Blake (Season One: The Ninth Inning #2)

by Lindsay Paige

  “Sort of.” I once again recount what happened, watching him closely for any telling signs. “I’d think out of everyone I know, you’d be the most unbiased.” Then I tell him about my conversation with my mom. “So what do you think?”

  “I think you need to listen to your mom, Grumpy. You’re a good guy. Just talk to Sof and either she’ll come around or she won’t.” He shrugs like it wouldn’t matter if she doesn’t. “How much have you actually told her about Jack?”

  “Not a lot.”

  “Maybe it’s time you do. Or at least, give her more insight so she can understand why you’re a dumb ass and taking so long to talk to her. I’d bet the rumors aren’t as bad as the truth?” I nod, having heard some of the rumors myself. They’re a walk in the park compared to what he’s put us through. “If she likes you and is trying to help, she needs to know what she’s dealing with, don’t you think? Otherwise, she won’t ever know when it’s better to leave you alone to be grumpy all by yourself.”

  “I guess you have a point.”

  Hector grins. “I’m a smart man, Blake. Don’t let the pretty face fool you.”

  I laugh. “I’d have to see a pretty face first.”

  He slaps my shoulder. “Sounds like you should call Sofia then.” He stands, takes his empty plate and places it in the dishwasher, adding, “I’m going to go. Thanks for dinner and good luck.”

  “Stop coming over to eat,” I shout as he heads for the door. “Just go grocery shopping already!” I’ve learned that he always comes when he’s avoiding the grocery store. Can’t say I blame him because I don’t like to go either. The difference is I order take out then, not show up unannounced at a friend’s house for dinner.

  I finish what’s on my plate before placing it in the dishwasher as well. I plop onto my couch, taking what feels like my first relaxing breath in weeks. My phone is sitting on the coffee table, directly in my line of vision. I can’t help seeing it, wondering why I haven’t picked it up yet.

  Sighing, I reach for it and make the call. The ringing seems to last forever. I wonder if she’s with Harmony, debating if she should answer. Would Harmony tell her yes or no?

  “Hello?”

  “Hey,” I breathe.

  “Hey,” she says.

  “Are you busy? I was hoping we could talk.”

  “About what?”

  “About what happened and anything else you want to know.”

  She’s quiet for a moment. “Do you want to talk on the phone or come over?”

  “I rather not do it on the phone, if that’s okay.” Who knows, maybe I’ve scared her so much she doesn’t want to be near me.

  “Sure. Do you want to talk at your place or mine?”

  “Whichever you want.”

  “Well, I’m out running errands. I can be there in about five minutes. Okay?”

  “Thanks.”

  We hang up and I lean back on the couch. My stomach is in knots because I don’t know how this will go. Her coming over could be a good sign. I want things to be good between us, I want to apologize, and maybe if I share some history, she’ll understand more.

  The moment I hear the knock on the door, I jump up, nearly jogging to the door. I open it and give Sofia a small smile. I was starting to worry she wouldn’t show.

  “Come in.” I step back for her to enter and we sit down on the couch in the living room.

  “What do you want to talk about, Blakey?” she asks, getting straight to the point.

  I take a deep breath, searching her eyes for clues as to how this will turn out. “I’m sorry for scaring you, Sofia. I never wanted to do that, and I hate that I did. I got into it with Jack and with everything that happened, I just needed some space. It’s not a good reason, but I’m sorry.”

  “I should apologize, too,” she says. “I shouldn’t have pushed you. I’m trying to be your friend and it got complicated. We’re not in a relationship, and I shouldn’t act as if we are. I’m twenty-eight, but I’m acting like some teenager with her first crush. I know you need your space and I’m glad for the time we had together.” She bumps my shoulder with a small smile. “You were a great kisser.”

  “You don’t need to apologize. It was all my fault.” My heart constricts as I realize what she said. “So, that’s it? We’re going to be past-tense? You don’t want me to tell you all that you’ve wanted me to tell you?”

