You know what? No. I could still have a chance with her and if we were to get serious, I’d make sure I never let anything else slip my mind. I could add it to my calendar on my phone or put sticky notes all over the place as a reminder or both. There would be baseball time and Abigail time. If I want her bad enough, then there will be no forgetting.
And I do want her. A lot.
When I make it back to the complex, my shirt is soaked with sweat and my legs ache from having run twice as much as I do in one day all at one time. I stop short when I see Abigail and Warren walking toward me, not yet noticing me. Their date must be over. We meet at the bottom of the stairs at the same time. My mouth wants to spill everything I’ve been thinking about while running, but I don’t. Instead, I give Abigail a small smile and jog up the stairs, leaving them behind. I’m thankful I hadn’t turned off my music yet and can’t hear anything they said.
I apologize to my family for taking so long before going to take a shower. I need to focus on spending time with them before they leave tomorrow. Then, I’ll figure out what Abigail is thinking and go from there.
I DIDN’T TAKE Abigail to school this morning since I was seeing my family off at the airport, but I did tell her I would pick her up. We have the day off and I spend most of it grocery shopping and cleaning up my apartment. I’ve decided to take my mother’s advice and have a quiet dinner here for when I tell her how I feel about things.
Thankfully, she’s standing alone when I arrive to pick her up. Abigail smiles as I get out of the car and walk up to her. I cup her face and kiss her softly.
I pull away and say, “That was because I didn’t get the chance to yesterday.” Before she can reply, I open the car door for her to get in and then walk around to the other side. “Do you have any plans tonight?” I ask as we pull onto the road.
“No. I was going to read for a little bit, but I’m all caught up on everything else, so no big plans. What are you thinking?”
“Dinner in my apartment?”
“Oh, how fancy. Am I getting a specially-cooked Felix meal?”
“Yep. I figured it was about time I cooked for you.”
“I’m impressed. A baseball star and a cook, is that a double threat?”
“I’m really a triple threat because I have the good looks, too.” I grin.
“That is true. You do have the looks.”
“Glad you agree. Did you have a good day?”
“I did. I’m completely done with my finals. I’m beyond good at this point.”
We have chit-chat until we get back to the complex. I tell her to meet me in my apartment at six for dinner.
WE’VE BEEN TALKING about small things so far, enjoying our meal. It’s driving me crazy to sit here and talk about regular stuff when all I want to do is blurt out that I want her to be my girlfriend. Reaching over, I take her hand.
“So, how do you think things are going with the whole let’s see what happens thing?”
She looks confused for a second. “Um…fine. Why?”
“Well, I was wondering what your thoughts were on changing that?” I pause and add, “To just you and me.”
“Wait, are you saying you want to be in a relationship with me? Like a real one?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying.” I nod.
“Why? I mean, I thought you were too busy for such things.”
“I’m not too busy for you and because I like you.”
“I don’t understand where this is coming from. I thought you liked the way things were between us. Sure, we’re not having sex or anything, but what’s changed?”
“I did like the way things were, but I’m ready for more. I just knew after Saturday.” I shrug.
“Is this because I didn’t tell you about my birthday? Felix, you’re busy, and I don’t celebrate it. Therefore,” she shrugs, “there was no point in telling you.”
I decide not to answer her. That’s part of it, yes, but not completely why. “Abigail, just tell me if you want this, too.”
“I do, but I’m worried at the same time.”
“About what?” I ask quietly.
“Us. I mean, you’re gone all the time, well at lot of the time. Your life is baseball and I understand that. I need to focus on me, too, and I’m afraid you won’t be there for me when I need you the most. This isn’t going to be an easy road for me. Are you willing to put in the time? It’s okay if you’re not.”
“Of course I am. That’s why I’m bringing this up. If I wasn’t, then I would have left things as they were. I’m willing if you are, unless you think we shouldn’t.” I take a quick breath and say, “Or if you would rather date Warren instead.”
It scares me that she doesn’t reply right away. She thinks for a few seconds before speaking. “I realized Sunday that I don’t want Warren. The entire night was…bad.” She almost looks nervous. “I think I went into the date with the intentions of setting things straight with him and us just being friends. I’ve wanted you, but didn’t know if you wanted the same things that I did. I mean, you did forget our first official date.”
“I know and I don’t want that to happen again. I’m going to do my best to make sure it doesn’t happen because I don’t want to do that to you.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “Felix, I know you have a lot on the brain and I have no problems reminding you of our dates, or whatever we have planned. I get that part. My bigger concern is that you forget…me. I’m not talking about the dates, but just me. You know, like how you’re at a party and you leave and forget you came with a friend. That type of feeling.” She looks sad and lost and I never want to see that look on her face again.
“I’ve never had that happen. I’m not that kind of forgetful. If we were to go somewhere together, I wouldn’t leave you there because I forgot you were there, too. Abigail, I wouldn’t forget you. I haven’t been able to since that first time and the signing doesn’t really count because my family had me so distracted and running around, it was crazy.”
