Out of the Shadow

by J. L. Paul

  “You’ll have to ask him,” Lila said with an indifferent shrug. She whirled around and strode to the window, tossing a smooth smile over her shoulder. Her dark eyes met Cole’s and an uncomfortable shudder stole over him. He averted his eyes and concentrated on Parker’s beat up sneakers.

  Doug’s voice rose and fell and they were only able to make out a few words, but they didn’t sound promising.

  “So, what the hell?” Cole asked in a low voice. “I wonder what’s going on and why we’re not playing in L.A. tonight. Damn.”

  “I have no idea, bro,” RJ said as he stretched his arms out behind him. “I just hope we don’t have to pull out tonight. I wanted to watch Ally’s game.”

  “Me, too,” Cole grumbled.

  “Okay fellas,” Doug said as he came out of the bathroom, cell phone in hand. “Looks like we’re not playing at the Jungle Room tonight – they had a pipe burst and had to shut down.”

  “So, what now?” Cole asked as he got to his feet. “What are we doing?”

  “I spoke with Rhys and he managed to get you guys on some San Diego morning show tomorrow,” Doug announced.

  “Okay,” Parker said slowly, glancing at Cole. “So, what does that mean?”

  Doug scratched the side of his neck and grinned weakly. “We’re cutting out tonight.” He held up a hand to stave off their protests. “I know you boys want to go to that softball game so we’ll leave as soon as it’s over. That’s the best I can do, guys. This San Diego show is pretty popular and Rhys had to practically bend over backwards to get you guys on it.”

  “How did he manage that?” Parker asked. “I thought they booked guests months in advance or something.”

  “I guess the producer is a buddy of Rhys’s and he said he could squeeze you guys in,” Doug said with a shrug. “Great opportunity and will hopefully generate some more ticket sales for tomorrow night’s show.”

  Cole released a long breath and stood. “Fine. We would have had to leave right after the game for our gig anyway – at least we still get to go.”

  Doug strode across the room to smack Cole on the back. “That’s the spirit. I’ll have the bus at the complex at eight so be ready.”

  “Sure,” Cole said as he waved at the guys and left the room. He whipped his cell phone out of his pocket as he walked to his own room, anxious for Ally’s call. He figured she must be about done with her practice and he wanted to spend as much time with her as possible.

  Just as he inserted his key card in the door, his phone rang. He grinned and answered it. “Hello, princess.”

  ***

  Ally spotted him, leaning against the checkout counter, chatting casually with the cashier. A bolt of jealousy struck her heart until Cole shifted and his eyes met hers. A slow, lazy smile spread across his face and her heart fluttered pleasantly. Her feet automatically carried her to him.

  “Good morning,” she said, feeling like it was their first date.

  Straightening, he hugged her to his chest, inhaling the fresh scent of her hair. “Good morning. Are you hungry?”

  “Starved,” she said as she moved out of his arms. “I just had some juice before practice.”

  “Let’s eat,” he said, taking her hand.

  The hotel restaurant was small but clean. It was decorated in a weird sort of rooster theme – rooster statues on the counters, rooster paintings on the walls, even rooster appliqués on the napkin holders.

  “Hm,” Ally said with a smile. “Interesting.”

  Cole laughed heartily, his eyes sparkling. “I bet my grandmother would love the rooster stuff.”

  “Probably,” Ally agreed.

  A waitress came over and placed glasses of water in front of them. She smiled as she handed them their menus and took their drink orders. Once she left, Cole opened his menu and perused his choices.

  Ally watched him from over her own menu and noticed the slight crinkle in his forehead. Something was on his mind – bothering him – and he was biding his time, waiting for the right moment to spring it on her. Her heart ached for him and hoped that it wasn’t too terrible.

  She folded her menu and placed it on the table. “Cole?”

  “Yeah?” he said, his eyes not leaving his menu.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He set his menu down and furrowed his brow at her. “What do you mean?”

  “I know something is wrong,” she said. “I can tell. So, just tell me what’s wrong, okay?”

  He smiled softly and held her hand on top of the table. “It’s nothing bad, princess, I promise.” She rolled her eyes and squeezed his hands. “It’s just that our venue tonight has a plumbing problem and we won’t be able to play. So, we’re moving out tonight so we can make some morning show in San Diego.”

  She nodded, her lip protruding slightly. She could feel disappointment burning behind her eyes but she managed to keep a brave face. “That really sucks.”

  “We’ll be able to watch the game,” he said. “We just have to leave as soon as it’s over.”

