Off the Hook

by Dania Voss

  Darren folded his paper and regarded Luke seriously. Luke squeezed her hand. She wondered if Darren was upset with them after all and was waiting for the right moment to yell at them.

  “Son, I need your best on the field today. We’ll make decisions based on what we see from you,” Darren informed Luke.

  Butterflies raced around in Abbey’s stomach. This was it. Career make or break time for Luke. It was both scary and exciting.

  “You’ve always had my best. Since Little League. You know that,” Luke assured his uncle.

  Darren smiled warmly at his nephew, showing off the Stryker family dimples. “And this is truly what you want? A real major league baseball career, taking it to the next level. And then after you retire from baseball, you inherit the entire organization, including the real estate holding company. The family legacy. Your legacy.”

  Oh my God. She couldn’t imagine what Luke must be thinking or feeling. Her heart raced two hundred miles an hour. So much pressure and he was only twenty years old. He squeezed her hand assuredly and rubbed his thumb along the top, sending shivers up and down her spine. Luke seemed as calm as could be.

  “Yes, sir,” Luke replied without hesitation.

  Pride shone on Darren’s face as he nodded. “All right. Let’s make it happen.”

  Twenty minutes later, Abbey sat right behind home plate, vibrating with excitement. Darren and Luke had given her a quick tour of the stadium. They had modernized the facility with new seating, restrooms, outdoor lighting, and the works. At capacity it held forty thousand fans, not including the VIP box seats.

  It was a lovely late June morning. The sun was out, the grass was freshly cut, the birds were chirping, and there was a light breeze coming off Lake Michigan. She’d been given a Cobras cap and jacket to wear. Darren had left her alone for a few minutes while he took care of some business.

  Some creepy guy with a briefcase, a bad comb-over, and Cobras jersey that was too tight took a seat near her. “Who the hell are you?” he barked out.

  Abbey stiffened. Where was Darren? She had a bad feeling about this guy. “I’m Abbey. I’m Luke’s woman,” she replied, owning it.

  The creep’s mouth fell open, and his face turned beet red. “You’re shitting me. Did you fuck him? You better have used a fucking rubber. Christ, this is all we need. We don’t have time for this shit. Fuck!” He dug around in his briefcase and produced some kind of document and shoved it at her along with a pen. “Sign this NDA.”

  What was wrong this guy? And who was he? Abbey looked down at the paperwork, unsure of what to do. Non-disclosure Agreement was clearly indicated at the top.

  “It means when it comes to Luke or anything to do with the Cobras organization you keep your fucking mouth shut. Got it?” the creep said.

  “Don’t sign that, Abbey. What the hell is wrong with you, Earl?” Darren asked, appearing suddenly in the row behind her with another man wearing Cobras’ gear.

  Abbey shoved the paperwork back at Earl, relieved Darren was back. She trusted this Earl guy as far as she could throw him.

  “I’m doing my job, Darren. That’s what you pay me for,” Earl, the creep answered back, shoving the NDA back in his briefcase and slamming it shut.

  Darren and who she believed was the Cobras’ team manager sat down behind her. “Abbey dear, don’t sign anything related to Luke or the team unless Luke or I are with you. Understand?”

  Abbey nodded. She understood completely. Earl the creep couldn’t be trusted.

  “We’re letting Luke practice a bit. Then we’re playing an entire game, with Luke pitching. We brought in some recently retired players and our best from the Windy City Rattlers in Vegas,” Darren explained.

  Abbey nodded and moved so she sat beside Darren. He winked, his bright blue eyes sparkling, so similar to Luke’s. He’d suffered such a loss, losing his parents when he was ten, but he was also lucky to have his uncle.

  She was breathless with excitement as the players took to the field. She grabbed Darren’s hand, and he squeezed, not seeming to mind. Suddenly AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” began to play as Luke strutted onto the field, looking gorgeous in his Cobras’ uniform. Like a star. He took her breath away.

  From Luke’s confused expression, he wasn’t sure what to make of it at first, but when his face broke out into a huge smile, Abbey jumped up from her seat and waved. Luke waved back and flexed his bicep. She giggled and shook her head.

