Cody's POV- July 2017

"Can I at least throw you a ball?" I asked.

Maddy smiled as she lifted her Catcher's helmet to drink water.

"No because you can get hurt"

She reached over to gently pinch my cheek when I frowned at her.

"It's for your own good"

"So are we done here?" I wondered.

We both turned towards the baseball field where Cole, Nate and Noah were making their way over.

"Ready to head out?"

I stood up when they nodded.

"Are we still going to the beach?"

Maddy nodded as she set her helmet on the bench and began to take off the rest of her gear.

"Yeah, after we drop off Nate and Noah"

Both twins began frowning.

"The birthday party you were invited to, remember?"

I raised an eyebrow, a party on a Monday?

"Oh right"

"Who has a birthday party on a Monday?" I wondered.

Maddy lightly shrugged before putting away her gear.

"I can carry it"

"I don't mind helping" I told her as I reached for the duffle bag.

Cole laughed.

"Maddy, let Cody be a good boyfriend"

She sighed and I reached for the bag.

"If he gets injured, it's his fault"

"I'm sure I won't get injured carrying a duffle bag" I informed her.

She looked down at her phone as I put my free arm around her shoulder. I gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead and watched as Nate and Noah walked ahead with Cole following.

"So my dad booked my flights"

I looked down at the screen of her phone to see that she had a flight to Phoenix for Sunday morning. My guess is that her flight scheduled Sunday afternoon to Miami was with her family. That was when I noticed something.

"You're going to Toronto after?" I asked.

"Yes, I got my visa approved so I have to go finish doing that"

I nodded.

"How long will you be gone?" I wondered.

"Two days"

Two days was not too long.

"I'd be back before you even get back from Chicago"

"So you're spending your birthday in Toronto?" I questioned.

"No"

That was when she lifted her phone a bit so I could see the date/time for her flight to Toronto...from Miami.

"Sunday, July 19" I read out loud.

I looked at her when I realized she would be in Miami for her..our birthday.

"My dad got me tickets to Friday and Saturday's game. I will be sitting with Mady, cheering for the Dodgers"

I smiled and kissed her cheek.

"You're the best" I told her.

She smiled.

"You're easy to please"

I shrugged and let go of her once we were in front of her car. While she started the car, I put her duffle bag in the back.

"Drive Maddy! Drive"

I rolled my eyes as Cole grinned at me as I opened the passenger door. Once I was seated next to Maddy, she glanced up at the rear view mirror.

"Alright, so we're heading home. Your parents should be there by the time we get there"

Both our families would be having dinner.

"Manny will actually be in Miami for the Homerun derby, so maybe you can meet him"

"That'd be nice" I admitted.

She smiled and turned her attention to driving. When we got to her house, my parents were not there yet. While she and her siblings went to change, Cole and I stayed in the living room.

"Don't you get intimidated by Maddy?"

I turned to look at my brother.

"She's crazy smart"

That she was, Maddy had graduated with a 3.9 GPA. She majored in nursing and public health. In a few years she'd be a nurse practitioner.

"Do you like only talk about baseball and softball?"

"Quite the opposite actually. We're just getting to know each other, and I'm not embarrassed to ask if I need clarification" I answered.

He nodded and turned towards the staircase when Maddy said both our names.

"I completely forgot that you two need to change. Cody, you know where the downstairs guest room and bathroom is"

I nodded and stood up.

"Follow me" I told Cole.

Once we were dressed we walked towards the living room where mom was. She smiled when she noticed us.

"We didn't expect you all to be back"

"We just came to change" I said to mom who hugged me.

"Guys, are you ready to go?"

I looked up to see Maddy making her way down the stairs.

"You're back early"

"Where's dad?" I asked.

"He went to get groceries with Michael"

That made sense.

"Be back before 7PM"

Maddy nodded at what her mom had just said.

"We'll be back"

I gave Maia a hug before following the twins out. Maddy stayed back to greet Maia and my mom.

