This time I nodded. “Are you mad at me?”
“Why didn’t you just tell me?” He leaned back in his chair out of my reach. “My dad hates your dad.”
“And you wonder why I didn’t tell you.” I knew his father wasn’t a fan already.
“Why hide it?” he repeated.
“Because I … It’s none of his business. He has no idea that I’m playing baseball. He’s been in Washington most of the summer. He really thinks that I’m living with Grandma to help her out.” I could tell by the look in his eyes that he needed more of an explanation than that. I poured out my heart, opening a vein I never wanted to share with anyone. “Whenever I do something, he uses it as a platform to say what he wants. When I was twelve, the debate team I was on made it to the state championships. My father sat proudly in the front row as I debated the positive side of oil refineries. After it was over, he stood before the local press with his arm wrapped around me and went on about the value of the American education system. It was one of his platforms for election into the Senate.” I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms. The memories wormed their way into my head like poison. “Anyway, that was just one of many moments he stole from me. He used my success for his own gain. Hence the ‘trophy daughter’ moniker.”
“So you just let him do it. You don’t say a word.” He shook his head and leaned onto the table. “That doesn’t really sound like you, Vic.”
The truth slammed into my chest like a bullet. He was right in so many ways. Maybe that didn’t sound like me now, but it did when my father was around.
“Still, you could’ve told me.” He clasped his hands together.
The throbbing began in my forehead. I rubbed my fingers over it like that would make it stop. “If you would’ve asked, I would’ve told you.”
“My parents did ask you.”
I stood up and pointed my finger at him. “After I sat there and listened to them bash him for voting to strengthen immigration standards.”
“They had their reasons for that.”
“And I had mine.” I pulled the ponytail holder out of my hair, twirling it around my fingers as I paced.
He stood up and blocked my path, his voice growing louder. “You said he was a lawyer.”
“He is a lawyer.” This was not going well. I walked over to the appetizers Gina brought up when Daniel arrived, keeping my back to him. “Put yourself in my shoes for a change. Please.”
He wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder. “So what do we do now?”
“It’s only going to get worse.” I turned around to face him. “That reporter is going to show up at every game until he gets what he wants. If we hold him off, it won’t turn into anything major that the nationals can pick up. If he gets the story he wants, more will show up.”
He nodded and kissed the tip of my nose. “Promise me one thing. That you’ll never willingly withhold information like this again.”
“That I can do.”
Adam, Calvin, and Reggie walked in. Heather trailed behind them. Daniel let go of me and joined them at a table. Heather gave me a little wave before Adam shot her a nasty look. Even though she wasn’t supposed to be here, I was glad she was.
One by one, everyone showed except Jayden. They eyed the food as they walked by. Coach Strauss came in last and closed the door behind him.
“Alrigh’, Hudson,” Coach growled. “You wanna let us in on what’s goin’ on?”
I nodded and stood in front of the room. It was hard, felt nearly impossible, and I had to fight back the stupid fear tears. I laid it all on the line though. Everything. When I finished, I sat quickly. Daniel put his arm over my shoulder. I didn’t look at any of them. I just couldn’t.
Adam broke the silence. “Really, Hudson, is that all?”
My head shot up. The guys were looking at me like I’d hit the lotto.
“Come on, Vic. It’s not that big of a deal. We won’t talk. Hell, we don’t have anything to say anyway.” Calvin laughed. Then he smacked Reggie. “Expect Reggie of course. We all know that he won’t shut up.”
“Bite me, Cal.” Reggie glared at me. “You know that your dad cost my dad his job when he voted against the government bailout of Energenes?”
Crap, now I had to talk politics. I hated talking politics. “Because the CEO and CFO were planning on giving out thousands of dollars in executive bonuses while laying off hundreds of workers. Even if the company was going under, they were going to get rich. Did you know that? I had to sit there at the kitchen table one night and listen to him on the phone with someone from Delaware.” I stood up again, resuming my pacing path. “Look, I don’t always agree with my father’s political views, but that’s not going to stop the media from making more out of this than there is. You guys know me. You know I just want to play baseball. If my father catches wind of this, then he will do whatever he can to make it all about him. We won’t matter.” I stopped beside Daniel’s chair. “None of us.”
