Mason looks up at me, “Hailey isn’t answering. She knows I hate that shit.”

“She’s probably napping or something.” Hunter says. “CC sleeps all the time.”

Mason considers this for a minute. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. When are you heading over?”

I adjust the bag on my shoulder, squinting at the bright sky. “Now.”

Mason reaches in his pocket to retrieve his keys, “Alright, let’s go.”

I put the tokens in the machine and set it on fast. After putting my gloves on, I slip my helmet over my head and look over at the boys to see them doing the same. I grab my bat and step into the cage. The ball comes barreling at me and I swing. My bat connects with the ball and a thunderous noise bounces off the walls. I do this five times in a row before I miss one. My shoulders slump. I raise my bat again and go another four times before the machine stops. I hang my bat in the fence before stepping out of the gate. Mason and Hunter follow suit. I take a seat on the bench and reach for my water.

“Damn bro, why can’t you bat like that at games?” Mason jokes around.

I glare over at him. “Listen to you, tough guy. What’s your batting average?”

That shuts him up. He had a pretty shitty year last year with everything that was going on between him and Hailey. It was a dick thing to say but if he can dish it out he should be able to take it.

Hunter slips his hat on backwards and crosses his arms over his chest. I know the questions are about to start and I’m not in the mood to deal with them right now.

“All bullshitting aside, what’s up with you, Coop? I hardly ever see you get pissed off.” Hunter says.

Shaking my head, I look down at the ground. “Just in a bad mood is all. Don’t feel like talking about it.”

Hunter’s not giving up so easily. “You and Jaylinn have a fight?”

“Nope.”

Mason shrugs his shoulders and walks back over to his cage.

Hunter takes Mason’s seat next to me. “You and Jaylinn break up?”

I look over at him in confusion. “We aren’t together. I’ve told you and everyone else that. I don’t get why no one believes me.”

“You could have fooled me,” Hunter huffs, not buying my bullshit. “You guys practically live together, you do everything together, and you f**king kiss each other all the time. What are we supposed to believe?”

“I want you all to believe me when I say we aren’t a couple.”

Hunter nods his head.

I’m being a dick and no one deserves it but I can’t talk to them about what I’m feeling. I can’t talk to anyone.

“You know I’m ok with you and Jaylinn right? I know it doesn’t matter because if you say nothing is going on than nothing is, but if it does, I’m ok with it.”

I nod, and give him a head nod. “Thanks man.” After placing my water bottle back on the bench, I head back into the cage to release a little more of my frustration.

Every time the bat connects I can feel myself letting go a little.

After going another four times I’m feeling a bit better and exhausted enough to go home and hopefully get a nap in. After Jaylinn’s nightmare last night I didn’t go back to sleep and it’s starting to take its toll. Mason and Hunter are sitting on the bench when I walk out.

I reach up and wipe the sweat away with the back of my hand, looking over at them. “You guys done?”

“Yeah,” Mason says while he taps away on his phone, never looking up.

“Feel better now?” Hunter asks, raising his eyebrows at me. “I think you needed this more than I did.”

“Yeah,” I mumble back. I did a little but as soon as I was out of the cage, the frustration seemed to be coming back again.

I finish off my water and we all grab our stuff and head out. On our way, Hunter’s phone rings and he groans before answering it.

“Hello?” Hunter looks over at Mason. “Yeah alright, we’re done here anyway.” Hunter shakes his head. “Yeah you’re welcome but you owe me a favor now.”

My eyebrows draw in wonder but I don’t look over in Hunter’s direction.

“Yeah well, dealing with a moody ass**le will cause that.” He chuckles and I turn my head this time to look over at him.

“Bye.” Hunter hangs up and stuffs the phone in his pocket.

Mason and I are staring at Hunter, waiting for him to tell us who that was.

“It was Jaylinn.”

Mason unlocks his car and climbs in.

“Good luck when you get home. She’s up to something.” Hunter warns me with a mysterious smirk on his face.

“Fuck.” I mutter.

I pull up into the driveway beside Jaylinn’s car. I don’t get out right away, my body is relaxed and I could fall asleep right here in my truck. I kinda want tojust started getting dark out and I see that most of the house is dark except the upstairs bedroom. She’s probably upstairs reading or has fallen asleep with the light on which she does a lot lately. I didn’t come right home after I left the batting cages; I drove around for a little while trying to clear my head. When I’m around Jay I can’t think. Right now I can, or at least I don’t have to think about anything if I don’t want to.

My stomach rumbles and that’s interrupting my thinking. I haven’t eaten anything since this morning when I cooked myself breakfast before leaving for the gym. Part of me hopes Jaylinn has cooked because I’m starving and not in the mood.

Reaching for my bag on the passenger side, I head inside in search of some food, knowing that once I find some, I’m hitting the bed early tonight.

My steps are heavy but when I get to the door, it’s unlocked and it pisses me off that she’s here alone and didn’t lock the door. Safe neighborhood or not, I don’t like it, not when it’s starting to get dark. “Jaylinn?”

No answer.

I drop my bag next to the door and kick off my shoes. “Jay!” I pull my hoodie over my head and throw it on top of my bag, waiting for her to say something.

Still no answer.

I walk into the kitchen and everything is clean. I look in the microwave to see if she left me any food. Thank. Fucking. God. There’s a plate made up with steak, potatoes and corn ready for me and I nearly groan. Closing the door, I set the time for two minutes to warm it up.

When it beeps I take it out and take a seat at the kitchen table. I quickly eat my food since I know if I sit here for long I’ll fall asleep I’m so exhausted. After I’m done I put the plate in the dishwasher and grab a bottle of water and head upstairs for a shower.