Zander throws his face guard back and puts his hands in a T over his head as he trots away from home base. The two stand on the mound, Zander clearly giving Aiden the pep talk he needs.

Next to me, Emma sighs. “I adore concession-stand nachos.”

My eyes are still on Zander making his slow-walk back to his spot. Giving Aiden every extra second he can. I catch his eye as he reaches the plate and smile. He meets my eyes but he still looks angry. Even so, it’s a little barb that he can’t just suck it up and smile back.

Aunt Sarah appears at the metal counter just as I’m given my pop and gumballs. She fidgets with her phone, then quickly shoves it into her pocket. I hand her a can of Diet Coke and am turning back for the bleachers when a tug at my wrist stops me. She pulls me a few steps in the opposite direction and looks at me nervously. “I have to tell you something, and I’ve been meaning to, but then there’s never a good time.” She rambles nervously. “And I’m going to be gone this weekend, so…”

“Tell me what?” I pop a piece of baseball-shaped gum into my mouth, my eyes still fixed on the back of my boyfriend’s head, over Aunt Sarah’s shoulder.

“I got an amazing job offer. In Arizona.” The words make me flinch. My eyes dart from the batter to my aunt, standing in front of me looking like she’s about to throw up all over my shoes. The feeling is so mutual.

I’ve never heard Aunt Sarah mention Arizona before. Or wanting a new job. “Why would you want a job in Arizona?”

“Well, it pays better, and it’s with a bigger company. And there are more opportunities for me if I get out of Riverton.” Okay, I guess I have heard that before. Aunt Sarah is a programmer, and rural Michigan is not a technology mecca.

“Do I have to move to Arizona?” I can’t. Not my senior year. Not with Emma and Zander here.

“We’ll … figure something out,” she says, but she doesn’t look as optimistic as she sounds.

Behind her, the whir of the bat catches my eye. Arizona?

The ball flies, and from our spot behind the fence it almost looks as if it’s going straight for Aiden. But he’s not moving, and when I see it happen—the way the white leather deflects off of his perfect cheekbone—I can’t help but gasp. He crumples to the ground and it feels a lot like I’m right there next to him—both of us victims of something we didn’t see coming.

AIDEN