Saving Drew

by Lara Van Hulzen

  Unable to wait to be near her again, he followed her into the kitchen. She turned when she reached the coffee pot, surprised to see him with her.

  “Baylee, I’m so sorry.”

  “No, Drew. I’m sorry. You have nothing to apologize for.”

  He leaned a hip against the center island and watched while she poured water into the coffee pot and placed grounds into a filter.

  She hit the on button and faced him. “You did nothing wrong. In fact, you’ve done everything right.” With a few steps she stood before him, close enough to touch, and yet he still didn’t trust himself. “You have been amazing with Casey. That’s one of the reasons I fell for you. You’ve accepted us both, unafraid of what might be in the future for him.”

  “I think I fell in love with Casey as fast I did with you.”

  She blinked and a tear rolled down her cheek. She swept it away with her hand. “Again, you’re amazing.”

  “I’m not trying to be amazing. I’m just trying to be who you and Casey need. Who you deserve.”

  Her eyes met his and she smiled. “Man, you’re easy on me.”

  Unable to hold back any longer, he reached for her, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her close. “Well, you are beautiful and a good dancer, which is a bonus.” He teased her with the words she’d said to him the night before as they’d danced.

  Her giggle fluttered against his chest like butterfly wings.

  “I guess being with me is no picnic sometimes either.”

  “I have it on good authority that picnics are overrated.”

  The coffee pot hissed as it finished brewing. She poured them two mugs and set them on the island while Drew pulled two tall stools up for them to sit.

  “I don’t know why I let Erik get to me so much,” she said. “He saw the picture of us online and gave me a bunch of nonsense about how I was moving from a guy who couldn’t make it the pros to one who had...”

  Drew took a sip of his coffee to keep from saying anything to that. But it looked like another round with the punching bag might come in handy later. This ex of hers was a piece of work.

  “Anyway, that stuff is all about his insecurities and has nothing to do with me. Then he said he was getting married to a woman with athletic kids and was so excited.” She took a deep breath in and let it out. “I have zero feelings for Erik anymore and yet he says stuff that gets under my skin. I didn’t realize how much until I came home and saw you playing baseball with Casey. I snapped. I’m so sorry.”

  He placed a hand over hers. “Stop apologizing. We all lose it sometimes. And you had a good reason.”

  “I saw his little grin when I pulled up to the house. It was like looking into pure sunshine. And you. You were practically glowing.”

  “I’m a guy. We don’t glow.”

  She laughed. “Oh, you were glowing.”

  “Okay, babe. You can have that one, but keep it between us, okay?”

  “You’re secret’s safe with me,” she whispered.

  “Playing catch with Casey was like seeing the purity of the game. It’s not about how good you are at it. Well, at the level I play at it is, yeah, but when kids play, it’s about the love of the game. You can see it in their eyes. And I saw it in Casey’s. He enjoyed it.” He shook his head and took another sip of coffee. “In my opinion, the best players are the ones who don’t lose that love.”

  “Like you.”

  He shrugged. “I try to. But it’s tough. There are more than enough things to distract you once you hit the pros.”

  “I can see that.”

  He took her hands in his and leaned towards her. “Baylee. I would never, ever, force Casey to be someone he’s not. Ever. I want you to know that.”

  Another tear threatened to fall but stayed on the top of her eyelashes. “I know. I really do.”

  “Good.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips. One of reassurance. She was it for him and he’d do anything for her and Casey.

  “Drew. We need to talk about us.”

  He sat back on the stool, his heart rate picking up speed in his chest. They’d worked things out. Why did they need to talk? “I thought we just did.”

  “Don’t get nervous. I just mean, how are we going to do this? The long distance, you traveling so much?”

  Relief flooded his system. “Oh. That.”

  He’d thought about that. A lot. And although he had somewhat of a plan, he still wasn’t sure how things would be between them. It would be a lot of distance.

