Behind the Plate: A New Adult Sports Romance (The Boys of Baseball Book 2)

by J. Sterling

  Ralph wasn’t kidding, wink or not, so I wasn’t sure what the hell they both found so funny.

  “I should, um”—I thumbed toward the locker room—“I should go shower. I’ll be, like, five minutes.”

  Danika leaned up on her toes. “Why didn’t you shower in the first place?”

  “I’ll tell you later,” I whispered before kissing the top of her head. If I kissed her on the lips again, her dad might chop off my head and mount it on a wall.

  “Where’s Jacey? I saw her earlier,” I asked my mom.

  “She left with your aunt. She’s spending the night there.”

  “We have the house to ourselves?” my dad piped up, his eyebrows wagging, and there were some things I just wished I could unsee.

  “Well, I invited Ralph to stay with us.”

  “And I told her no,” Ralph interjected quickly, clearly not wanting to overstep any bounds.

  “Of course you’re staying with us! I have so much cool shit to show you,” my dad countered, suddenly excited to catch up with an old friend.

  Danika and I both cast each other a weird look.

  “Only if you’re sure it’s not an inconvenience,” Ralph pushed, and my dad insisted again until he agreed.

  “Go shower.” Danika smacked my ass, and I could have died right then and there. Her dad was definitely going to murder me.

  I heard my mom sniff the air. “You too. Why didn’t either of you shower?” she asked, and I had no idea what my dad said to her because I was already too far away.

  The sound of my dad jogging to catch up had me pause and wait.

  “Oh, man, Danika’s old man is here. You’ll like him. He’s a great guy from what I remember. Funny. Ambitious. Motivated and smart as hell.”

  “And probably going to kill me as soon as any of you turn your backs,” I mentioned matter-of-factly.

  “You really like this girl.” It was a statement, but he sounded almost wistful as he said it. “I found the love of my life my junior year too.”

  I wanted to argue, just to do it, but there was no point. We both knew I’d be lying.

  We met up with our “girls” and Ralph at the left-field fence, like usual. I felt a million times better after showering, but I was still nervous. I wanted Danika’s dad to like me. Actually, I wanted him to like me a hell of a lot more than he had ever liked Jared, if I was being honest.

  “We thought we could go to Newport, and I’d pick up some food on the way. We know how hungry you both are after a game,” my mom suggested, and my stomach growled in response. “And I thought it would be more comfortable, being home instead of at some restaurant.”

  “I like food,” I said as Danika reached for my hand and intertwined our fingers. My eyes instantly went to her father’s as he watched our interaction, his eyes zeroing in on our locked hands. I almost pulled mine away, but Danika would wonder what the hell was wrong with me.

  “Are you tired, Dad?” she asked, her concern for him sweet. “I just meant because of the time difference.”

  “I’m a bit wiped, yeah. But I think Jack and I are hanging out tonight, so I’ll rally,” he said, and Danika laughed.

  “You’ll rally?” she teased, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her out of my grip. “Did you rent a car?”

  “No. I can’t imagine trying to drive out here,” Ralph said, and I remembered that most New Yorkers didn’t drive at all if they could avoid it. That was what happened when you had a functioning and well-planned-out public transportation system, unlike whatever we called ours in Southern California.

  “We can give you a ride,” I offered, wanting to be polite but secretly hoping he’d want to ride with my parents instead.

  “No way. Ralph’s coming with me,” my dad interjected. I shot him a grateful look, and he gave me a quick head nod. “We’ll see you all at home.”

  I looked at Danika and reached for her hand again. “Guess that settles that,” I said, and she smiled.

  “I can’t believe my dad’s here.”

  We reached the Beast, and I pulled open her door for her and helped her inside.

  Hopping into the driver’s seat, I clicked my seat belt and started the engine before leaning over and taking my girl’s mouth with mine. It had been way too long since I’d kissed her. Her fingers dug into the back of my neck, holding me tight as our tongues touched, and I got way too turned on. This girl had changed my whole world.

  Pulling away slowly, I asked, “Did you know your dad was coming out?”

  “No. Not at all. He just showed up at your game!” She sounded so excited and happy. “I think after our conversation about the company and what I wanted to do with it, he realized how serious we were,” she said before snapping her lips closed.

  “Go on,” I urged as I put my truck in drive. “We are serious, Danika. I’ve always told you that. This was never a fling or a one-night stand. I warned you from the beginning.”

  She grinned again, her cheeks flushing with her emotions. “I think he just wanted to meet you …” She paused and added, “Or he wanted to hang out with your dad.”

  I laughed. Personally, I thought he wanted to hang out with my dad and potentially murder me for taking away his only baby girl. We drove on the freeway with the radio playing in the background, and before I knew it, I was exiting and almost home.

  Stopping at a red light, I leaned toward Danika and pressed my forehead against hers. “I love you,” I said, certain that I’d never get tired of telling her that or hearing it in return.

  Her face broke out into a huge smile as she closed her eyes for a moment before reopening them. “I love you too.”

  “What was that?”

  “The eyes thing?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Just making sure this wasn’t a dream and that you were real,” she said, and I laughed.

