Out of My League, Part 3

by Sharon Cummin

  Wannabe: You sure? I don't want to intrude on your time with the kids.

  Me: If you already have plans, I get it.

  Wannabe: Never said I had plans. Well, I did, but I'm sure my frozen dinner won't mind waiting an extra day.

  Me: Why are you such a smart ass?

  Wannabe: Why do you always assume the worst? I'll be there at five. Some of us have work to do.

  Me: Oh really. You going to hang out with Sammie?

  Wannabe: Wow! You sound a little jealous. I'm actually going to the gym.

  Me: Not jealous at all. I know better. Your muscles did look a bit smaller yesterday, so the gym is probably a good idea.

  Wannabe: Hhmmm.

  Me: What?

  Wannabe: You were checking out my muscles, were you? They haven't gotten any smaller. If you want, I can show you.

  A heat ran through me, as I read his words, and I knew if I looked in the mirror, my cheeks would have been red.

  Me: I was not checking out your muscles.

  Wannabe: So just one then?

  Me: Parker.

  Wannabe: Calling my name already.

  I didn't reply right away. I wasn't sure how to. Just the thought of his name on my lips had my thighs clenching. Before I could even pull my thoughts together, he'd sent another message.

  Wannabe: Sorry! Friends don't say shit like that, do they? I'll see you at five. Goodbye, Cassie.

  I read his words over and over, and each time, the tug in my chest got a little stronger. What did he mean, I wondered? Was he reminding me that we were friends, or was he reminding himself?

  “Mommy,” I heard coming from down the hall.

  I quickly put my phone down and went to check on the kids.

  We had breakfast, watched cartoons, and played with their new toys. When I got up from the floor to make lunch, I let out a laugh. The whole floor was a mess of blocks and cars. I remembered standing in Sammie's living room not long after I'd gotten there, not believing the mess she let the kids make.

  “I really have changed,” I whispered to myself.

  Jeff would have been pissed if he'd seen a mess like that on his floors. They always were his floors, weren't they, I wondered? Even though we'd picked the house out together, it was his.

  I stood and watched the kids play for a few minutes. Then I turned and walked toward the kitchen with a smile on my face.

  Before I knew it, lunch was over, I'd done the dishes, we'd played some more, and it was time to make dinner.

  I was up to my elbows in mess when I heard the knock on the door.

  “I'll get it,” Jenny yelled, as she got to her feet.

  “Mommy will get it,” I said, as I wiped my hands and walked through the living room, still not positive that Jeff wouldn't do something else to hurt me.

  As I opened the door, I thought about Jeff. Was he really done? Was everything really going to work out? Was he just pretending? Was he going to come out of nowhere and ruin everything?

  “You okay?” I heard Parker's voice, and right away felt my body relax.

  “Yeah,” I said. “come in.”

  “Parker,” Jenny yelled out, as she walked around me and hugged his waist. “Come watch the show with us.”

  “I'll be in the kitchen,” I said, as I shut the door and walked away. “In the kitchen. That's pretty funny.”

  Parker smiled before walking toward the couch with Jenny.

  “It's got to be better than a frozen dinner, right?” he asked.

  “I'm not so sure,” I said, as I got back to work.

  The food was ready, and I was hoping with everything I had that it wasn't going to be awful. I got the kids ready around the table. Then I put Parker's plate in front of him. He looked up at me with a smile but didn't say anything.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” he answered.

  I fed Jake, as I watched Jenny, Jeff, and Parker for their reactions.

  “This is good,” Jenny said.

  “Good,” Jeff said, as he looked up with a smile, before shoving another piece of steak into his mouth.

  “It is,” Parker said. “Definitely better than a frozen meal.”

  “Thanks, I think,” I said, as I went between feeding Jake his baby food and taking bites of my own.

  Everyone ate quietly for the most part. Jenny did ask Parker about baseball a few times. I honestly wasn't sure if she really liked the game or if she just liked being a part of something everyone else liked. He was really good about answering each question she had. He really was good at teaching people. The man had a lot of patience.

