Everyone started to co into the dining room at once. Dave and Kyle carried in dishes full with food and laid them out, while Noah and Zeke ca from downstairs. Mrs. Atkins sat down at the other end of the table and directed the twins on where to set down the dishes. Noah sat beside , while Dave squeezed on the end next to Mrs. Atkins. Zeke quietly sat down next to Jeremy and Kyle took the last empty seat.
Everyone filled up their plate and started to eat.
"The A’s are looking really good so far." Dave said. "I really think we’ll be making the playoffs this year."
"Without a doubt!" Noah agreed easily. "Maberry will be back in action after the all-star break too." He looked at Jeremy. "Do you know how he’s doing?"
Jeremy nodded. "He cos to every ho ga. I heard he’ll be starting so rehab with our athletic training staff."
"Would he bat before you or after you?" Noah asked.
Jeremy shrugged. "That’s a decision for the manager."
"But, what would you prefer?" Noah pressed.
"Whatever helps the team win." Jeremy answered.
Noah nodded. "Good, happy to hear it."
Jeremy seed to relax a little thanks to Noah’s talking. He tried to start a conversation. "So tell a little more about this softball team..? How many gas a week?"
Noah lit up, smiling. "We just picked out a team na: Hustlers. The league is only six weeks long, but the old man in charge said three gas a week, starting next week. Tuesday and Thursday nights. And Saturday mornings." Once Jeremy got Noah going, there was no stopping him. He rambled on about how we completed the roster with the help of so baseball and softball friends. How his parents covered the fee and will be paying for the shirts.
"If you need help with that, I can cover it." Jeremy offered.
"No need." Mr. Atkins told him in a friendly manner. "We know soone that can help, and would appreciate our business. I’ll put in the order for the shirts tonight when Noah has answers from his friends."
"Oh. Okay." He glanced around. Focusing on the twins at the end, he asked, "Are you two not participating on the softball team?"
"Pshh, no."
"Most definitely not."
Dave and Kyle told him.
Kyle explained. "We’re pitchers. Playing in a softball league sounds fun, but we’re also preparing for college visits and focusing on our training."
"We’ll be busy most of the sumr, going to a few select camps too." Dave added.
Jeremy turned to . "You don’t want to go to any camps instead? I can help you find a few to participate in this sumr. It would help you more than a softball league would."
An awkward silence fell upon us.
"No thanks." I told him. "I rather stay ho."
Jeremy frowned.
"We are going to Stanford for a week for their baseball camp." Noah spoke up.
"Stanford..?" Jeremy’s frown slowly dissipated. "Why that one?"
"Zeke will be there." Noah explained. "That’s the school he committed to so we’ve t so of their players. Plus, we have our high school camp in August. We have quite a packed sumr when you put it together."
Jeremy nodded, realization covering his face. He started to understand the sumr plans a bit. "Well, like I told Jake, if you guys have free ti, you can co to so more A’s gas."
I could feel the stares of excitent from a couple of boys at the table.
Noah poked . "You didn’t tell everyone this!"
I scratched my nose. "Ah, I forgot. I was going to ask first to make sure it was okay." I glanced at Mr. Atkins and then to Mrs. Atkins. "Is it okay?"
Mrs. Atkins looked at . "We have a bit of work and travel to do this sumr. If you want to go to so gas, I’m okay with it, but we have to know beforehand."
"And you’ll need to make sure you plan it well with Jeremy and Zeke." Mr. Atkins added. "After all, Zeke would be in charge of driving you boys. A lot of coordination has to go into this, understand?"
I nodded obediently.
"It’s okay, Rose gave her number yesterday so we can contact her any ti we visit now." Noah spoke up.
Jeremy froze.
Mrs. Atkins nodded. "That’s good. She was a nice girl. If she’s watching out for you boys during the gas, I can relax a little more."
"When did you get her number?" Kyle asked.
Noah smirked. "At last night’s ga! You really missed out this ti. Rhys’s dad gave us tickets behind the dugout. The best seats I’ve ever gotten to sit in! You could see the sweat coming off the players; that’s how close we were!" Noah started to tell him all about yesterday: going to see Rhys, look at his new bullpen, going to the ga, and even watching the fireworks.
I noticed Jeremy’s strange expression throughout. He looked like he wanted to interrupt, but never got a chance with Noah in charge of the conversation. Most of the dinner conversation was dominated by Noah, but you couldn’t tell by the look of his plate. He was still able to eat two servings of everything before excusing himself.
The twins did the sa, taking their dishes to the kitchen sink before going upstairs to do their howork. It didn’t take long for the rest of the Atkins to leave the table, making sure it was just and Jeremy.
I was about to get up so I could get my notebook full of questions, but Jeremy stopped by repeating an earlier question. "You saw Rose yesterday?"
I sat back down and got comfortable. I nodded. "For a little bit."
"What did you guys talk about?" He asked.
"Hmm. Baseball. You. She gave Noah her number." I shrugged. "She’s nice."
"She is." He was quiet for awhile.
Seeing the opening, I spoke up calmly. "So you guys are dating..?"
"What?!" He blurted out. The cald down. "What makes you say that?"
Noah ca in the room, flat out laughing. "You and Rose had the sa exact reaction. That’s pretty cool. Are you both so worried about people finding out?" Noah handed my notebook. "Hey, I thought you might need this. But it looks like you already have sothing to talk about." He turned to go.
"Wait." Jeremy held him back. "What did you an by sa reaction? In a good way? Bad way? Was she offended when you asked?"
Noah grinned and laid a hand on my shoulder. "I didn’t ask. Jake did. Just caught her by surprise."
Jeremy focused back on , looking in the eyes. "You asked? How did you know?"
I shrugged and told him the sa thing I told Rose. "Chuck asked about it. I think a lot of people that work with you two, might know."
Jeremy looked a little shy. "So...what did she tell you about us?"
I looked up at Noah for help.
He gladly took over. "That you’re not really dating yet, more like just seeing one another. Casually." Jeremy frowned, and Noah continued. "And that you’re not at the stage of eting families. That’s kind of why she didn’t tell you about our presence. We had ntioned that we saw you with your family so she didn’t want to go over."
Jeremy’s jaw dropped.
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