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  Hero let out a short howl. Ben looked at Noah, who gave him an encouraging nod. Ben’s parents were teary. Ben had to look away from them so he didn’t lose it.

  “Jack,” Ben said, “I really want you to have Scout. I know he can’t replace Holly, but he’s pretty great.”

  Jack’s mouth fell open. “Really?” He gasped. “I’m sorry that I was so mean to you before, but I think maybe I do just need a new friend. Thank you.”

  Ben nodded. “I already talked to your mom about it. She’s totally cool with it.”

  Ben’s mom let out a little surprised “Oh my!” His dad smiled broadly.

  Erin squealed, “You can’t give my puppy to someone else, Benny!”

  “No—it’s okay, Erin. We’ll still get to visit him, okay?”

  Erin burst into tears. “Okay,” she choked out between sobs. Ben’s dad picked her up and comforted her.

  “Wow—I don’t even know what to—I mean—wow . . .” Jack stammered. “Thank you, thank you, Ben!” Jack summoned Scout over. The puppy ran right up to him. Jack picked Scout up, and immediately the puppy started to lick Jack’s nose, ears, and cheeks.

  “I think Scout is happy about it,” Ben said.

  Ben was enveloped in a massive hug by his parents and Erin. The group broke apart at the sound of barking and whining. Hero and Scout wedged their way into the center of the huddle, tails wagging.

  “Come on in, guys,” Ben said, laughing. He dropped to his knees on the kitchen floor. Scout hopped up on his lap, and Hero nuzzled Ben with his snout.

  “We’re going to miss you, Scout,” Ben said, holding the pup’s face in his hands. Scout licked Ben’s nose. “Thanks for everything, pal.”

  Ben put his arms around the dogs. He had never felt so sure of anything before.

  27

  BEN NARROWED HIS EYES AND FOCUSED on the ball. He pushed away everything else—the cheering and clapping, the sound of his parents shouting his name, Hero’s excited barking, Scout’s sharp yapping. Ben breathed in, out, in, out. It was just him, the pitcher, and the ball. Ben’s hands were relaxed on the bat as he held it high behind his head. He bobbed up and down on his knees, readying his muscles to run to first base . . . or even farther.

  And then, it all happened at once, in a fluid sequence of events that seemed like a perfectly coordinated dance: The ball left the pitcher’s hand, Ben released his swing, the bat let out a deep, rich crack as it connected with the ball, Ben dropped the bat and launched himself toward first base, then second as he watched the ball sail toward center field and heard it land in the grass.

  He stopped at second base and looked toward the bleachers. His mom and dad hooted and hollered. Erin jumped up and down on the bench, holding Hero’s leash in her small hand. Hero, who had a new bandage on his leg, woofed a couple of times and wagged his tail. Jack’s mom was there too, holding Scout in her arms so he could see the game. Scout barked and barked until everyone around them on the benches laughed, and Jack’s mom shushed him.

  Ben shook out his arms, staying loose and ready to run. From the corners of his eyes, he took note of where every player in the infield was. He spotted Noah in the dugout, stretching. Ben turned his attention to the next play, ready to focus on the batter who stepped up to the plate. It was Jack. Ben gave him a thumbs-up, and Jack nodded back.

  The pitcher released the ball, and Jack sent it sailing far over Ben’s head, perfectly angled between the center-and left-fielders. Ben rounded the corner at third base, and headed for home plate. Once he was safe, he turned to see Jack coming around third, then heading toward him. Home run!

  Ben high-fived Jack as he pounded his foot on the base and slowed himself to a stop. Ben’s and Jack’s families were going nuts in the bleachers. As the cheering died down, Ben heard Scout howl long and loud, and Hero let out a series of happy barks.

  It’s going to be a great season, Ben thought. With Hero, Scout, Noah, and Jack on my team . . . we can do anything.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Boundless thanks to Les Morgenstein, Josh Bank, Sara Shandler, and the amazing Alloy team, and Margaret Anastas, Nicole Hoff, and everyone on the Harper sales, marketing, and publicity teams. Huge gratitude to Robin Straus, Katelyn Hales, and Gracie, as well as Virginia Wing, Kunsang Bhuti, and Stacey Silverman. Plus extra special tail wags to Hayley Wagreich, the Hero of book editors.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Anna Campanelli Photography

  JENNIFER LI SHOTZ is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Max: Best Friend. Hero. Marine., about the coolest war dog ever. Among other things, Jen has written about sugar addiction, stinky shoes, and sports-related concussions. A Los Angeles native, she graduated from Vassar and has an MFA in nonfiction from Columbia. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, where she is campaigning hard to get a rescued pup. For the occasional tweet, follow her @jenshotz.

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  CREDITS

  Cover photo © 2016 by Faba-Photography

  Cover design by Elaine C. Damasco

  COPYRIGHT

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  HERO. Copyright © 2016 by Alloy Entertainment. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

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  Produced by Alloy Entertainment

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  New York, NY 10019

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  Library of Congress Control Number: 2016949975

  EPub Edition © October 2016 ISBN 9780062560421

  ISBN 978-0-06-256039-1 (pbk.) — ISBN 978-0-06-256041-4 (trade ed.)

  ISBN 978-0-06-265221-8 (paper-over-board)

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