  When Parker was done eating, he turned Jake toward him, took his food from me, and started feeding him. I was enjoying my steak so much that I didn't argue one bit. I'd actually made a good meal.

  Jenny was up the second her food was gone, and Jeff was right there with her.

  “Can we have dessert?” she asked.

  “I'll get it,” Parker said, with a huge smile on his face, as he set Jake's bowl down and stood up. “How about some ice cream.”

  He walked toward the freezer, and I heard him before he opened the door.

  “You're going to love these,” he said.

  I set my fork on my plate, stood, and turned around toward the three of them. He opened the freezer, grabbed the character shaped ice creams, opened the box, and handed one to each of them. Jenny ran by me to the table, and Jeff followed behind her. Parker put the box back and closed the freezer door. When he took one step toward me, he stopped.

  “What's wrong?” he asked, with a worried look on his face.

  I didn't answer him. I was still processing what I'd just heard.

  “Cassie,” he said. “What happened?”

  “It was you,” I said, as I walked toward him. “You were the one that sent them.”

  “What?” he asked.

  “The groceries,” I said. “It was you.”

  “I hope you're not mad,” he said, as he took a few steps toward me. “They're too young for the college life.”

  “I can't believe you did this,” I said.

  “Before you say anything,” he said, “I saw how stressed you were that you didn't have food.”

  I took the last step. Then I reached up, wrapped my arms around his neck, and hugged him as tight as I could.

  “Cassie,” he said. “Are you okay?”

  “I'm not sure,” I answered him honestly. “I was so worried about breakfast and shopping. When that knock came and I'd seen what someone had done for me, I was so damn thankful. You shouldn't have. I've already taken up so much of your time. You're going to be so busy, but you took the time to do that for me, for us.”

  “Cassie,” he said, as he pulled back from my hug.

  His hands went to my arms, and his eyes had so much concern in them. I was freaking him out, I thought. Oh shit! I was scaring him. I had to do something. I didn't want him to think I was some clingy nut.

  “I know what you're going to say, and you're right,” I said, as I cut him off, before he could continue and speak the words himself. “That's what friends do.”

  I took a step back to give him his space.

  “You will never know how much that meant to me, what that did for me,” I said. “Thank you!”

  He walked back to the table and sat down.

  “I was just trying to help,” he said.

  Then he picked up Jake's bowl and went back to feeding him. I sat down at the table and went back to eating too. There was no way I wanted to scare him away. I was really starting to like him being there, and I wasn't about to do anything to ruin it, especially not tell him how I really felt.

  Chapter 19

  Cassie

  The next few weeks went by in a blur. Parker was with the team almost every day. I saw him at Sammie's once, and he came by for dinner once as well. The kids really missed him, and he said he missed them too. We text back and forth for a few minutes each day, but I could tell he was tired, so I t
ried to leave him alone as much as I could. He said he'd always be there, but I knew it wasn't true, so I was trying my best not to get into the habit of sending every thought I had his way.

  We watched the first game on television, and I actually paid attention, which was a first for me. When the game was over, it was late, so I got the kids ready and tucked them into bed. Then I grabbed my phone, made sure everything in the apartment was off, and got into my own bed. I'd just turned my light off and covered up when I heard my phone ding. I figured it was Sammie. She'd gone to the game and would probably have just gotten home. When I picked the phone up and checked the message, I was surprised to see that it was Parker.

  Wannabe: We won, but I'm sure that's no surprise since I'm on the team.

  I couldn't help but burst into laughter at his words. He was so damn full of himself, or was it pride? He was definitely proud.

  Me: Can that big head of yours still fit through the doorway?

  Wannabe: I might have to bust out some walls, but I'll be okay.

  Where was he, I wondered? Hadn't he gone out with the guys? I wasn't about to ask. He'd just joke that I was checking up on him if I did, and I couldn't have that.

