Once we got home, we joined Mom and Dad at the table for dinner. Noah was quick to air his complaints about the loss we suffered. He gave them a rundown on the beating we took.

Dad looked to Zeke.

"Do you know which college she played for?

"

Zeke shook his head.

"I didn't ask. Had to be a good school. She threw almost 60mph.

"

"It felt faster than that.

" Noah frowned.

"60mph in softball is almost equivalent to high 80s in baseball.

" Zeke explained.

"I would say she could have been better than Marie in her prime.

"

"How do you know?

" Noah looked as confused as I felt.

"She looked to be in her late 20's. And it's not like she plays as serious as a competitive team.

"

"Looked pretty competitive to me.

" Noah snorted.

Zeke rolled his eyes.

"There aren't any pro softball leagues. After college, she has even fewer choices. If she's playing in a rec league like this, then it means she couldn't make the national team.

"

"What?!

" Noah exclaimed.

"That's crazy! I couldn't imagine a better softball pitcher except maybe Marie.

"

"Is Marie a candidate for the national team?

" Mom asked, surprised with where this conversation is going.

Zeke shrugged.

"How would I know?

"

"You seem pretty knowledgeable about softball to me.

" Noah told him.

Zeke sighed.

"I know the minimum. I could tell when I was batting that Cassie was good. The end.

"

"Her name is Cassie, huh?

" Mom lifted an eyebrow.

"Yea, she even spent some time teaching KJ about pitching.

" Noah missed the suggestive look his mom was trying to give to Zeke, and explained how we waited for KJ to learn a little from her.

"That was nice of you.

" Dad told Zeke.

"I wonder what it takes to make the national team...

" Noah mumured. He looked to Zeke.

Zeke shrugged.

"I wouldn't know.

"

"How can you not be invited?

" Noah asked.

"You have to put yourself out there.

" Zeke told him.

"I didn't sign up to do anything with them. I have my own goals. If you're interested, take some time to look it up. Too bad you missed the 15U team.

"

Noah blinked.

"I did?

"

Zeke nodded.

"This would have been the summer for you, and Jake, to participate on the 15U team. You have to be 15 and under. Next summer you'll be 16.

"

"There's no 16U team?

" Noah asked.

Zeke shook his head.

"It's 12U, 15U, 18U, Collegiate, and then pros. I think they started a 16U and 17U development program that feeds players to the 18U team. If you want to participate, you might want to do your research.

"

"I will!

" Noah hurried through dinner.

"I'm done! Can I be excused?

"

Mom sighed.

"Okay, but shower first before playing online.

"

"It's not playing! It's research!

" Noah yelled as he ran up the stairs.

"That boy...

" Mom shook her head before looking at Zeke.

"Is it really okay for him? Don't they pick the top players in the nation. If they didn't pick you, then...

"

Zeke shrugged.

"Again, it's about putting yourself out there. Go to their skill-development sessions and compete in intrasquad games to show off his skills. He might make it. He might not.

" He looked to me.

"Interested?

"

I shook my head. I rather play in the cages.

Zeke's eyes narrowed, making me shiver.

I subconsciously turned to Dad.

"I was able to make a doctor appointment for you, Jake.

" Dad told me when he caught me looking his way.

"Next Friday you don't have school so I'll take you.

"

"Next Friday?

" I perked up, happy to hear that I have plans for that day.

"What time?

"

He blinked, surprised by how eager I was.

"Mid morning. I figured we can have lunch afterwards.

"

"Noah wanted to do a pool party with the twins at Alisha's next Friday.

" Zeke explained to his parents about why I was so happy. He didn't even asked what kind of doctor appointment I had.

"Well, the appointment is in Santa Cruz so we weren't coming back for lunch anyways.

" Dad said.

"They can have fun at the pool, but you'll be on your own.

"

"We can have lunch together.

" Mom spoke up, talking to Zeke.

"It'll be nice to have some one-on-one time together before you go off to college.

"

"Okay.

" Zeke smiled.

I looked to Mom, feeling a little guilty.

"I'm sorry, I-

"

"It's okay, Jake.

" She cut me off.

"Wayne explained to me. You'll be more comfortable with him there than me. That's nothing to be ashamed of.

" She stood up and walked by me to rub my head gently.

"I want you to be comfortable and happy.

" She went into the kitchen and started to do the dishes.

"Guess we have most of the week planned out.

" Dad said.

"Are you kids doing anything this weekend?

"

I looked to Zeke.

Zeke told him what we had planned out so far: nothing Friday, game Saturday, cages and arcade on Sunday.

"That's good.

" He nodded.

"I'm glad you're keeping the boys busy.

" He looked to me.

"Any plans with Jeremy lately?

"

I shook my head. It was hard to make plans when he plays almost every day, while I have my own stuff to do. I had class Monday-Thursday, and softball games almost every other day. Jeremy also had to travel for away games so it wasn't possible for me to see him every weekend.

Dad understood.

"It's a little difficult right now, but I'm sure you'll see him more in the offseason.

"

I shrugged. Maybe.

I finished my dinner and took my empty plate to Mom in the kitchen. I handed them over and told her thanks for dinner before going upstairs. There, I found a freshly showered Noah hunched over his computer. He didn't pay any attention to me as I grabbed my pjs.

When I came back, he had completely changed positions. He was no longer interested in his computer and was in bed, reading his Spanish textbook.

"Did you already find out what you have to do?

" I asked. That was quick...

"Yea, I figured out why Zeke wasn't picked.

" Noah told me as I got ready for bed.

"Their primary identification event is the USA Baseball National Team Championship. So you have to be on a team. And our team...

"

Oh. I shrugged.

"Well, Zeke didn't do it so it can't be that interesting, right?

"

"That's true.

" Noah thought about it.

"I should focus more on improving myself than playing for the national team. It can't be that good if they didn't even invite Zeke. And you! They didn't send anything to you. So dumb.

"

I laughed.

"Maybe I'll aim for the collegiate national team when I get to college.

" Noah mused.

"I thought you would want to enter the MLB right away?

" I asked, getting into bed with my own book.

Noah shrugged.

"It depends. We'll see how everything goes. It's good to have multiple plans in case something or other doesn't work out. What would you want to do after high school?

"

"I don't know...

"

"Well, we've got time.

" Noah said, unbothered.

"We can watch what the twins decide too. I'd like it if college coaches were scouting me first though.

"

"Maybe next season.

"

"Yea...

"