If Beckett’s back hadn’t been to the bed, Liam’s face would’ve given him away. He took a breath, dropped the towel, and stepped into his boxers. “Off? How so?”
“He had no interest in any of the hot girls I pointed out. I even tried a few guys at the end. Nothing.”
The tug of emotional war inside scrambled his thoughts. It thrilled him Coury was so disinterested that Beckett noticed. On the other hand, Beckett noticed.
“It’s been a long week. He’s trying to get back in shape to throw for the scout next week.” He lingered over picking a T-shirt, hoping the Coury talk would end.
“Nah. We’ve gone out after long weeks before. I think he’s still hurting from his breakup.”
“Really?” He grabbed a long-sleeve white shirt with a whale on the back. “They broke up before Christmas.”
He tugged the shirt over his head.
“Yeah, but he hasn’t been himself. If you know what I mean.”
Liam went to his closet for jeans. “He seems the same to me.”
“No offense, Squirt, you don’t know him like I do.”
You don’t know him likeIdo,he wanted to say. “Which supports my point that he seems the same to me. Was Hailey there?”
“I didn’t see her.”
Beckett tossed the ball, but Liam swatted it aside. “Seriously?”
“It’s a Nerf ball. Youcouldcatch it if you tried.”
Once he had his pants on, Liam tracked down the ball and flipped it to Beckett. Hopefully they could move on to a different topic.
“I think she hurt him more than he’s letting on.”
“She who, hurt him who, more than he who is letting on?”
“Now you’re acting weird. Does living with Pop muck with your brains or something?” He went back to his toss and catch routine. “Hailey hurt Coury more than he’s admitting. She cheated on him with some rich douche canoe.”
“I heard.”
“Did he tell you she did it because he wouldn’t give up baseball for her?”
“No.” His stomach did a dozen flips while he tried to unpack that.
“She wanted him to give up playing pro-ball.”
“Why?”
“Said she didn’t want to follow him around to all those “D” list cities while he chased a silly dream that would never pan out.”
“Wow, harsh much?”
“Right? Didn’t mean she should cheat on him and then rub it in his face.” Beckett swung his legs over the edge of the bed. “He said he wasn’t interested in anyone because he’s leaving, so why bother.”
The punch to his gut made it hard to breathe. “I see.” Coury had been right. Beckett worried about his best friend because he didn’t know the truth.
“Yeah.” He motioned with the ball and Liam held his hands up. Beckett’s aim was true, and Liam managed to catch it this time. “Told ya.”
He’d talk to Coury. Unfortunately, Beckett probably wouldn’t give them a chance to talk alone, but once he went home . . .
“I hear you two,” Pop shouted from the first floor. “Come down, the pancakes are almost ready.”