  Distance he hoped made the heart grow fonder. “Well, I need to get through spring training and see if I still even have my position on the team.” Funny. A month ago if he’d thought that or said it out loud, his gut would clench, dread overwhelming him.

  But not anymore. Looking at Baylee, sitting in the quiet of her bakery kitchen sipping coffee, he knew whatever happened he could handle. As long as she was his.

  “After that, we’ll look at the schedule and every chance I can, I’ll come here.”

  “I can try and come to New York too.”

  “I’d love that.” Thoughts of taking Baylee out of the town, showing her off to the world brightened the dim thoughts of having to leave soon.

  “We can do this, Bay.” He took her hand again and brought it to his lips.

  She nodded in agreement.

  “I have two more weeks before I go. I want to spend every moment I can of it with you and Casey.”

  “I like the sound of that plan.” She stood and went to the large refrigerator. “You want a cookie?”

  He took in the sight of her. Those emerald depths of hers sparkling, her sassy, flowered dress, showcasing all her feminine curves, and her golden curls settling at her shoulders. What he wanted was her, always.

  “I would love a cookie.”

  Drew finished his morning workout with Tyler and hit the showers. His arm felt good. Really good. His focus was back, he wasn’t throwing wild anymore, and his velocity was improving. Add to that the fact each moment he had free he got to spend with Baylee and Casey and life was damn near perfect.

  He exited the locker room and found Tyler sitting on a bench, scrolling through his phone. Drew sat beside him, dropped his gym bag at his feet.

  “Thanks for staying with me extra time. You didn’t have to and I appreciate it.”

  “Hey, man, as I said before, California weather in January and February versus New York? I’m good to hang with you as long as you want.”

  Both men laughed.

  Drew leaned back against the wall behind them and closed his eyes. A good workout always energized him, and as much as he loved the time with Baylee, the day he had to leave sat out in front of him dimming a bit of the sunshine more and more each day.

  Yeah, life was damn near perfect. But would it be once he headed back to his life in New York? A life that felt a million miles away at the moment.

  “Uh-oh.”

  Drew opened his eyes and looked at his friend. “What? What is it?”

  “I’m not sure you want to see this.” Tyler had his phone turned so Drew couldn’t see it.

  “Dude. What is it?”

  Tyler handed over his phone, the screen on Drew’s twitter feed. Someone had tagged his name with a picture of Baylee and the comment read, “MacIntire has himself a hot baking bombshell.” Another comment read, “MacIntire’s Baking Bombshell has a kid.”

  Drew stared at the photo. It was Baylee in her work uniform of jeans and a t-shirt with her apron on from the bakery. It was taken through the front window of her store so it wasn’t crystal clear, but what was clear was her angelic smile and glimmering eyes as she talked with a customer at one of the tables. There was nothing at all about the photo that was bad, per se, but the other picture hadn’t shown her face. This one not only did that but had the name of her shop and the information that Casey existed. Thank God Casey wasn’t in the picture but, based on this, it wouldn’t be long before someone got one.

  Drew’s gu
t dropped and his heartbeat picked up speed.

  “How...?”

  “Seriously, dude?” Tyler took the phone from Drew and dropped it in his gym bag on the floor in front of him. “You’ve been in this circus long enough to know that that was bound to happen at some point.

  Sure, yeah. Of course. But it was one thing when it happened to him. To think that paparazzi had been sniffing around Baylee, taking pictures of her without her knowing made his blood boil and he only saw red.

  “Hey. Down boy. I can see you’re ready to tear someone’s head off, but you know as well as I do that won’t help in this situation. It will only make it worse.”

  Drew nodded, unable to find his voice. Tyler was right.

  “Call that assistant of yours. She’s pretty good at handling this stuff.”

  Drew nodded again, his mind spinning.

  Tyler stood and patted him on the shoulder. “It will all be fine, man. It will.” With that he headed into the locker room.

  Drew dug his phone out of his bag and dialed his assistant. She answered after one ring.