“What you mean is that you won’t matter,” Reggie snapped.
Daniel shifted beside me. I put my hand on his shoulder to shut him up.
Adam spoke up before I could. “She matters to us, Reg.”
Coach stood beside me. “Don’t sweat it, kid. As a team, we all agree to keep our traps shut and not talk to that damned reporter. Right?”
“Yeah,” they said in unison.
“Good, I’m guessin’ the food’s for us?” Coach pointed to the buffet while I nodded. “Let’s eat. I’m starvin’.”
It was still tense in the room; at least it felt like it to me. Maybe it was my imagination. When I looked around, the guys were chatting like nothing happened. But something did. I became separated. I didn’t belong anymore. Even if no one said a word about it, I felt the crevasse open between all of us.
Just another thing my father has taken from me.
BOTTOM OF THE 5TH
The next morning, I ripped the newspaper out of Grandma’s hand and rushed down the hall to my room. I tore it apart looking for an article, anything at all that mentioned me. Nothing. I threw the crumpled paper on the bed and checked the Leader’s website. Sometimes these things don’t make it into print. Nothing there either. I breathed a sigh of relief, albeit a temporary one.
“Are you going to let me in on what’s going on?” Grandma asked. I glanced up from my laptop. She leaned on the doorway with coffee in her hand, steam rising from the mug in drifting circles.
I went back to checking other websites and even googling my name. “I’ve got it under control.”
“Apparently not if you’re acting like this.” She came into the room and sat on the edge of my bed. “Now, tell me what’s going on, Vicky.”
“It’s nothing.” None of the other local news websites had anything. The last time I was in the news at all was for the benefit.
“Victoria Christine, I can play this game all day or you can just tell me what’s happened.” She made a loud slurping sound as she sipped her coffee. “It’s up to you.”
I closed the laptop and leaned against my pillows. As long as I stared at the ceiling, I could tell Grandma just about anything. “A reporter showed up at the game yesterday.”
“Well, you knew this was bound to happen sooner or later.”
“No, I didn’t.” I sat up and looked her in the eye. “I didn’t think it would happen at all. I just –”
“Wanted to play baseball. I know, dear, but that doesn’t change who you are.” Another slurp.
“You know what’s going to happen.”
“Only if you allow it.”
I snorted. “He doesn’t listen.”
“You don’t tell him anything.” She sat her mug on the nightstand then leaned in to grab my hands. “Victoria, you’ve spent your life in the shadow of your father. You’ve done all that he’s asked of you. You’ve been everything he wanted you to be. You have made him proud. But you need to be your own person. That’s one of the reasons I agr
eed to this charade. You need to tell him about this baseball thing. If one reporter shows up, no matter how much you and your friends keep your mouths shut, the others will come eventually.”
I shook my head. For the first time this summer, I felt like I’d made a mistake. “I shouldn’t have even tried.”
“What are you talking about? Of course you should have. Look at how much fun you’ve had. The new friends you’ve made. And you probably wouldn’t have met Daniel.”
The sinking feeling of impending disaster was enough to make me want to vomit. “Now the Senator’s going to ruin it all.”
Grandma threw her hands in the air and stood up. She grabbed her mug, spilling some warm coffee on her hand and shaking it off quickly. At the door, she turned around and glared at me. “I give up. You’re right. Your father will ruin everything. But only because you let him. It’s time you grow up. Or you’ll never be able to. It’s entirely up to you.”
