Page 98 of The Catch

The twins are highly sensitive, and read my tone easily.

I sigh. I'm not ready to talk to my sisters about the risk of a trade, but it's time.

I mull over my words for a second. In the space between my thoughts, I take comfort in the way Ames shows up on the terrace and asks to sit close.

I nod at her and let a few words fall from my lips. "Mom and Dad know this, so you can talk to them about it. Don't talk about it with anyone else, okay?"

"Of course," Maribel says. "We never talk about our famous brother with anyone."

"If they guess, it's not our fault," Aixa adds.

Ames cuddles next to me. My chest glows with the same tones of bronze and orange tinting the sky.

I smile. "It's never your fault, mis divinas."

"Tan divino!" The twins respond in unison and laugh.

It's a Colombian expression of love and admiration for beautiful and amazing things. Calling someone or somethingdivine. Every time I call them that, they respond the same way. It's a little joke we have with each other.

I gaze at Ames. I don't know if she knows what it means. The way she looks at me with tenderness makes me want to call her mi divina, anyway. I lean closer and nuzzle her hair. Herbal scents fill my lungs, and I sigh.

“Okay if I stay?”she whispers.

I nod, a pinch in my chest, because I'd sayforeverotherwise.

It's been exactly ten days since I offered myself as a rebound, making this thing with Ames my second longest relationship ever. The longest one was the time I tested myself to see if I was relationship material. That one lasted two weeks.

Any other time, I would have made a pie already. Now I refuse to even come close to my baking ingredients. Just in case it gives Ames any ideas.

I'm so, so done for.

"Hello?" Aixa says. "Are you there?"

"You have to tell us!" Maribel exclaims.

"Right." I clear my throat. "There's a chance I might get traded. If that happens, I'll have to move after the season."

Ames caresses my arm. The light of the setting sun paints her skin a bright amber. Her smile, until then free and summery in winter, cools down.

I grab the remote from the coffee table in front of us, and put the outside heater temp up a few degrees. The winter evening needs it, and so does she. And I.

"What?!" my sisters reply at the same time.

"Where would you have to go?" Maribel asks.

"Obviously he doesn't know!" Aixa's tone is severe.

"But maybe he knows what teams are interested!"

"Do you know what teams are interested, Saint?"

"I do." I have a blanket with me as well, and I wrap Ames and I in it. "Coach Clark told me last week."

Under the knitted cover, Ames finds my hand and squeezes once. Twice. Leaves our fingers interlocked, tight.

"The Pythons have shown interest." I stare at the horizon. "The Brawlers, too."

"Both of those are across the country!" Aixa complains.