  “I feel the same way about you, baby,” I said as the light turned green.

  “You know, Chance, just for the record, I don’t care about baseball,” she said, and I almost slammed on the brakes as I shot her a questionable look. “I just meant that baseball isn’t why I like you. I like who you are as a person and the kind of guy you are. The way you treat me and make me feel. The baseball stuff is just a bonus but only because it makes you so happy and you’re so passionate about it. But if you never played another game again, I’d still want you just the same.”

  I glanced over my shoulder to check for oncoming traffic before pulling my truck to the side of the road and turning on the hazard lights. Placing the car in park, I initiated the emergency brake and sat there, staring straight ahead. I’d never expected to hear something like that from Danika. Mostly because I hadn’t thought I needed it. I’d never once thought that she liked me for the wrong reasons, but having her say it out loud had me overcome with emotion.

  Swallowing hard, I blew out a few quick breaths and focused on maintaining my cool instead of completely breaking down.

  “Are you okay? Did I say something wrong?” she asked, suddenly concerned, her hand on my shoulder. “I meant all that in a good way.” She sounded so nervous, as if she’d messed us up somehow when it was the furthest thing from the truth.

  I couldn’t look at her. Not yet. I was going to fucking lose it if I did, and I really did not want to cry in front of my girl. Hell, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d cried at all, but I wasn’t about to do it now.

  “Chance? Look at me,” she pleaded, and I put a finger in the air, asking her to give me a minute.

  I’d had no idea that someone like her existed or that I would ever find her. A female who honestly didn’t care if I played baseball or not. She loved me for who I was, not what I could be or what I could offer her.

  “I never thought I’d find someone like you,” I said as I finally worked up the courage to look at her without bawling. “I really thought I’d be alone forever. I mean, I hoped that maybe I’d find a girl someday, but I never knew how it would happen. I
t just didn’t seem possible. She’d always want Chance Carter, the baseball player, and never just Chance Carter, the guy.” I reached out and cupped her cheek in my hand. “Then, I met you. And you changed everything. You made me feel something I’d never felt before, and at first, I hated myself for it because you weren’t mine to want. You weren’t mine to have, and it tore me up inside.”

  Her eyes started to water, and mine did the same.

  “Girls always say they have walls that guys need to climb, but I had armor. And you cracked it the first day I met you, and you’ve been slicing through it ever since.”

  She started crying and didn’t even try to stop, and I felt my own tears start to fall before quickly wiping them away. I remembered what Cole had said when he came over that day, about having a partner and feeling really alone if Christina hadn’t been there to experience it all with him. I couldn’t have understood what he was saying at the time, but I felt like I completely understood it now.

  “This thing between us isn’t temporary, baby.”

  “I know it’s not,” she said as she wiped away her tears, and my heart expanded, just hearing her say those words.

  “Can we go to my parents’ now? I’m starving.” I tried to lighten the mood, and it worked.

  Danika giggled and leaned over to kiss me and tell me she loved me. Then, I pulled back onto the road and headed toward home.

  When we pulled into my parents’ driveway, my dad’s car was already in the garage, but my mom’s wasn’t, so I parked my truck so that my mom would have enough room to get in. I unclicked my seat belt and leaned toward my girl once more, giving her another kiss before we went inside and I’d be too scared to make out with her in front of her dad.

  “Is there anything I should know?” I asked, throwing her own question back at her from when we’d visited my parents for the first time together.

  She smiled in recognition. “Nah. My dad’s a softy. Even if he pretends to be super tough, it’s all an act.”

  “That doesn’t really help,” I complained, and she grabbed my hand and pulled me toward my own front door like she was the one who had grown up there and not me.

  We walked through the front door to the sounds of yelling and laughter coming from somewhere in the house.

  “Oh my God. I think they’re in the pool.” I looked at Danika, and she shook her head like there was no way that was possible.

  “Not a chance. My dad is not in the pool with yours.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen my dad swim before?” she said it like a question before continuing, “Whenever we go to the Hamptons, he always lounges around the pool but never gets in it. And my memories of swimming as a kid were always with my mom.”

  “Okay. Maybe they’re in my dad’s office,” I suggested with a shrug. “Also known as his sports memorabilia room.”

  “That’s more likely,” she agreed as the front door swung open behind us, and we turned to see my mom struggling with a handful of bags.

  “Help,” she said, and we raced to her and took some of the bags from her hands.

  “Is this all food?” I asked, wondering if she’d invited fifty other people over without telling us.

  “I wanted Ralph to try real Mexican. I might have gone a little overboard,” she explained, but I understood completely.

  Mexican food tasted different depending on which state you were in. And there was nothing that tasted like California’s. It was the best, hands down, no matter what anyone else tried to say or sell you.

  “I’ll take some home to Mac. He’ll be so happy,” I offered, and my mom’s expression turned pouty.

  “We should have invited him over. You’re always leaving Mac out. Poor Mac,” she said.

  I shook my head. “Do not feel sorry for him. He’s probably making out with some girl as we speak,” I said, and Danika busted out laughing.

  “It’s true. He probably is,” she said, having my back, and my mom quieted as we all started pulling the containers of food out of the bags and setting them on the counter.

