Clark is her uncle, and she said her dad used to play."

"Whatever," he huffs as I pull into my driveway. Nash's eyes light up at the sight of my dad's trailer in the driveway. "You didn't tell me we were taking the UTVs!"

He jumps out of my truck, grabbing his bags out of the back.

"Yeah, dad thought maybe after our day at camp, we could go ride some trails."

Nash opens the door of the enclosed trailer with two Polaris RZRs inside. "I love Tennessee."

"You boys ready?" Dad yells across the lawn, carrying some helmets from the garage.

"So ready."

He places the helmets in the front of the trailer before turning to Nash, "How's your mom doing?"

His spirit fades pretty quickly, "My dad finally put her in a cage. How do you think she is?"

Dad doesn't push him but places his hand on his shoulder, "She's gonna be alright. When this is over, things will be better."

Nash just shrugs, throwing his overnight bag in the back of Dad's truck. Movement from next door catches my eye as Cori rounds the corner of her porch, stopping in her tracks when she notices the two of us. She slowly raises her hand in a small wave, and both myself and Nash do the same.

We both drop our hands nervously, unsure of who she's waving at.

What a mess.

She lowers her gaze and rushes inside. Nash shakes his head while his lips tilt in amusement. It makes me wonder what's happened between them.