  “I...I don’t want to be past-tense. I know this is going to sound like a crazy-stalker, but I’m very drawn to you. It’s not because your hot ass body, either. I want more for us. I’d like to see where this goes. And if you want to talk to me about everything and anything, then I’ll be right here, listening to every word.”

  “Do you want to do this now or later, then?” I immediately ask.

  “You know I can’t answer that because you’re the one who knows when the time is right. However, if you want me to answer, then I will say now is a good time.”

  “Okay.” God, am I really about to do this? Am I going to tell Sofia all my family’s dirty secrets? They are secrets that have been hidden since long before I was born. I know I have to. It’s the only way for us to work and for Sofia to understand what she’s getting herself into with me. I take another deep breath.

  “Jack has been abusive to Mom even before I was born. I don’t know how bad it was for her then compared to now because she rarely talks about it. She wasn’t free from it during her pregnancy either. Jack told me once that she almost lost me because of him and when I asked her if it was true, she wouldn’t answer, which means it was.

  “Once I started playing baseball, he started in on me, too. He was still playing then, but he made sure whenever he was home, he took advantage of it. He wanted me to follow in his footsteps. He wanted his name around after he retired, and I was supposed to do that. It didn’t take long for me to hate him even more than I already did. When I started getting serious about the game and our coaches were trying to figure out which position we played best, I asked to be anything but a pitcher.

  “They were surprised, but they still wanted to see if I had Jack Foster’s arm. I pitched terribly and they tried a few more times, instructing me on how to do it better, but I always made sure I was bad. I knew how to pitch; Jack made me pitch until I thought my shoulder would fall right off my body. Whenever I messed up, he showed me how to do it correctly by throwing directly at me.” I pause for a moment to catch my breath.

  “Mom tried to get us out a few times, but we never made it far. Somehow, he always knew. He’d show up before we could leave the house or he would find us before we had been gone forty-eight hours. He never thought it was Mom’s idea to leave him. He would tell me that she had never tried to leave before I was born, and I needed to stop trying to push her away from him. I got those beatings instead of Mom, so there was something good that came from it, I guess.

  “Back then, she had more fight in her than she does now. She did her best to protect me, either by getting in the middle of it or distracting him until she pissed him off. Then he would leave me alone and focus on her. I stayed here for college, so I could still be around, keep an eye on her, and help her. I’ve tried to get her to leave, but she won’t. When I started playing professionally, I was the one who had to leave.” I close my eyes, remembering my worry at being so far away and being unable to help her.

  “She’d call me, tell me lies to make me think everything was just fine, but I knew better. Mom would put on a bright smile whenever I came to visit though because she didn’t want me worrying. Things have been worse lately with all the Hall of Fame talk and with me being back home. Mom told me to stop pushing him, and I did for a bit. Then the banquet happened, and today was the first time I’ve talked to her since then.

  “She said things were okay, which means she’s probably covered in bruises and luckily doesn’t have any broken bones. I asked her if she thought I could be just like him. Everyone says no, but I still don’t know if I believe it, especially after what
happened with you. I told you that the last girl my mom knew about was six years ago. We weren’t perfect together, but we were pretty great, I think. I loved her and would’ve eventually made plans for a future with her.

  “Obviously, that didn’t happen. We were at a party one night, both of us had been drinking, and we were arguing on and off. She finally had enough, said she was going home. When she started to walk away, I grabbed her arm. At first, I didn’t even realize how tight my grip was or how I yanked her back to me, but the moment I saw her eyes widen with fear, I knew. She was aware of everything with Jack, and she was scared I would be just like him. I told her I was sorry, broke up with her, and walked away without ever looking back.

  “When I said I knew it was possible, that’s what I meant. I’m sure you believe me now, anyway. When I didn’t hear from her, didn’t see her again, it reinforced that walking away was the right decision. Now, I’m just trying to convince my mom she can leave and be safe, and I’m trying to convince myself I’m not him.”

  I feel a little better, having all of that off my chest and knowing someone else might help me carry the burden. Sofia’s eyes haven’t left mine. I want to take her hand, but I’m not sure if I should. I can’t tell what Sofia is thinking and as her silence continues, it worries me. Finally, she speaks.