  “We don’t have time for this shit, Darren. What’s with ‘Thunderstruck’? Not that I mind. It’s a great idea, actually,” Earl conceded.

  “Shut up, Earl. Luke’s girl is here. Give him a break. Giving Luke an intro song was Abbey’s idea,” the team manager replied smugly.

  Earl grunted. Screw him and his crappy attitude. Abbey sat back down, and Luke and the team got down to business. Two people were in place to monitor and record Luke’s pitching speed.

  She was fascinated. Few people were privy to a behind the scenes glimpse of the making of a baseball star. And she had no doubt that’s what she was witnessing today. Luke was going to be a star. Her man would take baseball by storm.

  Abbey watched, glued to her seat as Luke took advice from his coach during practice. When their practice game began, he struck out the first two batters immediately, their bats not even coming close to touching the ball. It was amazing to watch.

  “You’ve been coddling that boy, Darren. He should have been bumped up from middle reliever last year. He’s got one of the best and fastest arms in the MLB, for fuck’s sake,” Earl whined.

  “Earl, don’t make me tell you again to shut up. The stadium has nearly forty thousand empty seats.”

  Earl raised a hand in surrender and shut the hell up. Thank God.

  “I’m sorry, Abbey. Earl Jepson is one of the best sports agents in the country. His personality leaves a lot to be desired, I know. And trust me, if needed, he can be replaced,” Darren whispered in her ear.

  She smiled. That was good to know. She didn’t trust Earl. There was something about him that struck her the wrong way. He wasn’t trustworthy. She felt it in her gut, but she trusted Darren to do right by Luke’s management and representation.

  Abbey sat beside Darren and watched on, thrilled, as Luke pitched an entire game himself. A “test” that would determine his future with the Cobras. She was so nervous for him, but from what she could tell, he pitched one hell of a game.

  Several hours later she sat with all of them at Chicago Cut Steakhouse on LaSalle for dinner. She’d never been to such a fancy or expensive restaurant before. The dining room was huge with high ceilings and large windows overlooking the Chicago River. It was fun, lively, and loud.

  Abbey enjoyed her perfectly cooked marinated skirt steak and lobster mac and cheese. She stayed silent and listened intently as the men around the table discussed Luke’s future with the Cobras.

  “I think I could have pitched a no hitter today,” Luke stated calmly at the table.

  Earl Jepson grunted as he stuffed his face with the most expensive thing on the menu, a double cut porterhouse steak. He was such a disgusting pig, Abbey thought.

  “We know, Luke,” Jesse Richards, the Cobras’ team manager, said. “We wanted to see how you’d perform through a more typical game. How’s your arm feeling? Are you tired?”

  Luke shrugged. “It feels pretty good. I’m not that tired. What do my stats show?”

  “Not much change in speed from the first inning to the ninth. You did really well out there today, Luke,” Jesse replied.

  Abbey hadn’t sensed too much difference. Luke had been like a machine. He’d pitched an amazing game.

  “Here’s what I propose. We move you up from middle reliever to starter, at the already agreed upon salary. I decide how to use you when we get to the playoffs and the World Series. I believe you’ll help us get there,” Jesse offered.

  Abbey held her breath. She was thrilled for Luke. It was his dream come true. Luke wasn’t smiling though.
Why wasn’t he excited? Luke reached for her hand under the table. She squeezed it, offering her support.

  “Finally,” Earl exclaimed. “And I’ve got the endorsement deals all lined up and ready to go.”

  “Calm down, Earl. I decide which endorsement deals I’ll accept, not you. Got it?” Luke said, low and composed.

  Earl’s mouth fell open, and he looked stunned for a second. Abbey almost laughed. Good for Luke.

  Earl regrouped and nodded. “Of course, Luke. Whatever you decide.”

  “Thank you for the opportunity. I won’t let you or the team down,” Luke said confidently and finally smiled, showing off his dimples.

