“Yea, you’re screwed.” Seno pats me on the leg and smiles.
“So, is Sherry on the DL for the rest of the season?”
“Probably the rest of the regular season for away games. Everything should be good for the postseason. I expect she’ll miss some home games, but not too many. And, yes, we’re going to postseason and we’re winning. I want a championship ring for the year my girl is born. My girls make me feel like I’ve already won.”
He’s so happy, it’s crazy. “Does she have a name yet?”
“We’re down to a couple, but Sherry can’t decide. She’s thinking something Hawaiian maybe, but then we found out she’s further along than we thought and she already had a girl name picked out. She’s due before the end of June.”
“That’s next month. Dude, that’s insane.”
Seno nods and sits happily as the plane lands and everybody gets their phones out, texting to check in. I turn on my phone to messages from Kristina.
Text from Kristina - Why me and not one of the other girls?
Text from Kristina - Why won’t you forget me?
Text to Kristina - Landed in San Francisco
How am I supposed to answer those questions? This game might have been a bad idea. This isn’t a conversation I want to have by text. I want to have it live and in person, not when I’m gone for the next ten days. I know I need to respond.
Text to Kristina - You’re the only girl that has ever made me feel this way
Text to Kristina - I think our connection is special and I’m not referring to the sex, but the sex is our own fireworks show.
Text to Kristina - What duty do you have at the stadium today?
Text from Kristina - Just preparing pregame notes and the lineup for the broadcasters and getting it sent over to them in SF. I’ll be off in time to go to Sherry’s, but I’ll be researching stat questions and feeding the information to the broadcasters for the post game.
Text from Kristina - Maybe you should see what it’s like with another girl, now that you don’t want to fuck every girl you see.
That’s it. I call her and I shouldn’t. I’m irritated and I’m with the team. The phone rings, but there’s no answer. I know she has her phone, she’s texting me.
Text to Kristina - Answer your phone.
Text from Kristina - Can’t, I’m at work.
Text to Kristina - Answer your phone or I’ll call into the stadium and get transferred to you. I’m not having this conversation by text.
Text from Kristina - I’ll call you in a couple minutes.
Text to Kristina - Okay.
I’m frustrated. I don’t know why she would suggest such a thing, unless she doesn’t like me. She keeps trying to push me away, but when we’re together she holds on to me.
The team is going directly to the stadium for practice. Everybody is pumped up and we’re ready to keep the winning streak going. My phone isn’t ringing and my head is all over the place.
Seno barks at me, “Stop looking at your phone. Shake it off. Everything isn’t on your schedule.”
He’s right. I toss my phone into my locker and go work out, trying my best to leave Kristina in my locker with my phone. I put my earbuds in and escape everybody for a while with my work out playlist on shuffle, it starts with “Turn It Up” by The Wrecks. Working out always gets my head straight, puts me in the right frame of mind for the game. It brings everything into focus for me. Lying on my board out in the ocean is the only place that relaxes me more.
I take batting practice in the cages, enjoying my alone time and I’m driven to swing the bat viciously. I’m seeing the ball and feel like the bat is part of me. Connecting with no effort at all.
I go to my locker, prepared to hit the showers and get ready for the game. My phone is blowing up and I reach for it to turn the sound off, but I can’t ignore the activity. Two missed calls and texts, all from Kristina.
Kristina
Why isn’t he answering? He told me to call him. Damn it! I told him to be with another girl. He’s probably doing it right now. There’s always some slut ready for a player. Why did I say that! Answer the phone! My hands are shaking as I try calling him again. Straight to voicemail.
Text to Chase - I called, you didn’t answer.
Text to Chase - Where are you?
Text to Chase - My break is almost over.
Text to Chase - Why aren’t you answering me?
Text to Chase - I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean it.
Text to Chase - I don’t want you with another girl, not even just to see.
Text from Chase - Don’t fuck with me. I don’t play those games.
Text from Chase - Do you want me? You want to be with me? Be my girl? You wouldn’t suggest another girl if you did.
Text from Chase - I’m all in with you, Sweetness. If you’re not, don’t fuck with me. Tell me.
Text to Chase - I want to be all in.
Text to Chase - I’m yours, Chase.
Text from Chase - I only want you, Sweetness. I miss you. I don’t like being away from you.
Text from Chase - I’m not going to hurt you. Please don’t play games with me.
Text to Chase - How do you know you won’t hurt me?
Text from Chase - I just know. There’s nobody like you. I’ll always protect you.
Text to Chase - :)
He can’t know he won’t hurt me. I’ll get hurt. But, pushing him toward another woman is hurting myself. Why do I do these stupid things when I want to be with him?
Chase
I hit the shower and let the hot water roll down over my body. The spray hits my face and I close my eyes. Everything from the world around me washes away and all I can see is her. I can feel her with me. My girl.
Going into the game today, it’s going to be extreme. The question is will it be really good or suck. Too many things happening in the club house. First, Seno on the road without Sherry. Second, Mason hasn’t stopped talking about Michelle since we got to the stadium. Third, Bravo is off the disabled list and getting texts from a hook up he has in San Francisco that he thought he was rid of.