  “Okay, I understand,” she said, keeping the gloom from her voice. “I still get to spend some time with you this morning.”

  “Yes,” he said, trying to maintain a happy demeanor. “I’m sorry, Al. I thought for sure that we wouldn’t be leaving until the morning and maybe I could sneak out and see you tonight.”

  She giggled and pushed her disappointment aside. She’d deal with it later and take advantage of the time she had with him.

  When they finished breakfast, he followed her back to the complex and they took a walk, stopping to watch one of the games. Ally kept up a steady stream of conversation, explaining about her teammates and how anxious she was about her game later.

  “I’m glad you at least get to watch it,” she said when they stopped on the shady side of the concession stand. Leaning against the cool bricks, he tugged her closer.

  “You’re so beautiful, Al, did you know?” he asked as his eyes darkened. He brushed his lips against hers softly but the kiss immediately heated. She linked her hands behind his head and pressed her body to his. A small groan escaped his lips.

  “We should have stayed in your hotel,” she said.

  He smiled in her mouth. “Al, don’t even go there.”

  She giggled and pecked his lips. The physical part of their relationship was still relatively new as they’d decided not to take things to that level until after she’d graduated high school. She’d once thought that they’d wait until they married – thought it was a romantic notion – but she loved him so much and was so sure of him that one night, shortly before her graduation party, they’d succumbed to the passion that raged inside of them.

  “Why not?” she asked in an attempt to appear coy.

  He chuckled and gathered her close again. He kissed the top of her head and sighed heavily, his breath teasing her hair. “Because, princess, we can’t do anything like that now. We’re not going to run off to my hotel room for a quickie. Doesn’t feel right, you know?”

  “I know,” she said as she nestled her cheek into his chest.

  “Soon,” he said. “As soon as we can spend a little more time together.”

  “Promise?” she asked, peering up into his eyes.

  He kissed her again. “Promise.”

  “I’m holding you to that,” she said, smiling. “Now come on, I have to get ready for my game.”

  ***

  Team Florida was up by a run in the sixth inning when Ally approached the plate. She smoothed the dirt in the batter’s box with a cleat and took her stance, her eyes on the pitcher.

  She took a few practice swings, very much aware of Cole in the stands.

  She watched the first pitch cross the plate and tensed when the ump called it a strike. She took a step back, taking a few practice swings, buying a little time to regroup.

  Ally dug in and narrowed her eyes at her opponent, daring her to throw it a little high. The pitch came and she connected, knocking it near the wall. She too
k off down the baseline and groaned when the right fielder caught it. But the runner on third tagged and crossed the plate, tying the score. She jogged back to the dugout, eyes searching for Cole’s, but the crowd was so thick, she couldn’t find him. She furrowed her brows as she hopped down the steps and hi-fived her teammates. She couldn’t concentrate on Cole’s location at the moment; they still had a game to win.

  Tara, the third basemen, knocked in another run before Lisa hit into a double play, ending their inning. Ally grabbed her glove and trotted out on the field.

  They managed to hold them and Ally joined half heartedly in the celebration. She knew Cole would not be waiting with her family and she didn’t know how she’d manage to keep the disappointment off her face.

  She hurried through her shower, collected her gear, and dashed off to meet her family. She knew how uncomfortable her father probably was with all the people gawking at him, wondering if the guy that looked like Jay Jones was actually the Jay Jones. And she’d been lucky, so far, that none of her teammates had mentioned anything about it.

  Richie and Callie, RJ’s parents, had flown in that morning and joined the rest of the group waiting to congratulate Ally. But she was surprised to see Rhys and Sasha Redden and their son, Robby, standing next to her parents.

  She plastered a smile on her face, accepted the hugs and kisses, and assured everyone it was all right if they ran over to Redden Records with Rhys to talk about the latest hitch in Out of Control’s plans.

  “Hey, cuz,” Jamie said sheepishly. “I sort of made a date with a chick from Team California. Um, but I can cancel, if you want.”

  “Nah, it’s all right,” she said. “I’ll probably just turn in early – I’m sort of tired, anyway.”

  “Aw, come on, Ally,” a voice said behind her. She turned and found Robby Redden grinning, dimples evident on his cheeks. “That’s kind of boring, isn’t it?”

  Ally couldn’t help but smile. “Maybe.”

  “I’ll take you for ice cream, if you want,” he offered with a shrug. “I feel a little responsible for Cole and the others leaving so soon.”