  She truly had gone overboard, but I wasn’t complaining. That just meant leftovers, and I was all about that.

  “Boys,” she shouted.

  I looked at her, half-expecting my cousin, Coby, to come running in. That was what she always said for the two of us, but now, she meant my dad and Danika’s.

  “Boys?” I teased.

  “What was I supposed to say? I don’t know. It was just easier. Leave me alone.” She pulled out plates from the cupboard and set them down near the plethora of food.

  Ralph and my dad came in, both of them sniffing the air.

  “Mexican? You got me Mexican?” My dad reached for my mom and spun her around, kissing her neck and hair.

  “I got it for Ralph,” she teased before giving Ralph a sweet look, and my dad cocked his head back in mock defense.

  “I might send you home with the kids,” he said, and I almost started coughing.

  The food was amazing, and Ralph commented on how they didn’t have Mexican food like this in New York.

  We all shouted, “I know,” in unison, and his accent grew so thick in response that it made me laugh.

  I looked around at our blended family and couldn’t believe that this was my life. How did things chang so quickly and without warning? I’d never known that my life was missing anything before, but if you removed Danika from it now, I’d have a hard time breathing without her.

  With a full stomach, I realized just how exhausted I was.

  “You two had better get home. Unless you want to stay the night here?” my mom offered, and I honestly didn’t care either way, deciding to leave it up to Danika.

  “We should probably go home and be closer to the field since your game is early tomorrow,” she said, and I knew I had a keeper.

  “See? You’re a good baseball girlfriend, and you don’t even realize it,” my dad said, meaning it as a compliment.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dad?” Danika asked her father.

  “Of course,” he said before giving her a hug and reaching for my hand. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked me.

  I suddenly wanted to throw up everything I’d just eaten. I wasn’t sure I even responded to him, but I followed him blindly, knowing that I’d do whatever he asked.

  Why didn’t anyone ever warn me how nerve-racking it is to meet your girlfriend’s dad? I wanted to pummel every guy friend I’d ever had who had never told me this part about dating.

  “I wanted to meet you before you got drafted and took my little girl away from me,” he started.

  I had to stop myself from shouting, I knew it, before bracing myself for the pummeling that I was sure was about to come.

  “I love your daughter, sir,” I said, hoping he would let me live a little longer so I could keep doing it.

  He chuckled deep. “Call me Ralph. And I know you do. I can tell,” he said, and I wondered if parents just knew these kinds of things.

  “This might be awkward or inappropriate, but I need to ask it, sir,” I said, shifting my weight and wondering how to word this.

  “Ralph,” he repeated before giving me a wave.

  “It’s about Jared. Is he going to be a problem for us? He keeps alluding—” I started to clarify, but he cut me right off.

  “Jared will not be anything to either of you. I’ve talked with the boy. He really did love my daughter, but then something changed for him, and he became more focused on working for me and taking over the company. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but he will not interfere in your lives. And if he does, you make sure to let me know.” His tone was forceful and direct.

  “Thank you. I hope you didn’t take that like I couldn’t take care of your daughter. It’s just that Jared seemed a little unhinged.” The last thing I wanted was this man to think he was leaving his daughter in weak hands. “I would never let anything happen to her.”

  “I’m not worried, C
hance. You’re a great kid. Heck of a ball player, and I only saw the last three innings. You remind me of your dad.”

  “Really?” I perked up because that was one hell of a compliment, and maybe he wasn’t going to murder me after all.

  “Even though he was a lefty, you guys have some of the same movements and mannerisms,” he said, and I grinned because I’d heard that before, but I hadn’t always believed it.

  “I’m really glad you came out. It was nice to get the chance to meet you. I’ve never seen Danika so happy,” I said, hoping he knew that I was being genuine.

  “Neither have I,” he said, and I felt the shock rip through me.

  I wanted to make Danika happier than anyone else ever had, but I didn’t know if I was.

  “Really?”

  “Really. You have my approval to steal my daughter away and make her happy for as long as she lets you.” He grinned before wrapping a hefty arm around my shoulders and slapping my back.

  I fought back a cough as I thanked him and walked out to get my girl and take her home.

  Dreams Come True

  Two Months Later

  Chance

  The regular baseball season had ended, but we’d made it to regionals and were currently up in Northern California for the next game. If we won tonight, we’d advance to Super Regionals, and if we won those games too, we’d be off to the College World Series in Nebraska. I really wanted to go to Omaha and play baseball there.

  But right now, I was sitting in my parents’ hotel suite, surrounded by my family.

  I’d thought about having some of the guys watch the draft with me, but it felt like it might be in poor taste. What if none of them got drafted and only I did? The last thing I wanted was for any of them to feel like I was throwing my success in their faces. I knew how badly each and every player on my team wanted their shot at playing pro ball, so I talked to my dad about it, and he thought I was right to keep it limited to family only. He’d said there’d be enough celebrating with friends after.

  I’d felt bad about leaving Mac out, considering that he was my closest friend, so after asking him a million times if he was sure he wanted to watch it with us, I’d invited him over.