Hotbox

by Delia Delaney

  I sat with Jayden and decided to hold her hand. I almost didn’t because I was afraid to touch her in front of him, but it was a normal thing for me to do and I didn’t want to appear fake. Then I did the only thing I knew I could do well: I commented on the game.

  He glanced at the TV and offered a reply, and then added, “They’re gonna lose it.” He sat down in the chair and faced us. “You play catcher, huh?”

  “Yes. Since little league, even.”

  He nodded. “Your dad must’ve enjoyed it, putting you in so young.”

  And there it was.

  “Uh, actually my aunt always took me. My father wasn’t around much.”

  He nodded again, eyeing me carefully.

  “My dad played baseball in high school,” Jayden informed me.

  “Oh, yeah? What position?” I asked him.

  He took his time answering, “Shortstop.”

  “We have an incredible shortstop. I don’t think I’ve seen him miss anything all season.”

  He studied me for a moment. “Jack Houston?”

  “Uh, yeah.” Why was I surprised that he knew? He probably knew all our stats, just like his daughter. “You should come see a game,” I suggested. “We play tonight at six, and hopefully tomorrow at six as well.”

  He barely nodded his head. “Saw one last weekend,” he said.

  So he was checking up on me. Jayden even looked surprised.

  “Yeah? What’d you think?”

  He paused briefly. “Saw a couple innings; your team looks pretty good.” A tiny smile almost appeared on his face when he added, “You took some hard hits.”

  With a smile I said, “Yeah, it’s a much coveted base that I protect.” I realized he must have seen at least half of the game. One collision occurred in the third inning, the other was in the seventh.

  Jayden’s phone rang with a familiar song. “Oh, that’s Cali,” she said. “I’d better answer it before she calls fifty times.” She grabbed the phone and headed into the kitchen.

  The second her dad looked at me, I knew the small talk was over. He leaned forward slightly and spoke in a low voice. “I’ve barely seen my own daughter in the past few weeks. Neither have her friends, for that matter. I like her friends; I don’t particularly care for yours. I better not hear of any more things said to her, about her, or in front of her. I especially don’t want to hear the things that I’ve heard about you. She may think the world of you, but it doesn’t mean that I have to. I can look at you without the rose-colored glasses.”

  My heart dropped into my stomach. This man was already determined to hate me. But I quickly remembered the beautiful girl in the other room, and I knew without a doubt my promise to her was real. Facing Joe Adams and his disdain of me was pretty intense, but I’d faced my share of harsh people in the world, and I was set on keeping Jayden in my life.

  I decided I’d better make sure he was actually done before I responded, so after he gave me a hard stare for a few seconds, I nodded my head. “I understand how you feel. She’s amazing. She deserves only the best.”

  “Damn right she deserves the best.” His look clearly stated that “the best” wasn’t me.

  “I’m sorry you haven’t seen her much. I don’t want her to give up her time with friends or family. I wanted her to go boating yesterday and she wouldn’t go. I think Chris—”

  “She and Chris aren’t even speaking. Apparently you’ve become quite a problem between them.”

  I was speechless. And I felt stupid that I hadn’t realized that. She hadn’t even mentioned his name for the past week or talked to him on the phone. She talked to Cali all the time, but I wasn’t sure if she communicated with her other friends, as well. I guess I never asked.

  “What do you want me to say?” I finally asked.

  He smiled for the first time. “I think you already know the answer to that.”

  “You don’t want me to see her anymore? Because of things that you’ve heard?”

  “You’re gonna tell me that you don’t have a different girlfriend every week? You get what you can from them, get bored, and move on to the next one?”

  “What? I don’t know where you got your information, but that’s not true.”

  He was about to respond but Jayden entered the room as she was finishing up her conversation on the phone. Her father relaxed back into his chair ever so subtly as Jayden hung up and sat down beside me.

  “What’d I miss?” she smiled.

  “Not much,” her father replied smoothly. “How’s Cals?”