“I didn’t mean you would actually forget me. I meant it as you would forget that I’m part of your life. Relationships are hard and adding me and my issues to your baseball schedule isn’t going to be the sprinkles on the cake. I’m not trying to push this away from us because I do want it, but I want you to be sure you’ve thought it through, too.”
“I’ve been thinking about it nonstop for two days. We can do this. I can do this.”
“Then okay. Let’s do this.”
“Really?” For a while there, I thought she was going to turn me down anyway.
“Yes, really. I do want this. Sunday with Warren proved it to me.”
I grin. “You know, my ego still grew a little since you left the game wanting me more.”
“Your ego sucks,” she mumbles. “But you’re right. That date…was a mess and I should have stayed home and waited for you.”
My grin widens. “I came, too. I was so focused on seeing you that I forgot you weren’t home. And then I went running.”
“Ugh, more torture. I swear your legs are going to fall off one day.” She giggles and then grows serious again. “I’m guessing your family may have helped you with this decision.”
“A little. Your ego might grow if you knew that you’re only the second girl to ever meet my family.” With dinner over, I stand and lead her into the living room and onto the couch. I pull her into my lap so she straddles me.
“What? The second girl?” Her brows raise with her shock. “Wow, I’m floored by that. I figured your family knew all of your previous relationships. You know,” she places her hands flat on my chest, “this means your going to have to have dinner with my sisters. It’s not going to be pretty either.”
“They knew I dated, but they never met them. And dinner with your sisters shouldn’t be too bad. LA already loves me, right?” I rest my hands on her hips, moving my thumbs over the fabric of her shirt.
“Oh, trust me, she does. I’m sure the second I tell her it’s offi
cial between us, she’s going to start buying bridal books. Don’t listen to her though because that’s a road I’m not heading down anytime soon.”
“OK. What about Annie?”
“Annie will love you, too. She’s just not as expressive as LA. I’ll check your schedule and see when you can do it, okay with you?”
“Yeah, sure. You met my brothers and had dinner with them, only fair I do the same with your sisters.” I push a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. “Have you talked enough?” I ask, kissing her neck. “Because I really want to kiss you for a while.” I kiss her jaw. “Just kissing,” I add, so she doesn’t think I wanted this for sex.
“Okay,” she breathes, pressing her lips to mine.
I move us so she’s laying on the couch underneath me. She opens her mouth and I find her tongue with mine. Her moan makes me smile. I nibble on her lower lip, running my hand up her side and grazing the side of her breast. She starts kissing me harder, her fingers curling into the back of my neck.
Forgetting my just kissing comment, I glide my hand back down her side, slip it underneath her shirt, and run my fingers over the cleavage peeking out from the top of her bra. My lips move down to her neck as I push her bra up. Abigail moans and arches her back when I pinch her nipple.
I press my lips to hers again, but when she shivers beneath me, her jeans rubbing against mine, I know I have to stop. I kiss her one more time before removing my hand from under her shirt and resting my forehead against hers, both of us breathing heavily. “We should,” I try to think of something for us to do besides this, but come up blank, “do something else.”
“Yeah, let’s see what’s on TV.”
We sit up on the couch and turn on the TV. Abigail leans into me and I wrap an arm around her shoulders. This is going to be a very good thing; I just know it.
I TAP MY nails on the side of my coffee cup as I wait for Warren. I want to tell him face-to-face that Felix and I are officially together and I want to be his friend. And because of Sunday. I’m still upset about that, but thankfully, Felix didn’t catch on to it.
“Hey.” Warren gives me a small smile and sits across from me.
“Hey. Did you want to get a coffee?”
“I don’t think I’m going to be here long. Am I?”
I take a deep breath. This isn’t the first time I’ve ever broken up with someone, but it’s still hard. “Warren‒”
“Wait.” He cuts me off and leans forward. “I’m sorry for the way I acted the other day. I have no excuse for it. I can’t even blame the alcohol because I didn’t drink, but please know I’m sorry.”
I nod. “I accept it, but look at it from my point of view. You practically laughed in my face about my signed books. Okay, I know it seems strange that I don’t read them, but you didn’t have to make fun of me.”
Warren slowly nods and looks down.
“Let’s not mention the fact when I told you about my parents and that I was in therapy, you almost ran away from me. How do you think that made me feel?” The people at the next table look over at me and I know I should have lowered my voice a bit.
“Abigail, I’m sorry. That wasn’t something I was expecting you to say. I mean, it came from left field.”
I try not to smile at the baseball metaphor. “Look, you have a point. I shouldn’t have blurted out like that and I’m sorry. However, I would have expected a little bit of sympathy or at least an ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’” I keep my voice down this time.
“You’re right and I’m sorry for everything. Does this mean we can’t be friends?” Warren asks sadly.
Crap. “No, we can be friends but nothing more than that. Felix asked me to be his girlfriend last night, to be exclusive with him, and I said yes.”
“You did?” Warren’s eyes widen.
“I did and I hope we can be friends. I do mean that.” My phone beeps.
Felix: Where are you?
Me: Be right there.
“I have to go, but I did have a lot of fun with you.” I lightly kiss his cheek before I walk out of the coffee shop toward Felix’s waiting BMW. I give him a huge smile as I get into the car.