I almost followed her into the kitchen, but I didn’t want to fight with Grandma anymore than I wanted to deal with my father. An hour later she started slamming her tools around, and I joined her in the hallway and walked with her to the car. We drove in silence to the Habitat house. I tried to think of something to say. Anything to make the argument go away. Once we got to the site, she jumped out of her car and walked toward the watercoolers. Disappointing my father was one thing, but disappointing Grandma felt like the world around me collapsed.
I found Daniel painting in the living room. He handed me a brush and I went to work painting along the windows. The meticulous up and down motion helped numb my mind. It let me forget about what was bound to happen next.
After six hours of painting, nailing, carrying, and doing just about anything else we could find to do, Daniel and I decided to hang out at his house. The hard work at Habitat house wore me out.
“Mom and Dad will leave by six,” he said as he cleaned his paintbrush. He glanced around to make sure no one could hear him. “They usually stay out with the Kims until midnight, if not later. Becca’s going to be at her friend’s house all night. It’ll be just us.” He smiled and flicked water on my cheek. “Think you can handle being alone with me for that long?”
I bumped my hip against him. “Pretty sure. What about you?”
“Oh, I don’t think that’ll be a problem.” He brushed his lips across mine so fast I thought I imagined it until a couple of the guys wooted. “I’ll see you around seven?”
I nodded. He leaned in to kiss me again, but the guys started making more catcalls. Daniel laughed and jogged to catch up with his dad.
“Oh, Vicky, you have that little boy wrapped around your finger,” Charles, the foreman and a Grandma favorite, shouted from the other side of the site. He was loud enough that there was no way Daniel didn’t hear him.
“Now, leave her alone, boys,” Grandma chided. “She’s got enough on her plate. She doesn’t need your crap.”
“You’re a little sassy, missy,” Charles said. He took three long steps over to where she held her ground and lifted her over his shoulder. “You need to promise to make me some more of your brownies if you want me to get over that bossy little comment.”
Grandma laughed as her face turned flaming red. All the blood was rushing to her cheeks. “Charles, I make you brownies once a week.”
Which explained why I always smelled them but never saw them. I crossed my arms and waited, amused by my grandmother’s playfulness.
“What if I make you some cookies instead?” she asked between bursts of laughter. “Liven up your diet.”
He sat her back on her feet. “That sounds good. Chocolate chip?”
“Oatmeal.” She grabbed a cup from a nearby sawhorse and dumped it over Charles’ hard hat before he had time to react.
Grandma took off running with Charles on her heels. She laughed like she was a little girl again. Some of the other guys stood around, watching Charles chase Grandma down. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling at the two of them.
“They’re something together, aren’t they?” Wanda said. She was Grandma’s right hand. When Grandma wasn’t around, Wanda took charge.
“What do you mean?”
“Her and Charles.” She nodded to where Charles had just caught my grandmother around the waist. “I can’t believe you haven’t noticed it before.”
I took a hard look at both of them. If Wanda said anything else, I didn’t hear it. Charles was older than I thought. His square face, sharp chin, and bright blue eyes made him appear young. Beyond all that, there were wrinkles, crow’s feet, and a head full of gray hair. I turned to ask Wanda how old Charles was, but she was gone.
I twisted back to take in my grandmother in the same manner and noticed how much younger she appeared when she was around Charles. She didn’t seem tired or old-lady-ish. She looked happy.
My father wasn’t going to like this.
That made me smile even more.
Daniel opened the door while I was still knocking. He grabbed my hands and pulled me inside toward the kitchen. It was small with no room for a table and chairs. The room smelled of tomato sauce, oregano, pepperoni, and burnt cheese.
He pulled two oven mitts over his hands and opened the oven. “I timed this perfectly. I made two pizzas. Grab the soda out of the fridge and we’ll go upstairs.”
“What kind of pizza?” I found a two liter on the top shelf and showed it to him. “This one?”
“Um, yeah,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. He sat the pizzas on the stove. “One pepperoni and one sausage. That okay?”
I nodded and waited while he sliced the pizzas. They were the frozen kind, but Daniel had added more meat and cheese. My stomach growled.
