2. Kris
2
KRIS
It’s warm today.
October’s in Tennessee are sometimes up and down.
One day it’s warm enough for a light long sleeve shirt, the next you’re bundled in your winter gear and still freezing.
We’re in the offseason for collegiate baseball right now, but that doesn’t mean these guys aren’t still putting in the work every day.
And me and the other coaches are preparing for the season, constantly thinking of ways to better the team, our shortcomings from last season, what we need to change, etc.
Not to mention, UT is always scheduling their athletic departments for charitable fundraisers. That alone keeps us fairly busy around here in the offseason.
I step into the workout portion of our athletic department and spot most of the team hitting their reps, I nod as I walk past them toward the exit.
My day is done already, so I’m about to head home and relax on the couch.
Once the season starts, I don’t get to do much of that. It’s constant practice, constant events, constant traveling. By the end of the season, while I dread the game of baseball being done for another year, I look forward to it at the same time the older I get.
I was one of the lucky ones who was able to get a position on the coaching staff as soon as I graduated from UT. Everyone expected me to go pro, but it just wasn’t in the cards for me, and I’ve come to terms with it.
Shattering my elbow in a car accident didn’t help matters any either.
Which is also why I’m working so damn hard to teach these young men, even though they’re only a few years younger than me, the importance of strength training along with strengthening your mind.
My childhood fucked me up in more ways than I care to admit, and it’s put a damper on a lot of my life plans, but I’ve been to therapy, I know the importance now of making sure my ends are tied up and the dangers of what could happen when they aren’t.
The second I step outside, the warm sun hits me and it’s welcomed. Yesterday I would have frozen my ass off all day.
The campus is decorated for halloween, with banners posted about the upcoming Halloween fundraiser the college hosts each year. I never go, and haven’t since my sophomore year here.
I’m not really big on holidays, and the fact my birthday falls on Christmas is like a giant fuck you from the universe.
I head across the parking lot toward my truck, and smile at it. I’ve worked my ass off to get the things I have right now, and not many twenty-six year olds can say they own their own car and house already.
Growing up in a divided house, where you dad is never around and barely sent his child support payments each month, and your mom is working doubles to make ends meet while you babysit your little brother and eat PB I like her. She’s never given me a reason not to, and God knows she puts up with a lot in this damn family.
“She’s good, planning a wedding in six months has been stressful, but she’s making it all seem so easy, even when I know she’s on the verge of tears at times.”
The way he talks about her makes me envious. I want that, I want someone like that.
But wanting and having are two very different things.
“I’m sure that is tough.”
“Speaking of the wedding?—”
I grimace, here it comes.
“That’s what I wanted you to call me about. I need an answer on if you’re coming and if you’ll be my best man, Kris. There’s no one else I’d rather have up there by my side than my big brother, but I can’t keep waiting. The wedding is less than a month away.”
Disappointment. That’s what I’m picking up on in my brother’s voice.
He’s disappointed and hurt that I’ve taken this long to give him an answer about the wedding. I should have been able to say yes the second he told me the news and asked me, but instead, I made things awkward and probably ruined his moment for him by telling him I needed to think about it.
“I’ll be there.” I pause, thinking everything over in my head. I have plenty of time off, I never go or do anything so it’s all built up over the last couple of years. “And I’ll be glad to be your best man, Kaleb.”
“Whew.” He sighs. “I’m so relieved to hear you say that. I really wanted to have you up there, and the longer you took to give me an answer, the more unsure I was getting that you were going to say yes.”
“Yeah, well let’s just hope our parents don’t ruin the weekend.”
“Just stay away from them, everything will be fine and I’ll make sure that Ruby seats you far away from either of them during the reception.”
I can hear Ruby in the background, but can’t make out what she’s saying.
“Hey, Kris. Are you bringing a date by chance? I want to make sure that I have the seating arrangement nailed down by the end of the week,” she asks.
“I’m honestly not sure.”
“Okay, well if you could decide by Saturday, that’d be great. I know we keep throwing deadlines on you, and I’m sorry. We just have to get everything finalized soon,” she tells me.
“Hey, I get it.” I shrug, because I do. “I’ll let you know by Saturday if I’m going to bring anyone with me.”
“Sounds good, see you soon.” She hands the phone back to my brother.
“Well, I’m going to go help her finish a few things. I’ll see you in a few weeks.”
“Alright, be good.” It’s something I’ve always said to him.
“I’m not a kid anymore, Kris.” He laughs.
“Yeah? Then act like it.” With that I hit disconnect on the phone, knowing he’s rolling his eyes on the other side.
A date? Who the fuck am I going to get to attend a wedding with me as a date?
I’ve fucked, I’ve had plenty of those dates. But someone that I actually want to bring to my brother’s wedding as my date?
I got no one.