  Everyone at the table murmured with excitement. Luke leaned over and brushed his lips against hers, and her body immediately warmed up. She felt her nipples pebble. Her face warmed, and she suppressed a giggle. The middle of a busy restaurant was not the place to get turned on.

  She took a quick sip of ice water to cool down. “I’m so proud of you, Luke.”

  “Thanks, princess. So, when do classes start at U of I in the fall?” he asked.

  Thrown off by the sudden of change of topic, Abbey hesitated for a second. “Oh … Wednesday, August twenty-second, why?”

  “I have to leave for Arizona tomorrow. Would you like to come out on the road with me? I’ll have you back in time before classes start. I promise. What do you say?”

  ****

  Luke washed his hands in the restaurant’s men’s room with a smile on his face. It was all coming together. All of his hard work was finally starting to pay off. His only regret was not being able to share it with his parents and grandfather.

  He dried his hands, thinking back to the stunned expression on Abbey’s face when he’d asked her to join him on the road. It was a huge ask, but one he hoped she’d agree to. With Abbey by his side, Luke was confident he could transition into his new position on the team with ease. His main concern was her mother’s reaction. She’d be a tough sell.

  Luke was just about to rejoin Abbey at their table when Earl came barreling into the men’s room. Luke sighed, preferring Abbey’s company to his agent’s. There were times when he wished he and his Uncle Darren had chosen Glenn Milner’s agency instead of Earl’s. Earl’s personality was a lot to take at times, even though his agency’s representation was exceptional. The Milner Agency was just as good if Luke needed to make a change at some point.

  “Luke, I’m glad I caught you. I wanted to talk to you alone for a minute,” Earl said as a few diners exited the men’s room.

  “What is it? I want to get back to Abbey.” Luke replied. They needed to get back to Abbey’s house, smooth things over with her folks, and get her packed for the road.

  Earl sighed and shook his head. “About Abbey. You should reconsider taking her out on the road with you. She’s going to drag you down, Luke.”

  Luke gasped. His muscles tightened, and his head drew back stiffly. “What are you talking about? Of course she should come with me. She’s my woman. She won’t drag me down. Just the opposite.” Earl was pushing it, butting his nose in Luke’s personal business.

  “Listen to me. I know what I’m talking about.” Earl stepped up a bit closer, but Luke stepped back, needing distance between them. “She’ll be in the way.”

  “No, she won’t. A lot of the other guys bring their girlfriends or their wives and kids on the road with them. Back off, Earl. If Abbey agrees, she’s coming along until she starts classes in the fall. It’s not your decision to make, it’s mine.” Luke made to leave the men’s room, but Earl grabbed his arm. Luke yanked him off, his stomach tied up in knots.

  “You’ve got to trust me on this. It’s what you pay me for. You’re a young, good-looking guy. Your career is about to take off. You’ve got your pick of lucrative endorsement deals because of me. You can fuck women from models, to actresses, pop stars, and other professional athletes. Play the field.” Earl laughed as if he’d just made the funniest joke in the world.

  “No way. Abbey’s the one for me. Discussion over.” Luke really hated Earl sometimes. He could be such a pig. Abbey was so much more than just “a fuck”. He cared about her.

  Earl’s face reddened, and his nostrils flared. “Listen to me, you spoiled little shit. I didn’t work this hard to have you throw it all away over some groupie—”

  Luke shoved Earl, his anger boiling over. “No. You listen to me, asshole. I’ve worked damned hard to get where I am, and you fucking know it. I’m the talent, and you work for me, not the other way around. I should fire you right now.”

  Earl’s eyes widened at the threat, the greedy prick he was. He raised his hands in surrender. “All right, all right. No need to be hasty, Luke.”

  Luke’s heart raced, and his breath caught. “I don’t want to hear another word about Abbey, and I expect you to treat her with the respect she deserves or I’m finished with you.”

  Chapter Six

  Panic jabbed hard at Abbey’s stomach as she, Luke, and Darren drove back to her parents’ house. Sweat trickled down her neck and beaded up along her spine.