  “Fine. They’re going to the river tonight for a bonfire.”

  “That sounds fun,” he said. “You gonna go?”

  “I’d rather see Ty’s game,” she answered, looping her arm through mine.

  I silently groaned. Joe Adams only gave me a glance, but it spoke a thousand words.

  After another half an hour of forced conversation between her dad and I—mostly about sports because it was probably the only topic we could both tolerate from each other—Jayden offered to make lunch for the three of us.

  “I’m not really hungry, sweetheart,” her father said. “Maybe Ty would rather take you out for lunch.”

  She smiled at me and asked, “Is that what you want?”

  “Sure, that sounds fine.” Anything to get out of here.

  So with a smug look on his face, Joe Adams sent us off with a wave and a “have a good time.”

  I exhaled long and careful as we walked to my truck. Unbelievable. The word Jayden had used earlier was exactly how I felt: rattled. But it also ran deeper than that. I felt a bit of dread, knowing her father despised me and would probably never like me. What would a future with her even be like? My father was a drunk and a bum of a dad, but I knew he would at least like Jayden. I knew he would be friendly, accept her, and not make her feel threatened.

  Jayden smiled at me innocently as she buckled her seatbelt. “That went better than I expected,” she said.

  The fact that she was so pleased made me feel even worse.

  “Yeah? That’s good,” I replied vacantly. “Uh, what do you feel like eating?”

  “I don’t care, you can choose.”

  I quietly sighed. I wasn’t even hungry, and frankly, I just couldn’t think straight to make a proper decision. Out of habit I just pulled into a sub shop that was a half-mile from my house and the school. The guys and I ate there a lot on game days because a sandwich was sometimes the easiest thing for Jesse to eat when he had a nervous stomach.

  Now I totally understood how he felt.

  “Ty, what’s the matter? You’ve been so quiet,” Jayden said after we sat down inside.

  I shrugged. “Oh, I’m just thinking about the game tonight, I guess.”

  She tilted her head and studied my face. She didn’t say anything and took a bite of her sandwich. After she swallowed she said, “You’re not eating. Aren’t you hungry?”

  I looked at the sandwich in my hand and took a bite. The idea of eating it made me sick, but it avoided conversation until I could think of what to say. Finally I asked, “What time were they going down to the river tonight?”

  “Mmm, about seven.”

  “I think you should go.”

  “No way,” she laughed. “I want to see your game.”

  “There are plenty of games. I want you to spend some time with your friends.”

  She froze for a second and then put her food down. “I’d only go if you came with me.”

  If it got her to see her friends…

  “I can after the game. Why don’t you go with Cali, and then I’ll meet you there when I’m done.”

  She laughed again. “I’m not missing your game, Ty. I’ll stroke your ego and let you think it’s because of you, but I’m really just addicted to baseball now.”

  It made me smile, but it wasn’t enough to get my mind off her father. He didn’t want me around her. Whoever it was that told him stuff about me was out to do some major damage. Was it Chris? Wa
s that why Jayden had gotten so upset with him? Maybe she was dealing with the same type of stuff that I was putting up with from Aaron. If Jayden was busy trying to defend me to all of her friends, what did that mean for the two of us? Was it really just us against the world?

  No, that couldn’t be true. Jesse had my back; so did the rest of my team. None of them had a problem with Jayden. In fact, they all thought she was pretty great. And even though Aaron was a jackass sometimes, he had somewhat laid off on the comments. I guess our battle came down to the people not liking me—mainly Chris and Joe Adams, who happened to be the most important guys in Jayden’s life. What did that say? Neither of them even knew me. Sure, Jayden was a far greater person than I was, but was I really that bad?

  I was beginning to think that I was way out of my league…

  That night I didn’t do so hot in the game. I couldn’t believe that Jayden was right. One meeting with her father could throw off everything in a person’s mind. By the fifth inning Coach Tucker pulled me aside and asked what was going on.