We went up to the attic and settled onto the couch. Daniel turned on a movie that I didn’t pay attention to. We ate in silence as the movie began.
“You look beautiful tonight,” he whispered in my ear.
“Thanks.” I glanced down at my white tank and khaki shorts. Simple, yet sexy. Low key, yet carefully selected.
He ran the back of his fingers up my bare arm. Goose bumps trailed behind. A shiver crept up my spine. The pizzas sat on the coffee table, forgotten. I leaned my head on his shoulder, pretending to watch the movie. His fingers continued their path, barely touching my skin. He rested his head on mine. I knew he wasn’t watching the movie either.
“This is nice,” I said to break the silence.
“Understatement.”
I turned my head to see him. We’d been waiting for this moment for what felt like forever. It was the first time we’d been alone since the thing with Theo. Since Shelby. Since the party.
A frown crossed his face for a second, but it was enough to disturb me.
“What’s wrong?” I tucked my knees underneath me and faced him.
He took both of my hands, more goose bumps, and grazed his lips across my palms. More shivers. “Nothing.”
He pulled me down on top of him and slid his hands around my waist. It was slow at first, gentle. Then it started to get too fast and too much. I jerked back but didn’t move away from him.
“Daniel …”
“Victoria …”
The way he said my name, it was like it was meant for his lips only. I bent back over him and kissed his neck, inhaling the musk he’d dabbed over his throat. He tightened his arms around my waist, letting a tiny moan escape. He slipped his fingers under my shirt and ran his fingers up and down my spine. His hands were warm and slightly damp from sweat. He didn’t grab or grope, which made him that much hotter. I lifted his shirt and touched his chest.
“Oh God, Vic.” He put a hand on my neck and pulled me back to his lips.
My heart ricocheted around my ribs. Instinct took over. My fingers were tugging at his shirt to free him of that cotton burden when the doorbell rang. We both froze in mid-unshirt.
“You just got saved by the bell,” Daniel said. He sat up and tucked his shirt into his jeans, but his eyes never left min
e. “You’re beautiful.”
Daniel kissed me one last time before rushing down the stairs as the doorbell rang again. I fell back onto the couch, wondering how far I would’ve let it go and if I would’ve been able to stop. The movie continued to play as a couple declared their undying love for one another. He’d made sure it was a cheesy chick flick. I laughed at his movie choice, even though I knew he did it for me. After about five minutes, I started to wonder what was going on downstairs.
I tiptoed down each flight, hoping not to hit the one squeaky stair all houses have, even Chez Hudson. The voices were loud enough to be heard on the second floor, but I couldn’t understand what they were saying. Daniel’s bedroom door stood open and the room was spotless. I could even see his blue plaid comforter spread across the bed.
The voices grew louder, almost to a yell. The newcomer sounded familiar, but I couldn’t figure out who it was. I crept down the last flight and could hear them clearer. I stopped midway down to listen.
“I’m not doing this again. Don’t you get that?” Daniel snapped.
“Don’t be such a wuss. It’s not a big deal,” the girl whined. Her voice was nasally and creeping me out.
“What part of ‘no’ don’t you understand?”
It hit me like a wall of the Habitat house falling over me. I knew who the other voice belonged to and hurried down the rest of the stairs not caring whether they heard me or not. They stood in the parlor.
“Get over yourself, Danny.” Shelby threw her hands in the air. “You’re so damn righteous.”
“Leave. Now.” Daniel was expressionless.
“Maybe I don’t want to,” she purred and rubbed her hand up his arm. “Maybe I have something else in mind.”
Daniel took a step back, pressing his back against the doorframe to the dining room. “Leave, Shelby.”
She pushed her chest into his. My blood boiled, but I waited.
“And I said I don’t want to leave, Danny.” She stood on her tippy toes and tried to kiss him. He moved his head to the right and his eyes caught mine just as she planted one on his cheek. “What’s –”
Extra Innings Page 10