  On the one hand she was excited to join Luke on the road with the Cobras. She’d decided she was going to go. She was a legal adult, and her parents couldn’t stop her. But on the other hand, she knew her parents, especially her mother, would freak out. It was going to be an epic argument she wasn’t looking forward to.

  She clung to Luke’s hand for dear life as their limo made its way through Elmhurst. “Earl wasn’t exactly jumping for joy at the idea of me coming along for a couple of months until classes start. I won’t get in the way. I promise”

  “Don’t worry about Earl, dear. Many wives and girlfriends join the players,” Darren assured her.

  Abbey figured that. Why did Earl have to be such a jerk?

  “Don’t worry, we’ll smooth things over with your folks. And you’ll have a great time on the road. We’ll fly first class and stay in nice hotels,” Luke promised.

  “I don’t care about the money, you know that. I just care about being with you,” Abbey said, trying to make him understand. It was all surreal. She could only imagine how much it would cost to fly her around the country first class for nearly two months and put her up in luxury hotels for away games.

  Luke gave her a soft, quick kiss just as they pulled into her driveway. Her stomach twisted in knots. She grew lightheaded and thought she might pass out from the anxiety she was feeling.

  Her parents and Cassie were just starting dessert when she, Luke, and Darren stepped into the kitchen. Abbey saw they were having her mother’s homemade red velvet cake, a family favorite.

  After introductions were made and everyone sat around the table with a generous slice, Abbey felt compelled to get the ball rolling. “Luke was moved up from middle reliever to starter today.”

  Her mother appeared confused, not knowing anything about baseball. “Hon, that means Luke went from pitching a couple innings per game to five to seven, possibly an entire game, depending. It’s a big deal,” her father explained to her mother.

  Abbey felt like a heel when her mother smiled at Luke. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations, Luke.”

  “Thank you. I leave for Arizona tomorrow. It’s my turn in the rotation. I’ve asked Abbey to join me on the road until she starts classes in the fall,” Luke said to her mother.

  Cassie squeaked. Her father shook his head slightly, shooting her a knowing glance. Her mother threw her hands up in frustration.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. Absolutely not.” She turned to her father and glared at him. “Well, don’t you have something to say? Abbey’s worked so hard all of her life. She got into U of I. She’s less than two months away. To throw it all away, just like that?”

  “No one’s throwing anything away. Calm down,” her father replied in a soothing voice.

  “Yeah, Mom. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. No one said anything about Abbey not starting at U of I in the fall,” Cassie added.

/>   “Oh, that’s just bullshit, and you know it. If I let her go on the road, she won’t start college in the fall,” her mother spat out.

  Abbey’s temper was simmering just below the surface. Her mother was pushing it. “Going with Luke is my decision, not yours, Mom.”

  Her mother gasped. “After everything your father and I have done for you, you ungrateful little…”

  ****

  Abbey’s mother was being unreasonable. It’s not like Luke was kidnapping her for two months. There would be home games they would be back for before Abbey started school. Heat burned his cheeks, and anger spiraled from the pit of his stomach.

  “Mrs. Jayne, I know how important Abbey’s education is. College is important to me, too. I’m attending Walden online. I’m a Business major. Then I’ll continue on to earn my MBA. I promise you, I won’t stand in the way of her starting classes in the fall.” God, he hoped he could get through to her. Make her understand he wasn’t the enemy.

  “She’s worked so hard, Luke. You can understand why I’m worried, can’t you?” Abbey’s mother asked him. Luke understood her concern, but Mrs. Jayne didn’t know him well enough to know he’d never do anything to hurt her daughter.

  “I do understand. Completely. But having Abbey with me today made a difference. And having her with me for this transition would mean so much to me.” Luke hoped like hell Mrs. Jayne understood him. He needed Abbey with him for the next several weeks.

  “This would be one last amazing adventure until I have to buckle down when classes start in the fall. And I will start in the fall. Don’t you understand?” Abbey pleaded with her mother.

  Abbey’s mother sighed. “Marrying your father. Raising you girls. That’s been my adventure.”

  Luke’s eyes stung. “That’s beautiful, Mrs. Jayne.”