  “I’m just off, I guess.”

  “You’re never off, Ty. What’s the problem? Something personal going on?”

  I couldn’t lie to him; he already knew the answer was yes.

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Would it help to talk about it? Did you break up with your girlfriend or something?”

  “No, I met her dad today.”

  He actually laughed out loud.

  “I’m glad that amuses you,” I scowled.

  “I’m sorry, Ty. I’m not laughing because it’s funny, I’m laughing because I understand. Joe Adams is one tough sucker, and I wouldn’t wish meeting him upon any kid. Come here,” he said. He took me by the shoulder and faced me to the crowd from the end of the dugout. “You see that girl up there?” He pointed to Jayden sitting six rows above us. She was watching Jack at the plate. “That girl loves you, plain and simple. If you love her back, and I know you do, nothing else matters.” He patted me on the back and said, “She loves you, kid. Her dad doesn’t have to.”

  He was right, and I already knew that, but the confirmation was what I really needed to hear.

  Jack got a base hit, but Aaron got out on a pop fly to right field. Before taking my place at the plate, I glanced at Jayden. She looked worried, probably thinking I was going to strike out again, but she smiled and blew me a kiss. I relaxed for the first time all night and eyed the pitcher. The first pitch looked pretty good to me so I took a swing and the ball went soaring. It went over the fence between center and left, scoring us two runs and tying the game 2-2.

  We were ahead by one in the final inning, the score being 3-2. The other team had a runner on third just dying to get home to tie up the game, and their best slugger was at the plate. All we needed was one out to win it, so when a chopper was hit to the left of the mound, the runner took off. But Everett dove for the ball and stopped it, and he chucked it to me at home plate. The toss was a little wide, so I had to snag it away from the plate, and dive back to make the tag on the slide.

  “Out!” yelled the umpire.

  Tomorrow at six: championship game.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Wow, that’s huge!” Jayden exclaimed. “Who built this thing?”

  We made our way to where everyone was congregating around a gigantic bonfire.

  “Chris and Matt,” Cali told her. “They practically hauled full-sized trees over here.” We sat against a log in the sand next to Cali and she asked, “How’d the game go?”

  “Ty saved the day,” Jayden replied proudly.

  “No, I had to make up for my own screw-ups,” I corrected her.

  Somehow Jayden made me sound like a hero anyways, and then the girls continued to talk while I observed who was present. Silvia and Josh were cozied together against another log, Matt was with Stacie next to Chris and Shawn, and there were two girls on the other side that I learned were Tina and Aubrey.

  I remained mostly quiet for the time we were with the group. Jayden leaned against me and wrapped my arms around her; I tried hard to focus on how much I loved her instead of the daggers that Chris was eyeing me with. It seemed that Jayden was trying to avoid him as well because she didn’t talk to him or look at him unless she had to.

  I did like Shawn, though. He was pretty funny. It was easy to see that his personality carried over to his musical performances. He was friendly and didn’t seem to have any preconceived notions about me—at least none that he cared about. He and Jayden talked for quite a bit about music—different shows they had done or wanted to do, and Shawn’s plans for adding on to the recording studio in his basement. After a while I realized that Josh was actually Shawn’s younger brother.

  I learned that Tina was another teacher at Jayden’s music store. Aubrey’s mom, Charlotte, was a good friend of Joe’s, and I was shocked that the man would even have any friends.

  My interest was piqued when Chris and Matt began talking about a ’67 Camaro that Matt and his brother were rebuilding. Matt was complaining about some of the work they had been doing on it and that it still wasn’t running like it should. I didn’t want to interfere, but based on what he was describing, I knew exactly what the problem was and offered a suggestion.

  “That’s all it takes?” Matt asked.

  “Yeah, it should be good. If it doesn’t help, I can take a look at it for you.”

  “Hey, thanks, man. That’s saves me a lot of worry. And a lot of money.”

  “Good,” Stacie added. “Now maybe he won’t beg me for money.”