  Me: That's good to know.

  I expected him to come back with a sarcastic comment, but he didn't. Instead, he shocked me.

  Wannabe: Come to the game tomorrow.

  I read it twice to make sure I'd read the few words correctly.

  Me: What?

  Wannabe: Sammie and James were there. Lance and Lucy were too. They always come, and they sit with the players' families.

  Me: Yeah.

  Wannabe: I want you and the kids to come to the next game. They would love it, and sitting with the families is so much better than being in the stands.

  Me: What about the baby?

  Wannabe: Jake can come too. Sammie brings the baby with her. Jenny and Jeff would have Jillian there too.

  Me: I could just sit in the stands.

  Wannabe: Absolutely not. I've never had anyone there. My ex won't let the kids go. It would be nice to look up there and actually see someone there for me too.

  I read his message twice, and it warmed my heart and broke it at the same time. He'd want us there for him. That felt so damn good. Had he really never had anyone there for him? What about when he was married? He'd done so much for me, more than anyone ever had in my life, not counting my brother of course. Could I really tell him no to something so small? I couldn't do it. I had to go. I just wasn't sure how James and Lance were going to react when we showed up.

  Me: Okay.

  Wannabe: Really? I thought you hated the game.

  Me: It's kind of growing on me. Goodnight, wannabe.

  There was no way I wanted a response on that one.

  Wannabe: Goodnight, princess.

  I went to work the next day. James wasn't there, and I was thrilled. There was no way I wanted to see him before the game. If I did, I'd feel bad for not telling him, and I didn't want to deal with that.

  I picked the kids up from daycare and headed to the game. Jenny and Jeff were both so excited. We didn't have jerseys or even t-shirts with the team name on them, so I was a little nervous about sitting in the family section. I didn't have the extra money, and I wouldn't use James' card for something like that, so I was hoping it would be okay. We were escorted up by one of the staff, and when the guy opened the door, I felt sick to my stomach. James and Lance were just inside the door talking to a woman, and beyond them, I could see Sammie, Lucy, and the kids. Lance didn't stop talking, but his eyes shifted to me. When I walked by, his eyes followed me. I walked up to Sammie, and her eyes opened wide.

  “Did they see you?” she asked, pointing back toward the guys.

  “They did,” I answered.

  “And they didn't tackle you?” she asked.

  “No,” I answered. “I'm not here to bother them. I came to watch a friend play.”

  “Oh shit!” Lucy mumbled.

  “Couldn't give me a heads up?” Sammie asked.

  “What would have been the fun in that?” I asked.

  “They're going to kick his ass,” she whispered. “You didn't see them the day James found out that Parker called to tell you he was staying before he called his own parents.”

  “What?” I asked. “They were pissed about that?”

  “Yep,” she said.

  I looked back toward the guys to see Lance's eyes stuck on me.

  “Shit!” I whispered. “We're just friends.”

  “Doesn't matter,” Lucy said.

  “I can be friends with who I want,” I said sternly.

  “We'll see,” she replied.

  “Where's Parker?” Jenny asked.

  Sammie narrowed her eyes at me, and I mouthed the words just friends.

  “Hey,” Lucy said. “I heard you got a ton of surprise groceries delivered the day after you moved in. Did you find out who it was?”

  “I did,” I answered, but offered nothing more.

  “Mommy cooked steak. It was so yummy. Even Parker liked it,” Jenny said.

  “Did he?” Lucy asked.

  “Yep,” Jenny answered.

  “The games about to start,” I said. “I want the kids to see the beginning.”

  “Give Jake to me,” Lucy said. “I've seen so many damn games it isn't funny.”

  I handed Jake to her, and then I took Jenny and Jeff and walked down to sit in the front of the section we were in. The game started, and Jenny was so excited. She was watching every move the players made.

  “There's Parker, Mommy,” she yelled out. “Do you see him?”

  “I do,” I said, as he looked right up at us.