  “That’s a lot to take in, Blakey. Thank you for telling me. There’s something you need to know though. I was scared when you yelled at me, but not because I thought you were going to hurt me. I never thought that. I was startled because you’d never yelled at me before. As for when you were drunk with your ex-girlfriend, things may have gotten out of hand, but you would never hurt anyone. It’s not in you. You might be Jack Foster’s son, but you’re Blake Foster. It’s a big difference. I’m not scared of you and you’d never hurt me. I know that.”

  “Maybe so, but I still let my temper get the best of me. You might not have been scared of that, but I was. I don’t want to let you go, but I can’t lie and say I’m not thinking about the risk.”

  “Every relationship has risk. I’m tougher than I look, and I know you’re a great guy. In addition, I think we make a great team, even if at the end of all this, we’re only friends; you can always count on me, Blakey. I care for you. I really do.”

  “I care about you, too, Sofia.” I smile. Things are going to be okay. “And I think you’re a great kisser too,” I say, remembering what she’d said earlier.

  “Aw, look at you being flirty again.” She smiles. “Thank you for trusting me. It means a lot that you told me everything and I know it was hard.”

  “It was worth it,” I tell her honestly.

  FLOATING ON CLOUDS can’t be this much fun.

  Since leaving Blake’s house that night, the smile hasn’t left my face. I broke through the steel wall, and he opened up to me. I can’t help being pleased and I am happy that he trusts me.

  The sun is bright today and I’m trying not to stare at Blake in his baseball pants, crouching down behind home plate. I’m standing with the medical staff as we do visual evaluations of the players. Doc seems to be happy with my assessments, and more of the players are utilizing my skills. It’s making it easier for the physical therapists to focus on the more pressing cases.

  The main reason we’re out here is because the general manager wants to make sure all the players are in top shape. With the trade deadline approaching, they don’t want to carry any dead weight. The media is still hard on the Angels since the last season drug disaster.

  “Sofia, you have a few notes on Foster.” Doc nods over to him.

  “Yes, he’s seen me a few times for his right knee and once for his shoulder. Nothing major,” I answer.

  “Anything we need to worry about?” he questions me again.

  “Nope. Simple tension. He’s still performing at high levels.” I’m doing my best not to smile and to keep a straight face.

  “Walk with me,” Doc commands. He reminds me a lot of Dad; he’s tall, older, a bit standoffishness, but overall a nice guy.

  We walk over to the protected area behind home plate. Blake can’t see me from here, but I don’t even think he knows I’m on the field. Being this close to the team practice makes the kid in me excited, or maybe it’s the fact I’m a few feet from Blake’s ass and I’m blatantly staring at it from behind my sunglasses.

  “Tell me, Sofia, how are things going?” Doc keeps his voice low.

  “Great.” I keep my tone with his. “I think it’s going well.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I blanch for a moment. “I am. Is there something else that I don’t know about?”

  “I received a phone call last week and I’ve been debating on what to do with it.” Doc scratches his chin.

  “Am I privy to this call?”

  “Yes,” he answers and whistles to the coach, who in turn yells for Blake to come to him.

  My heart drops. Oh shit. This isn’t going to be good. Blake leaves his position at home plate and jogs over to the coach, who sends him over to us. Blake’s signature scowl is on his face when he approaches.

  “We need to talk, Foster,” Doc says and we all head out of the dugout to Doc’s office. The only noise is Blake’s cleats on the concrete. When Doc opens the door, he tells us to sit down. I glance at Blake, and his scowl deepens.

  “Doc, what is this about?” I ask.

  “Jack Foster,” he sighs and my mouth drops.

  “Why?” Blake growls.

  “Jack called me and made it apparent that you two are in a relationship and Sofia should be fired.”

  I gasp and I’m almost about to cry. Jack is trying to get me fired. If this happens, I might kick his ass.

  “What?” Blake yells.

  “He wants Sofia fired for fraternization with players,” Doc explains.

