Good Catch

Copyright © 2023 by Carlie Jean All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Printed in the United States of America First Printing, 2023 ISBN 9798372614239 Kindle Direct Publishing Editor: Salma R. Cover Designer: Cat Imb at TRC Designs Formatting: Qamber Designs & Media W.L.L. PR: Greys promotions To my mom, who took me to the library all the time as a kid and inspired my love for books. Now you may want to take me to church after reading this. Love you. Playlist Springsteen - Eric Church Cover Me Up - Morgan Wallen 2002 - Anna Marie Thinkin Bout You - Frank Ocean Dilemma - Nelly ft. Kelly Rowland Say You Won’t Let Go - James Arthur ocean eyes - Billie Ellish Still into You - Paramore When We Were Young - Adele Cruel Summer - Taylor Swift Starving - Hailee Steinfield Collide - Justine Skye ft. Tyga Seein’ Red - Dustin Lynch Dirty Little Secret - The Weekend Acquainted - The All-American Rejects Jealous - Nick Jonas Everywhere - Michelle Branch Tequila On A Boat - Dustin Lynch ft. Chris Lane Chapter One Rylee It’s funny how life works sometimes. At least that’s what an infamous quote said, right? But I’m failing to find humour in the situation I’m in. My brother’s best friend, Miles, returned home after being gone for the past six years. Miles Anderson was, and I’m sure still is, cocky, hot-headed, and domineering. But growing up, he’d been different with me. Miles and I had a bond like no other friendships of mine. He never was solely my brother’s friend. We all started hanging out ever since the day we moved in beside him. But my special treatment ran out long ago, leaving me in the dust along with our friendship. We haven’t spoken or seen one another in six years, and our friendship has ceased to exist since that night eight years ago. And I’m about to come face to face with him within the next half hour. How wonderful is that? I quickly glance at my reflection in the rear-view mirror only to find irritated gray-blue eyes staring back at me. I puff out a breath of air, sending a loose wave of chocolate brown hair out of my sight. I take another deep, calming breath and try to refocus my mind for the upcoming game. Miles is only playing one game with us. I’ll barely even have to see him, let alone talk to him. He will play out in center field, and I will be far away at first base. I’m about to spiral into a cloud of anxiety when my best friend Ava knocks on my trunk, signaling her presence. I jump from the startle and turn my car off. It’s showtime. Before I even have both feet out of my jeep, Ava starts rambling at a hundred miles a minute. “Okay, I know this is stressing you out, but look, it’s only one game! Your brother is sorry for inviting him, but you know we needed a player with Jaxon gone on vacation, so we’re really sorry-” I cut her off. “Ava, it’s not your fault, and you don’t have to speak for the both of you. It’s weird.” Ava and my brother Ryan started dating last year, which most people would think sucks, but honestly, having my best friend date my brother has not changed a thing. If anything, it’s made us closer, especially since Ryan and I live together. “Right, sorry.” She smiles shyly, then continues as I head toward my trunk to take my ball bag out, “Can I ask you something?” Slamming the trunk shut, I throw my bag over my shoulder and turn to face her. “Sure,” I say. My stomach is now doing somersaults and preventing me from saying anything else. Ava stops walking beside me and pulls my arm to face her. Her brown eyes scan mine, and I can see she’s nervous to say what she’s about to say, which only makes the pool of anxiety in my gut deepen. “Jesus, Ava, what is it?” I ask, clearly exasperated. “Ok, fine. Why do you even hate him anyways? It’s been so long that I truly don’t even remember why you don’t like him,” she says hurriedly, as her grip on my arm tenses. My heart twinges at her words, memories of the past flashing in my mind because of them. I put my hand softly over hers, “First of all, ow,” I laugh, and she quickly eases her grip, relaxing a bit. I don’t really want to have this conversation before our game when I should be warming up. But I know she’s not letting me move an inch from this spot without an answer. That’s Ava for you. She’s headstrong, wild, and blunt, but I adore her regardless. “Miles used to be my best friend. We met when I was 7, and he used to hang out all the time with Ryan and I since he lived next door. But once I got to high school, everything changed. He just stopped talking to me while he and Ryan kept going out but without me. I never knew why,” I explain somewhat truthfully, deciding to leave out the major event that was the catalyst for that change. Although I’m 23 now, the memories from what feels like a lifetime ago float through my mind. Our parents were best friends, and the proximity of our houses meant we did everything together. I don’t think there was a day we didn’t see one another. Ava