  “I know, I know. I’m handling it, but we need to talk, Drew.”

  Monica Cohen had been his assistant from the beginning when he’d first been called up to the majors. She was known in the business for being a pit bull at handling media, no easy feat with social media being the main source of information these days.

  “Okay. Talk.”

  “You told me you wanted to keep this relationship quiet, but you and I both know that can only last so long. If I were you I would have a long talk with this woman in your life. I can hold the piranhas back for a short time, but you know as well as I do that we need to switch to offense and stop playing defense.”

  Drew took a deep breath through his nose and let it out his mouth. “You’re right. I know you’re right. Try and keep things on the down low just a bit longer. I’ll talk to Baylee and get back to you.”

  “Got it. And not that this means anything but I’ve known you a long time. You sound... happy. I hope you can make this work. If she’s half as great as you say she is, you two will figure out how to handle it all.”

  “Thanks, M. Talk soon.”

  He ended the call and raced for his car. He needed to see Baylee and needed to see her now.

  Baylee wished for time to stand still, but it simply refused to cooperate. With only two weeks left until Drew had to leave for spring training, it was as if every moment had to count. And it did. She was busy with the bakery, of course, but any spare minute she had, Drew was in it.

  She couldn’t remember a time she was happier.

  Keith Urban crooned from her iPod docked in the corner about making a habit of the one you love. She swayed to the music as she mixed ingredients for her lemon cakes, agreeing that making a habit of Drew was a great idea.

  “Hey, boss.” Eva came into the kitchen and turned the music down. She moved next to Baylee, a look on her face that said something was wrong.

  “What? What is it?”

  Eva held up her phone. Baylee wiped her hands on her apron and look at the phone. A picture of Baylee in the bakery stared back at her. A comment beside it said, “MacIntire’s baking bombshell has a kid.”

  She searched Eva’s eyes for an answer. “What is this?”

  “I’m sorry, Baylee.”

  Drew stood in the kitchen doorway. Eva turned and left, patting his arm as she passed through to go back out front.

  “Drew. How...”

  He moved into the kitchen but stayed a few steps away. “I honestly don’t know. I told you, Bay, with smartphones and cameras and information so easy to find...”

  “I know. You did. And, honestly, I don’t give two bits what anyone says or does when it comes to me, but what about Casey?”

  Drew hung his head. “I called my assistant. She’s gonna play defense for us, but we can only do that for so long.”

  Baylee ran her hands through her hair then crossed her arms in front of her chest. It was odd to have her picture out there in the world and a bit creepy that it was taken without her knowledge, but she was an adult. She could handle it. And she’d thought about the fact that they couldn’t keep a secret forever about her being a single mom, but now? Now that it was in black and white for the world to see, a sense of panic flurried through her.

  “I understand.” She took a deep breath and moved into Drew’s arms. His presence calmed her and she’d think better there. He relaxed some too as he wrapped her up in his arms.

  “We can handle this, Bay. We can.”

  She nodded, her cheek rubbing against his t-shirt. Her heart wanted to believe it, but her head wasn’t so sure.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Baylee sat at the counter of Meg’s Diner. It was late in the afternoon, the bakery closed and her workday done. Her mom was watching Casey and Drew was in San Jose training with Tyler, so she decided to hang out with Meg. She was working, but Baylee didn’t mind.

  She picked at her piece of apple pie with her fork, the vanilla ice cream now melted and pooling along the edges of the plate. Since her talk with Drew about the picture of her posted online, she hadn’t slept well and her appetite was waning.

  Drew left in ten days for spring training. Ten days. As much as she tried to not count them down, it was like watching each minute fall off a cliff. Gone. Couldn’t get it back again. Sure, he wasn’t moving to Mars or leaving for years, but it sure was beginning to feel that way. And as much as she told herself she could handle the press and the attention, the reality of it was scary.