"Alright, let's go"

Maddy placed her beach bag in the back getting into the car.

"Does Ashli want us to pick her up?"

I shook my head.

"Her lunch with friends is running longer than she hoped for, so she said to have fun without her" I answered.

"Okay then, let's drop these two off"

We dropped them off quickly and the drive to the beach was quick. The beach was full, but we got lucky enough to find a spot a short distance from the shore.

"Maddy, can you put sunscreen on my back?"

Cole turned to her just as she nodded.

"Of course, turn your back towards me"

He did as told and she applied sunscreen on him. Once he was completely dried, he ditched us to go talk to the younger girls.

"Do you mind putting sunscreen on my back?"

I stretched my arm out and took the sunscreen from her. Squirting a bit on my hands, I began applying it to her back. She was wearing a one piece bathing suit, but it did reveal a bit more of her back than most one piece suits.

"Let me put some on you"

I slipped my shirt off and flinched as she placed the cold lotion on my back.

"Cole is such a smooth little player, ain't he?"

Glancing up, I noticed Cole talking with two girls. At his age, I admit I was a bit of a player. As I got older though, I toned it down whenI realized most girls would only date me because I was a professional athlete.

"I just hope those two girls are his age" I admitted.

Girls now-a-days either looked too young for their age or too old to be the age they actually were.

"This is nice" I told her as she sat next to me.

She smiled and leaned against me.

"It is"

I shifted a bit and kissed her cheek.

"Cole and Ashli really like you" I mentioned.

"That's good to know"

They adored her and it was nice to see how well she got along with them.

"The twins have warmed up to you"

"How are your little sisters like?" I questioned.

"Oh, they will adore you"

That was good to know.

"Hey Mads"

I looked up to see a guy towering us. He adjusted his sunglasses as he waited for Maddy to reply.

"Hi Auston, what brings you here?"

So this was Auston...that explains the flexing and frown being directed at me.

"Did Alex not tell you I was going to be in LA for the Fourth of July?"

She shook her head as she stood up.

"It's nice to see you though"

He gave her a hug and squeezed her.

"Introduce me to your friend"

Maddy smiled as she looked down at me.

"My boyfriend actually. Auston this is Cody

I stood up and smiled at him.

"Cody, this is Auston"

He pursed his lips a bit as he nodded.

"It's nice to meet you man" I said as I stretched out my hand.

He looked down at my hand before nodding slowly. Well that was rude...

"I'll give you two some privacy" I spoke up.

I stood up and noticed I was an inch taller than him. Looking around, I spotted Cole looking down at his phone with a smile on his face. He looked up and raised an eyebrow when he saw me making my way over.

"I left you so you could spend time with your girl"

"Well she's a bit occupied" I replied.

I wasn't mad or annoyed.

"Who's that?"

I turned towards their direction to see Maddy was standing next to Auston. She was nodding at something he was saying.

"Auston" I answered.

He hummed.

"Well Auston's hand better not go any lower or else I will punch him"

Maddy moved Auston's hand away from her waist and stepped back. I chuckled as she crossed her arms and said something to him.

"She's got it under control" I said."

He patted my back.

"I hate how trusting you are"

I shrugged.

"If I were a jealous idiot, I'd be Auston" I explained.

"So he's the guy before you?"

I smiled and looked at him.

"I wouldn't call him the guy before me" I admitted.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing ever happened, just a kiss" I told him.

Cole hummed.

"What idiot let's a girl like Maddy slip for his grasp?"

"That would be him" I confirmed.

"That guy looks like a total bro"

He had a bandana wrapped around his head, and was wearing no shirt.

"Is he...flexing?"

I nodded.

"He looks familiar"

"That's Auston Matthews" I explained.

"So you're telling me that Maddy had a thing with Auston Matthews?"

"Yup" I answered.

"You're being the bigger person, so let's go for a walk"

I had nothing to be worried about....right?