  I drop my head in my hands and try to compose myself before I scream at him. I lift my head and try to be as professional as I can. Besides, I don’t want Blake to lose his temper in this small room. “Doc, my lawyer looked over my contract; there’s nothing in there that says I can’t have a relationship with players, even outside of work.” Blake’s face is red and I know he’s about to burst with anger.

  “I said he wants you fired, not that you’re getting fired.”

  “I’m not fired?” Did I hear him correctly?

  Doc shakes his head. “No. This is mainly for Blake’s benefit and not yours, Sofia.”

  “What?” Blake and I ask together.

  “Blake, I don’t like your dad and he sure as hell doesn’t need to be calling me eight times a day drunk, telling me how to run my office. I don’t care if Sofia and you have a relationship as long as you're both are professional here. Do we understand each other?”

  “Yes,” Blake and I say at the same time.

  “I’ve told him ten times that Sofia is here to stay, but he’s pissed off about something. Handle it for me, please. I don’t have time for his games, Foster.” Doc looks sternly at him.

  “I’ll take care of it. You have my word.”

  “Thank you. Now, we’re done,” he dismisses us.

  I look at Blake when we’re in the hallway, and the rage almost pouring off of him. “Are you—”

  “No, I’m not,” he cuts me off.

  I shut my mouth and nod. “Don’t kill him; he’s not worth jail time.” I know Blake needs to be alone, so I turn and head to my office. I really hope he doesn’t do anything stupid.

  I don’t want to be here right now, and I don’t need to be since my appointments aren’t until later this afternoon. I grab my purse and head to the deli down the block. I went from being on a cloud to having the floor dropping out from under me. I’m glad Doc understood how Jack is and didn’t fire me.

  I walk into the smell of fresh bread and my stomach grumbles. I order a turkey club and a bottle of water. I look around to find a table when I notice someone in the corner of the deli seated at a small table.

  It’s Caroline. She has on
dark sunglasses and her hair is covering her face. What strikes me odd is that she has a long sleeve jacket on. It’s almost eighty degrees outside. I close my eyes and realize that she must be covered in bruises.

  I take my food and walk over to her. “Mrs. Foster.” I smile brightly at her.

  She tears her gaze from the window and smiles. “Sofia.” She stands and hugs me. When I hug her back, she winces.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Tears fill my eyes.

  “Bad back.” Caroline waves it off with a lie. “I’ve had it for years.”

  “Do you mind if I join you? Or are you waiting on someone?”

  “I would love for you to join me.” I take a seat across from her. “I wanted to talk to you at the benefit, but...um...I wasn’t feeling well that night.”

  I try to not give her a sad smile, but it’s hard. The benefit was pure hell for all of us. “Well, now’s our chance,” I say without my voice cracking. “How are you?”

  “Wonderful.” She’s lying and I know it. She adjusts her sunglasses and I’m afraid to see what’s behind them.

  “What are you doing on this side of town?”

  “I need to speak to Blake about a few things and Jack is out golfing until three. It’s the only time I can…” Caroline trails off. Jack must keep her on a tight leash.

  “I saw Blake a little bit ago. Practice is almost over,” I inform her, even though it’s not what I want to say at all.

  “How are you liking your job? It has to be fun.” Caroline changes the subject with ease, just as Blake does.

  “I love it, although, I did just have scare.” I shake my head.

  “A scare?”

  I might as well tell her. It’s not like she doesn’t know Jack and his ways. “Jack was trying to get me fired.”

  “Excuse me?” Caroline’s shock is all over what I can see of her face.

  “Yes. Blake and I were called into my boss’s office because Jack got in contact with the Angels to have me fired for being with Blake. Which is strange since Blake and I aren’t in a relationship. We’re friends.”

  Caroline rubs her forehead and I can see a faint bruise there. My heart breaks more. “It’s my fault. I told Jack you were his girlfriend. He was a tad upset when Judy called to tell him that she’d announced the wrong name for the auction. Jack had remembered something Blake said when they were arguing and, well...I’m sorry.” She looks in disbelief.