  She was waving her arms like crazy, and I could see the smile on his face grow. He tipped his hat to her, and she yelled out in delight.

  “Jenny seems pretty happy,” I heard James voice come from right behind me.

  “It's Parker,” she said, as she turned to James. “Do you see him, Uncle James?”

  “I sure do, Jenny,” he said. “Come here.”

  He picked her up high so she could see.

  “Go Parker,” she yelled out loud and proud.

  “Jenny,” Jillian said, as she appeared next to James. “Do you want to watch the game with me?”

  “Yes,” Jenny said. “Do you watch Parker too?”

  “He's my favorite,” Jillian said, when James put Jenny down.

  “Mine too,” Jenny said. “He came over for dinner.”

  “What?” James asked, as he turned to me. “Parker came over for dinner?”

  “We're friends, James,” I answered. “Yes, I made dinner and invited him over. He helped me pick out the furniture and put the kids' rooms together.”

  “And bought you groceries, I hear,” Lance said sternly, as he walked up.

  “He did,” I said. “He knew I was worried about not having anything for the kids in the morning. So, he had groceries delivered. He's a nice guy, and a good friend.”

  “Friend,” Lance laughed out.

  “Yes,” I said. “We're friends. There is nothing wrong with that, and you will not go acting all crazy about it either. I know you both gave him shit already.”

  “I did,” James snapped. “You already have enough shit to deal with. He doesn't need to add to the mix.”

  “That's not for you to decide,” I said. “He's a friend. Can I please watch the game?”

  “You came to watch him,” James let out, with a huff. “I didn't see you coming to watch me.”

  “Really?” I snapped. “That was a long damn time ago, James.”

  “I'll kill him if he hurts you,” Lance said, and I narrowed my eyes at him. “Don't give me that look, Cassie. I'm just letting you know ahead of time.”

  “He's not going to hurt me,” I said. “It's not possible. I know how it is. I know how the players are. I would never expect anything from him. Don't worry about that.”

  “Leave her alone,” Sammie snapped
from behind them. “Between the two of you, you've already told him that he's not family and that you didn't care if he was staying.”

  “Did not,” Lance snapped back.

  “Did too,” Sammie snapped.

  “Little girl,” Lance snapped.

  “Do not talk to my wife that way,” James snapped.

  “That was exactly what you said. He came to tell us he was staying, and you both treated him like shit,” Sammie said. “The poor guy needs someone in his corner. Maybe Cassie is that someone.”

  “You know what would be really funny?” I asked, knowing how to get away from that subject.

  “What?” Sammie asked.

  “If you went into labor,” I said.

  “Shut up,” I heard from Sammie, Lance, and James all at the same time.

  “That would be so funny,” Lucy said.

  “Woman,” Lance growled out.

  “Don't you woman me,” she replied. “Sit your ass down and watch the game.”

  Jake was asleep in Lucy's arms, and the other three kids were behind us playing with toys. I stood up, walked up to the railing, and watched the game. Parker looked up at me several times. I was there for him, and that was exactly where I needed to be, watching him.

  “You know Parker?” I heard an unfamiliar voice and looked over.

  “Yes,” I said. “He's a friend of mine.”

  She nodded, and a huge smile crossed her face.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” she said.

  “Seriously,” I said.

  “In all the years I've been coming, he's never once had anyone up here,” she said.

  “His parents?” I asked.

  “Nope,” she answered. “They only see him when he's in California.”

  “His kids?” I asked.

  “Ex won't let him,” she said.

  “His ex?” I asked.

  “Nope,” she answered. “They were married by the time he became a Pirate, and she always had a reason she couldn't come.”

  “Really?” I asked. “That's not very supportive.”

  “Nope,” she said. “Well, even if you are just his friend, it's nice to see someone here for him. He's a great guy.”

  By the time the game was over, I'd met a bunch of the wives, girlfriends, and families. They were all very nice, and not one of them made me feel like I didn't belong.