  “Why would you feel responsible?” she asked. “It’s not your fault.”

  He folded his arms over his chest and cocked his head. “Well, actually, I was the one who suggested to my father to call his buddy in San Diego. My father did, and next thing you know, the guys are leaving tonight instead of tomorrow.”

  “It’s not your fault,” she said and then grinned. “But I’ll let you take me for ice cream – just to make you feel better.”

  “Deal,” he said with a wide smile that nearly stole her breath. He was a very handsome young man. “Come on.” He paused to glance at Jamie. “Come with us if you have time.”

  “I don’t,” Jamie said with a wolfish smirk. “Mikayla awaits.”

  “Oh, jeez, James,” Ally said with a vicious roll of her eyes. “You’re turning into some sort of player, aren’t you?”

  “Hey,” Jamie said. “I can’t help it if the girls find me irresistible.”

  Ally grabbed Robby’s arm and dragged him away from her cousin, shaking her head in disgust. “Get me out of here before I puke.”

  ***

  Robby took her to a quaint ice cream parlor with pink striped awnings and a patio complete with round tables and little umbrellas that matched the awnings. The store smelled like the inside of a bubble gum machine, all sickly sweet but unbearably appetizing.

  She paced in front of the case, her eyes bulging as she stared at all the luscious flavors just waiting to be sampled. The bored teenager with the pink striped apron and the paper hat sighed as he waited for Ally to decide.

  “What are you thinking?” Robby asked as he pointed at the Butter Pecan.

  “I want all of it,” she said. “All of it in one humungous bowl.”

  He lifted a brow as his lips curled slightly on the corners. “And a humungous spoon, too?”

  She giggled, relaxing in his presence. “I guess I’ll go with good old mint chocolate chip.”

  The bored teenager snapped to attention and got to work, scooping their requested flavors into bowls. He carried them to the register and Robby whipped out his wallet, paying before Ally could object.

  They carried their ice cream outside and sat beneath a striped umbrella. They were only a few blocks from the beach and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore carried to the patio but silence descended upon them as they started shoveling ice cream in their mouths until Robby finally took a break.

  “How long have you been playing softball?” he asked.

  Ally set her bowl on the table and screwed her face up in thought. “I’m not really sure. I’ve been playing for as long as I remember. Every time Jamie would come over, we’d run out to the backyard and play something.”

  Robby chuckled as he shoved another spoonful in his mouth. “So, you and Jamie aren’t musical at all?”

  “Not exactly,” Ally said. “I mean, our dads taught us to play the guitar but it just didn’t …stick, I guess I mean to say. Neither one of us got into it much, but our dads were okay with that. I think they were both a little disappointed but hey, they both have other kids to bug.”

  Robby smiled, his eyes lighting up. “That’s right – you have a little brother. Does he play?”

  “He does, but not as much as I think my dad would like. He’s much better than me. And Trevor, Jamie’s little brother, likes to play, but it’s just a hobby for him.”

  “You mean, they don’t get into it like Cole, RJ, and Ren?”

  “Exactly,” Ally said. “But, Dad and Uncle Mark helped out with Cole, RJ, and Ren so I guess they got their fix.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked, scraping ice cream from the sides of his bowl.

  “Nate and Cole worked incessantly on the drums so my dad gave Cole some guitar lessons,” Ally said. “And Uncle Mark plays the piano so he taught the other boys how to play.”

  “Hang on,” Robby said, his spoon frozen in his hand. “So, all the Out of Control boys can play piano, too?”

  “Yep,” Ally said proudly. “Parker is probably the best, but he didn’t take lessons from Uncle Mark.”

  Robby nodded and pushed his bowl away. Ally felt his eyes on her as she finished her ice cream. She wiped her mouth and set her bowl inside of his. “Are you done?” he asked. She nodded. He picked them up and tossed them in the trash. “Do you want to take a walk by the ocean before I drive you back?”

  “Sure,” she said as she got to her feet.

  They left the patio and walked along the sidewalk, avoiding the many people enjoying the warm breeze coming off the ocean.

  Robby pointed out certain shops and regaled her with stories about growing up in the area and shopping for school clothes or other things with his mother.

  “I bet you went through the same sort of hell that I went through anytime I went shopping with my mother – probably more so,” she said, tucking her hand in the crook of his arm. “My mother’s not a singer like yours.”

  Robby laughed and patted her hand. “Yeah, but your mom received her share of publicity thanks to the tabloids.”

  “Yeah,” Ally groaned. “She told me about that.”