“Well, hello, Felix. How was practice?” I take his hand as he heads toward our apartment complex.
“It was good. How was your day?”
“Classes were good, and I talked to Warren a little bit ago. He knew it was coming because of the way he acted on Sunday.” I shouldn’t have said that last sentence.
“How did that go? What all did he do, Abigail?” He glances at me and he’s a little upset.
“It went as expected. He apologized and I accepted. I told him we could be friends, but we all know what the sentence really means and that was it.” I ignore the question about Warren and hope that he doesn’t push it.
“That only answers one of my questions, but if you don’t want to tell me, that’s okay.” I know it isn’t okay and he does want to know.
“You know you suck at flirting, but you’ve got the guilt trip down pat.” I shake my head. “He made fun of my books. Plus, when I told him about Mom and Dad, he damn near tripped over himself to get out the door. That’s what happened.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep. That’s when I knew you were the one for me. Because you never made me feel like crap and he did.” I take a deep breath. I don’t want Felix mad at Warren. “Okay, this is a bit overdramatic, but I didn’t feel like he cared, that’s for sure.”
When Felix pulls into the parking lot, he turn to me after he parks. He has a bright smile on his face. “I’m the one for you?”
“Oh, there goes your ego again.” I roll my eyes. “You know what I mean,” I try to clarify to him.
“Yeah, I do.”
“Anyway, he seemed fine with it.” I squeeze his hands. “Now, onto a more important topic, what do you have planned for tonight?”
“Not a thing.”
“Well, I hate to break it to you, but you have plans now.”
“I do? What am I doing? I hope it involves you and kissing.” He leans in and grins.
“Um…I will be there, along with my two sisters and my brother-in-law.” I give him my biggest and brightest smile I can and hope he can come.
“We’re doing that tonight? And I don’t think they’ll care if I kiss you.”
“I know it’s short notice, but Harry only has tonight off and Annie and I are about to be really busy soon with all the work that comes with the end of the semester. Let’s not forget you’re about to hit the road for a while. This is really the only day. And if you kiss me in front of LA, she’ll post it to Instagram. So, you have been warned.”
“Tonight will be fine. I’m looking forward to it.”
“You say that now, but just remember two letters: L and A.” I roll my eyes at him.
“I’m not worried about LA. I mean, she’s a bit…you know, but she’s nothing to be scared of as long as I don’t piss her off.”
“Please don’t do that. I beg you because it won’t end well for you. I can promise you that.” I can see it all going down right now in the middle of the lawn.
“I’m not going to intentionally piss her off; I’m not that dumb.”
“I know. I’m warning you, that’s all.” I give him a quick kiss.
I quickly drop off my books and change into something more comfortable. On the way to LA’s house, Felix tells me all about practice and that he went to lunch with Blake and Hector again.
“Are you ready?” I ask as he pulls into the driveway. LA and Harry’s house is large, but not too big. They live in a nice subdivision. I figured by now that I would be an aunt, but nothing yet.
“Yep. Are you?”
“I’m not sure, but let’s go.”
We both get out of the BMW and I hear LA squeal as she comes around the side of the house. She hugs me tightly around the neck. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“You saw me this morning,” I tell her as she lets me go.
&nbs
p; “I was talking to Felix, Abby-bear.” She laughs and gives Felix a side hug.
“I’m happy to be here and it’s good to see you again.”
LA leads us around to the backyard. Harry is standing by the grill. He’s a few years older than LA, but he’s very sweet. They make the statement that opposites attract true.
“This is Harry, my husband and the guy who gave his seat up to Abby-bear for you.” LA takes Felix over to the grill. I give up on trying to get him away from her and head over to Annie to hug her. She hands me a beer.
“I think he knows that, Leigh Ann. Nice to meet you, Felix.” Harry shakes Felix’s hand.
“Nice to meet you, too. Thanks for giving up your seat as well. If there’s anything else you want, just let me know,” Felix says sincerely.
“I’m good because it seems to be working and that’s all that matters, right?” Harry hands Felix a beer and they head over to where I’m sitting at the patio table.
“Okay, now that we’ve got that settled. Felix, this my other sister, Annie,” I introduce him to my oldest sister.
“Hey, Annie. It’s nice to meet you.” Felix shakes her hand and he takes a seat next to me.
“Felix, it’s a pleasure. LA talks about you all the time.” We all laugh. “Abby-bear has said a few things, too.”
“Hopefully the good outweighs the bad. Abigail talks about you two as well, and the good outweighs the bad.” Felix chuckles.
“Oh, you’re lying, but that’s sweet of you,” LA says. “I hope you like ribs, Felix. It’s not throwing off some day-before-a-game routine, is it? If it is, we’ll change it to whatever you want,” she quickly rushes out.
“Hey, what if I don’t like ribs?” I ask.
“Are you trying to win a championship?” LA snarls at me.
“I am the lucky charm,” I quip back.
“Why is it that every time you say that I suddenly have a craving for cereal?” Harry shakes his head.
Felix (The Ninth Inning #1) Page 11
