In the Line is an emotional rollercoaster about two neighbors from different worlds whose lives are tangled in unspoken attraction.
Chace Dawson, a driven baseball player, finds himself captivated by Chloe Swann, the resilient and beautiful girl ne...
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CHACE
I'm lying in bed, eyes open, lost in a swirl of thoughts. Time feels like it's standing still, until my eyes wander to the alarm clock beside me. It's 10:00 a.m. I've been lying here for over an hour, drowning in this mental quicksand.
I rub my eyes and run a hand through my hair, trying to focus. Today is Friday. Training starts at 4 p.m., and on Sunday, we have that big game against the young Yankees in the prestigious tournament at the forty-thousand-seat stadium in Chicago. That's going to be a hell of a ride.
My phone buzzes next to me.
Amber: Hey babe, I'm at the mall. I've got the gift for your mom. Call me when you're up.
Oh, crap. It's Mom's birthday dinner tonight. I completely forgot. I immediately dial Amber's number.
"Hey, honey! Are you still in bed?" she answers, her voice light and teasing.
"Yeah..." I reply, a little hesitantly.
"Oh, you silly! How can you sleep so long? It's a beautiful day! You're missing the best part of it!" She scolds me like a little boy, and I'm not surprised.
"You know me, I'm a good sleeper," I say, half-apologetic.
"Did you dream about me?" She giggles.
"Only you," I lie. It's automatic now, so smooth I don't even feel guilty anymore. Maybe I've done it too many times to remember what guilt even feels like.
"Good," she laughs. "So what should we drink for your mom's party? Wine or whiskey? Which is more appropriate?"
"Oh, babe, I need to stay sober tonight. Big game this weekend, remember? Gotta be fit and focused."
"Yeah, I know, my champion! I talked to your mom about it. She said I could go with them to the game. I'm so excited!"
"That sounds good. What did you get her?"
"Oh! This beautiful bouquet of flowers and I found a cute tea box with teas from about forty different countries. I know it is just a tea but it was quite expensive, and I thought it would be a lovely present since she loves her tea."
Mom adores Amber. She drops hints all the time about us getting married, and Amber gives me that shy look like it's something we've seriously considered. I'm just glad Amber handled the birthday gift herself. At least that's one less thing for me to worry about.
"You're amazing at gifts. I would've never thought of something like that." I say, genuinely grateful.
"Thanks, honey. I'm glad you think so." Her voice is soft, sweet.
We talk a bit more before I finally hang up and sit up in bed. Amber is perfect—too perfect. And here I am, lost in my own mess. She's kind and light-hearted, always. After nearly four years together, we've settled into a routine. But she never seems to get tired of me.