And then there’s me, and I miss Kristina. I’m not even sure that it’s missing her, I won’t see her tonight and I don’t like it. I can’t believe she told me to be with another chick. It makes me need to see her and show her she’s mine. Since I’m on the road for eight more days, that’s not an option. I’m not experienced with chicks. What I mean to say is I’m very experienced with sex, not experienced at all with having one chick all to myself. The part that gets me the most is that I never wanted a chick to be my girl. Fuck their brains out, yes. Protect them, no. I’m not concerned about being tempted or cheating, that’s not me. But, Kristina makes me want her and I don’t even notice anybody else. I know she’ll be watching the game.
The answer is Seno was on point, hitting safely on all his at bats, scoring twice and bringing in three baserunners. Mason was on fire with two home runs. Bravo was brought in as designated hitter in the eighth, hitting a double. Everyone else did as they normally do. Me? I hit a triple and struck out my other two at bats. The real problem was my fielding. I pride myself on my fielding. I will dive for that shit. I will run for it like an Olympic sprinter. I will climb the wall and I will jump into the wall if that’s what it takes. Today, well the best way I know how to describe it is from the movie Tin Cup when he got the shanks and his swing felt like an unfolding lawn chair. That was my catching. Awkward at best, if I was able to get to the ball, and I simply missed the ball more than once. I’m surprised Skip didn’t pull me sooner than he did, and that was in the sixth. Somehow, we still won 9-7. Not our best showing, but a win is a win.
Kristina
I get to Sherry’s to find her and Michelle already sitting in front of the TV watching the pregame. It’s funny to see the teacher and student situation with Michelle as the student, she’s always the one who knows everything. It must be killing her not knowing baseball, but
she’ll probably know it better than the rest of us soon. They’re discussing the lineup and the impact of the order on the game. I hear them starting with Chase because he’s leading off.
“Cross is perfect at lead off because he has the speed and we want him on the bases. Speed matters because he can outrun the ball when a grounder gets hit or he bunts. It’s also a benefit for stealing bases, which he has proven with his record of stolen bases,” Sherry goes on about my guy.
“His strong, long legs and coordination give him a significant speed advantage. Sometimes these long-legged guys don’t have the control. Chase has excellent control,” I chime in.
“Perv,” Michelle interjects. “Though I do like the dirty uniform and he always seems to get a very dirty uniform.”
“That’s mostly the stealing and some of the sliding across the outfield to get the ball,” Sherry says shaking her head at out interaction. “I’m a bit surprised Mason is hitting second. I suspect they will be moving him toward the clean up spot. He’s been coming into his own with his hitting.” She turns to Michelle, “That’s a good thing. He’s getting better and that’s a sign of longevity in this game. There’s always someone better waiting for the chance to take your spot in the lineup.”
The game is starting and Chase is at bat. The first two pitches are balls outside and on the third pitch he smacks it fair up the first base line. The first baseman misses the ball and it bounces off the outfield wall before the right fielder can get to it. Chase is showing us a great example of his long legs and speed. He’s turned up to full speed and running. I can see him watching the coaches and trusting their signs, not worrying about the ball or wasting time looking for it himself. He rounds first and second without concern and dives for third, sliding in hot and hooking the base with his foot to maintain contact. Sherry cheers for him and claps. I join her, getting to yell for my guy. I smile uncontrollably at the ability to yell for him freely and the sense of pride that runs through me knowing he’s my man. Michelle and Sherry both look at me and smile, like I’m finally getting it. Maybe I am. Maybe I’ve known longer than any of them have had a clue and I’m good at hiding it.
Mason is up to bat and takes four balls in a row for a walk. “He’s starting to get at bats like this because of his hitting. Teams don’t want him to connect, but they don’t want to give him the intentional walk because they know he won’t swing for it out of the zone.” Sherry gets this expression on her face that I've only ever seen when she’s with Rick, “There’s my Rick walking to the batter’s box.” She beams and yells, “Let’s go Seno!” He swings his bat and stands ready for the pitch. The first pitch is low and inside, “See that? They are trying to back him up off the plate.” The second pitch is placed the same and he doesn’t move. “That’s it, my king! Hold your ground!” The third pitch looks like a curve ball that lost its drop and his bat connects with a clean pop. “Yes! Run, baby!” Sherry cheers him on. “Home run! Woooo!” She puts her hand to her belly and smiles, baby must be cheering her daddy on, too. Seno scores, knocking in Mason.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chase
The team gets checked into the hotel and we all plan to meet in the bar. Seno and I get to our room, get our things unpacked and check our phones. He immediately calls Sherry and stretches out on his bed, settling in for what looks like a long call. I have messages and they’re not all from Kristina.
Text from Sherry - Kristina and Michelle are here watching the game with me. It’s fun.
Text from Sherry - Kristina says she’s being stupid and she can’t help it. I’m working on it.
Text from Kristina - Thank you for the jersey :) It was left hanging on my cubicle waiting for me before I left the stadium today.
Text to Kristina - :) I didn’t want to get in trouble for sending you stuff to the control booth
Text from Kristina - You did good. You would’ve been in trouble if you called me at the stadium.