  She was a simple woman. Not nosy. She cared for her family and friends and liked keeping her focus on her community, those within her reach. The whole social media thing wasn’t her scene. To go from total control of her privacy to what felt like none at all was a force she was beginning to doubt she could stomach.

  “Okay. I’ve got a few minutes break and based on how you’re playing with that pie more than eating it, we really need to talk.” Meg stood across from her behind the counter. “You have never, and I do mean never, not finished my homemade apple pie.”

  Baylee put her hands in her lap and sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t seem to have much of an appetite right now.”

  “Wow. This is bad. You’ve been on cloud nine since baseball boy strolled into town. Why the long face? Is it the social media stuff?”

  “Mostly. I guess...” Baylee had told Meg about all that had happened and being as protective as Casey as Baylee was, Meg wasn’t happy.

  “Mostly. You guess? Is there something else beyond that I don’t know about?”

  Meg leaned back against the opposite counter and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “No. No. Everything else is fine, it’s just...” She picked up her fork and started toying with the pie again. “I don’t know, Meg. I want so badly to make the best decisions for Casey that I can.”

  “You’re a great mom.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled at her friend. “But being with Drew will open up a whole can of worms I’m just not sure is good for Casey.”

  “But Drew is good for you.”

  Baylee met her friend’s eyes, surprised at the response.

  Meg shook her head. “Don’t get me wrong. I’d take a bullet for that kid. I would. And as much as I hate seeing what you’re going through with this, I have to say that Drew isn’t just good for you, he’s good for Casey too.”

  Meg was right. Drew had been nothing but great with Casey. And although he wasn’t one to show much emotion, Casey adored Drew. He asked about him all the time when Drew wasn’t with them. He even wanted to throw a ball again the next time Drew was over.

  “You just have to ask yourself if it’s all worth it,” Meg continued. “Drew’s career comes with extra... stuff. And I think you’re tough enough to take it. But do you think you are?”

  “But what if they start posting pictures and things about Casey?”

  Meg unfolded her arms and tucked her hands in the fron
t pocket of her jeans. “Another question you have to work through. And it’s really not an ‘if’ but more of a ‘when’, in truth. But you said yourself that Drew’s assistant is ready to play offense instead of defense. If Drew trusts her, then maybe you can too.”

  Baylee took a deep breath and let it out.

  “Excuse me a sec. I’ll be right back.” Meg held up a finger as she walked towards the front door to greet a customer. It wasn’t a meal time so the diner wasn’t jammed. Just a few tourists in for pie or a snack.

  Baylee leaned both elbows on the counter, placed her head in her hands. What she wouldn’t give for some sort of way to see the future. Sure, she’d prayed about it all, found a peace about being in a relationship with Drew, but the rest of it was fuzzy. Not knowing exactly what they would face was unnerving. The first two pictures had popped up without warning. What else would surprise them and knock them off-kilter?

  Meg returned and patted Baylee’s arm. She rested her chin in her hand and looked at her friend. “Look, Bay, you are the wisest, most attentive, wonderful mother I have ever seen. Casey is so lucky to have you. And I don’t know Erik all that well – in truth, based on all you’ve told me, I don’t want to know – but from what I’ve seen of Drew, giving this a shot with him is worth it.” She shrugged. “It will bring challenges, I’m sure, but you’re up for it.”

  The door to the diner opened and two firefighters in uniform entered. Meg stood taller, her shoulders back. It was by no means a defensive stance, but her demeanor shifted, for sure.

  Baylee looked from the two men to Meg and back again. “You okay?” She tried to hide a grin, but failed.

  “Get that smirk off your face, Bay, before I knock it off.”

  Baylee held up both hands in surrender. “No smirking here. Just noticed you... uh... changed a bit when cute Firefighter Chet walked in.”

  “Shut up.”

  The two men stood at the counter by the cash register, waiting for service.

  Baylee cocked her head towards them. “Aren’t you going to go help those fine gentlemen who just came in?”