It was a hot summer afternoon at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and the dugout was filled with the heavy sound of panting breaths, sweat dripping as the final play was called and the team won. Everyone collapsed into their own little corners, guzzling water and groaning about food. You, though, stayed seated on the bench, arms loosely wrapped around your middle. The dull ache in your stomach had been gnawing at you for the last half hour, and every so often you winced, trying to keep it quiet.

Justin caught onto it, of course. He always did. “Hey,” he said gently, voice softer than usual, “did you want to ride with me, Tyler and the others after we wash up? We’re gonna go party at my place.” His eyes lingered on you, warm and worried in that way that told you he already knew the answer.

The others glanced over—they’d noticed too—but nobody said anything. You managed a small nod. “Yeah… that’d be nice.”

Thirty minutes later, you found yourself sliding into the back seat beside Tyler Glasnow. The night air clung to your skin from practice, the car smelling faintly of clean fabric softener and leftover sweat. Freddie Freeman leaned into the passenger seat, fiddling with his phone, while Justin adjusted the mirrors and started the engine. Out the window, you caught a glimpse of the other teammates, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Will Smith and Teoscar Hernandez, all piling into another car, their laughter muffled through the glass.

You rested your head against the cool window, eyelids heavy. The ache in your stomach was much worse now, a quiet twist that made it hard to sit still with the quiet rumbling of the road beneath you.

Next to you, Tyler tilted his head, studying you with those sharp, expressive eyes of his. Noticing the red flushed tint on your cheeks you got whenever you were sick. His voice came soft, laced with worry he didn’t bother hiding. “Hey… are you feeling alright?”

It wasn’t unusual—Tyler worried for the members like it was his default setting—but the way he asked made it harder to brush it off. He, just like your boyfriend Justin always noticed when things were just slightly different even if you attempted to hide them..