Text to Kristina - Don’t tell me to be with other chicks and you won’t have that problem.
Text to Kristina - Are you still at Sherry’s? Want to talk on the phone? I want to hear your voice, Sweetness.
Text from Kristina - Michelle is driving us home right now. I’ll call you when we get home, okay?
Text to Kristina - I’m looking forward to it. <3
Seno is obviously happy to stay right where he is and doesn’t care if he goes to the bar or not. I’d rather be on the phone with my girl, too. I’ve never felt like that before. I’ve always picked on the guys that did it and dragged them out to the bar anyway. Besides, I got enough ribbing in the club house today about my hickeys. I order us dinner from room service and change into a T-shirt and sweatpants. It’s kind of nice to relax and hang out in the room. Seno and I always used to room together, so it’s like old times except now we both have chicks to talk to. Back then, neither one of us had a girl. I like having him as a roommate, and I finally understand why he spends so much time with Sherry. I get it, I want to be with Kristina, too. I thumb through the magazine in the room while I wait for Kristina to call and see an ad for an artisan chocolatier in San Francisco, so I go on their website and have a box of chocolate candies sent to her. I check out the options, choosing a box that is all milk chocolate, none of them have anything fruity and about half of the box has caramel. I have it gift wrapped and include a card that says “Sweets for my Sweetness.” That’s when my phone rings, “Hello?”
“Hi, baby.” Her sweet voice coming to me through the phone is heaven to my ears. I love that she calls me baby.
“Hey, Sweetness. How was your day?”
“Good. I’m sorry about my text. My automatic defense mechanism kicks in. The thing is that every relationship I’ve had, ended. I’m afraid of getting hurt again. But, I really don’t want you with anyone else. Only me, Chase.” Her words cut right through me and my heart rolls over in my chest like a puppy that wants its tummy rubbed more.
“They were all idiots and didn’t know what they had when they had you, Kristina. Besides, those relationships had to end otherwise you wouldn’t have been available for me. I feel like a fool because I miss you so much and we only spent a couple days together.”
“I guess that’s true. I miss you, too. It was a great couple of days.” I hear her happiness and daydreamy attitude at thoughts of our time together. “I love your little place on the beach, it’s perfect. I think you’re what makes it perfect.” Fuck me, she kills me.
“I wish I was there with you, Sweetness. I’d show you how much you mean to me.”
She giggles, “Tell me.”
“I’m better with actions than I am with words.”
“Then tell me what your actions would be.”
Huh, “I want to hold you close to me and kiss you, until you can feel everything I feel for you.” I remember the morning and take a deep breath. “I like waking up with you in my bed, with your arm around me and you using me as your pillow. I like holding you all night long, you between my arms, your hair silky against my skin and the sweet sounds you make while you sleep. No, Kristina, I’ll never hurt you. I’ll always protect you.” I feel like I’m falling as I say the words, knowing that I mean them and realizing the truth.
We talk on the phone until room service delivers dinner and then call back to talk more after we eat. I can hear Seno questioning Sherry about how she feels, making sure she isn’t overdoing it, and telling her how much he loves her and misses her. Kristina and I mostly giggle on the phone, still getting to know each other and not wanting to say the wrong thing. Making sure I don’t tell her I love her too soon, and I don’t know if that’s what this feeling is or not, all I know is that I’ve never felt it before and I want to be with her all the time. The end of our phone call feels weird, like we both want to say more and neither of us do. It doesn’t matter. We spent time together on the phone being together and that’s good.
Kristina
I love the sound of his voice, it’s deep and comfor
ts me. Our phone call reminds me of being a teenager and spending hours on the phone with my boyfriend. Sweet and giggly. I’m never like that anymore. Except, Chase makes it okay. I block out the fact that the guy I was on the phone with back then dumped me and had probably been cheating on me the whole time we were together. That’s been over for years. I was young and didn't know any better. Chase will always protect me. I pull the blankets up over my head and pretend I’m in his fluffy bed waiting for him to find me again, replaying his sweet words in my head until I fall asleep happy.
Chase
Road Trip Day 2: Wednesday - Game 2 in San Francisco
The game went well, mostly because I wasn’t in the lineup. That’s not a good thing. I need to figure out how to get this under control to keep my spot in the lineup. Seals won 6-1. I learned that Kristina really isn’t a morning person and doesn’t get out of bed any earlier than she has to. I also learned that I love to hear her voice when she wakes up in the morning, it gave me wood. As grumpy as she was, she was still hazy with sleep when my phone call woke her up and if I wasn’t sharing a room with Seno, I’d probably have stroked myself. She sent me a couple of text messages throughout the day and we talked on the phone after the game.
Text to Kristina - What toppings do you like on your pizza?
Text to Kristina - What is your favorite restaurant?
Text to Kristina - What’s your favorite song?
Text from Kristina - Bacon, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and garlic
Text from Kristina - I’m not sure I have a favorite. I like to try new places all the time. Usually it’s more about what’s convenient. Coffee Shops are a creature comfort for me.
Star-Crossed in the Outfield (All About the Diamond #4) Page 18