  At that point it was eleven-fifteen, and Jayden leaned back to whisper, “Let’s head out.”

  She kissed me, and even though the other couples—Matt and Stacie, Josh and Silvia—had been kissing on each other all night, I was glad she kept it short. I could feel Chris burning holes through me with his glare.

  “We have a little longer if you want,” I told her.

  “I want to be alone with you,” she murmured against my face.

  I chuckled and said, “Okay, if you have to twist my arm.”

  She stood up and announced our departure, and everyone returned the farewell, except for Chris who looked at me and said, “Yeah, isn’t it past your curfew?”

  I was fine with not responding, but Jayden replied, “Not yet, we still have some time.” She smiled with implication, took my hand, and we walked away. Stacie hollered, “Woohoo! Yeah, baby!” and I heard a guy—I think Shawn—say something about ‘getting some action.’

  I didn’t know if I should laugh or not until Jayden wrapped an arm around me when we were in the parking lot and asked, “Am I gonna get some action?”

  Then I did laugh. “What kind of action are you looking for?” I asked as we arrived at my truck. I put her between the truck and me, and leaned against it with both hands. I kissed her, very slowly at first, keeping my body distant. I kissed her neck and I thought a shiver went through her. “Hmm, either you’re cold, or I just found a special spot,” I whispered.

  With a smile she replied, “I’m not cold.”

  “Ahhh,” I said knowingly, looking at her with a smile. “What about the other side? Does that work the same?” I softly kissed the right side of her neck, just behind her ear, and got the same reaction. “Hmm, interesting.”

  “Maybe I should say I’m cold, though.”

  She gently pulled me closer and wrapped her arms around my waist. There was no reason for my hands to be on the truck anymore, so I put them behind her head and kissed her again. She slid her hands in my back pockets and held me against her.

  I slowly removed my lips from hers and looked into her eyes. “Jayden,” I began, running my fingers through her hair. She was so incredibly beautiful in the moonlight. “I—”

  “Hey, you guys are still here?” Cali’s voice pierced through the darkness.

  I closed my eyes with frustration and slowly dropped my hands. Jayden kept hers where they were, but she moved from against the truck and cudd
led against me, so I wrapped my arms around her.

  “Are you leaving?” she asked her.

  “Yeah,” Cali sighed. “I have to work tomorrow. At six in the morning.”

  “People actually get up that early to have their hair done?” Jayden chuckled.

  “Yeah, believe it or not. And I’m booked full until noon. When are you gonna come in?” she asked Jayden, taking a strand of her hair and peering at it closely. Cali was not conscious of boundaries in the least bit as she stood there almost as close to us as we were to each other. “You could use a trim.”

  “Okay, leave us alone and I’ll think about it,” Jayden smiled.

  Cali laughed. “Okay, lovebirds. Goodnight.”

  I kissed Jayden on the forehead and told her it was time to get her home. She paused for a moment as she looked at me, like she was waiting for me to say something more. Then she nodded her head.

  When I pulled up to her house, the bad feelings from earlier returned. Joe Adams wanted me to stay away from his daughter; I was completely unable to do that. I loved her, and I would endure her father for as long as I had to.

  I slept until nine the next morning. I think I was completely drained from the events of the day before. Aaron drilled me about my night with Jayden but I wasn’t willing to give up much information. He thought it was funny that Chris hated me. I didn’t offer him a response, but when he mentioned that the guy was probably in love with her, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Jayden had described Chris as a “brother,” but that in no way meant he thought the same about her. I felt like it was the biggest ah-ha moment ever.

  I thought about what I almost told her last night. I was about to tell her that I loved her. Maybe fate stepped in and deferred the moment on purpose. It still felt like I was fighting an uphill battle.

  I told Jayden that I would be busy for most of the day. It really was true, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t come do as well. My hopes were that she’d use the time to spend with her dad, her friends, or anything else I had unintentionally caused her to neglect.