Madeline's POV- July 2017

I watched as Cody walked away, leaving me and Auston alone.

"Well that was rude" I noted.

He had downright ignored Cody's handshake. Being the bigger person, I accepted his hug.

"What was rude?"

"You" I replied.

His hand that was on my back, slowly began to wander and I grabbed it before it reached my butt.

"And your wandering hand" I added.

I stepped back and crossed my arms.

"I was hoping we could talk"

I nodded.

"Of course, go on" I said.

He just looked at me before adjusting his bandana.

"So Willy let it slip that you would be at the beach. I thought you would be alone though"

"I came with Cody and his little brother" I informed him.

William was going to hear it from me.

"I have to admit, I'm surprised at how fast you moved on"

I smiled.

"There was nothing to move on from" I stated.

"So what we had was nothing?"

"What exactly did we have?" I asked.

I raised an eyebrow waiting for him to tell me what he thought we had.

"We never agreed to not see other people"

"I know, which is why I don't understand why you were a grade A douche when you learned I was talking with Cody. Tell me Auston, how many girls did you talk with during that time?" I wondered.

"Its different"

"Why's that? Cause you're a guy" I said.

He tried to speak up, but I continued.

"If it bothers you so much that we can't be more than friends, let's just not be anything at all" I reasoned.

He looked at me a bit surprised.

"What?"

"Let's just leave it at that, let's just not be friends. If you're going to act the way you're acting then let's not have anything to do with each other" I explained.

I don't think he expected this, and honestly neither did I.

"You do realize you're going to live with two of my teammates. We will see each other, quite often"

I nodded.

"I know" I stated.

"I'm your best friend's little brother"

I knew that.

"When I tell Alex what happened today, who's side will she be on?" I questioned.

He stayed quiet for a few second before replying,

"Yours"

"You have a lot of growing up to do Auston. Till you do that, let's just not associate with each other" I suggested.

"If that's what you want"

He turned around and began walking away.

"It's not, but it's what you pushed it to be" I finished.

I watched as he didn't even turn to give me a second glance. If he wanted to act like a child, I would treat him like one. Yes, I would be living with two of his teammates but I made it very clear that there were no sides to pick.

"You ok?"

I turned around to see Cole standing in front of me.

"A little angry, but I'll be fine" I replied.

He nodded.

"Do I need to kick anyone's butt?"

I smiled.

"You do not" I answered.

He smiled and pulled me into a hug.

"What was that for?" I questioned.

"You looked like you needed a hug"

"Group hug!"

I laughed as Cody joined the hug.

"Why don't you two go take a stroll down the shore and I keep watch from here?"

Cody nodded.

"That sounds like a good idea"

He looked at me and smiled.

"Will you join me?"

I looked at the hand he was offering me and took it.

"Make it quick, mom said food is being made already"

We walked down to the shore and Cody turned to look at me.

"You ok?"

I squeezed his hand and nodded.

"I'll be fine" I assured him.

He smiled and put his arm around my shoulder.

"So tell me more about Manuel"

I was incredibly thankful that he chose not to question me about Auston.

"He is very excited to meet you, and will actually be at Friday's game against Miami" I stated.

"So what's there to know about him? I know he's about to start Med School, but I'm sure there's more to him"

"He used to make me Mac and Cheese before all my home games" I told him.

"How'd that tradition start?"

"His mom makes the best Mac and Cheese, and she used to mail him home made food. He'd share the food with me because our roommates always ditched us to hang out with one another. I was also the only one on our floor to have a microwave" I began saying.

"Melanie and Jonathan"

I nodded.

"We would actually swap food. I would get his mom's Mac and Cheese and in return he could get whatever snacks I had" I explained.

"That's nice, that he shared his homemade meals with you"

"When we all decided to live together that was all Manny could contribute with. He literally only knew how to make Mac and Cheese...so we worked with it. We usually ate take out or went out to eat two days of the week, but Wednesday nights were nights we'd all stay in and cook. Once the food was ready, we'd all sit together at the dining table and eat" I told him.

"Did the tradition stick?"

"The day changed around every semester, but the tradition stuck. Manny eventually learned how to cook, he embraced his Italian heritage" I replied.

We walked for a bit, before turning back to find Cole who was where we had left him.

"Ready to go?" I asked.

"Yes"

He stood up and we packed up our stuff. Once it was in the car, we were on our way. The drive home was slow considering it was the day before the Fourth of July. We made it there just in time as the food was being served though.

"I am starving" I said as I made myself a hotdog.

"Cody, introduce me to Madeline"

Oh right, I was meeting Cody's dad.

"Once she finishes making her hotdog"

I made my way over once I finished making my hotdog.

"Hi, I'm Madeline" I introduced myself because Cody was trying to stop his mom from trying to fix his hair for him.

Clay, Cody's dad smiled as he pulled me into a hug.

"It's so nice to finally meet you. Your dad and of course Cody have told me so much about you"

It was weird that our dad's knew each other.

"Are those tacos?"

I smiled as Cody ducked his mom's hand and proceeded to abandon me to go get tacos.

"I have to agree with Cody, you are a stunning young lady"

"Well, I can see where Cody get's his good lucks" I informed him.

He smiled and gave me a gentle squeeze before letting go of me..

"You and I will talk later, ok?"

I nodded.

"Go on and eat"

I excused myself and smiled at Ashli who was making herself two tacos.

"Did my brother really abandon you with my dad for tacos?"

"He did, but I'd probably do the same" I admitted.

"Sorry babe"

Cody's cheeks turned pink when he realized he had called me babe.

"It's alright, you'll make it up to me" I replied.

I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before going around him to begin making my tacos. We had yet to discuss nicknames, but I didn't mind being called babe.

"You two aren't supposed to be here" I said as both Nate and Noah caught my eye.

They both simultaneously stopped chewing and looked up at me.

"Birthday boy got sick, so they sent all of us home"

That made sense.

"Not to be incredibly straight forward Maddy, but where is your kitten?"

"He's probably in my room" I answered.

"Can I meet him?"

"Of course, after dinner though" I said.

Cole nodded and took a seat in between the boys. I sat across from them and began eating. Just as I was finishing my taco, Cody who was sitting next to me nudged me. He proceeded to lean closer to me.

"Our families seem to be getting along"

Clay and I eventually talked, he made me promise I wouldn't break his son's heart. Cody had always focused on his baseball career, and he had finally realized he needed someone to go through him with ups and downs.