Chapter 60 The Draft, The Dream, The Aftermath
-Drew-
Summer
If I ever make it big and someone wants me to recall the month leading up to the draft and they ask what has been the highlight of the last month, I’m sure they’d expect my answer to be winning the state championship, or graduation, or the possibility of being part of the draft.
Still, those guesses would have all been wrong, because the biggest moment of my life in May was making love to my girlfriend for the first time.
Yes, I’ve had sex before her, but sex with her wasn’t like any of the girls before her.
It felt like, for lack of a better word, more.
We’d fallen asleep after our first time together and I’d spooned her against my body the whole night.
It all felt a little like a dream until Craig came into the room and grumbled, “Do not thank me for getting you laid. Annie has already done it, and it was weird.”
***
Graduation and all the events feel like a blur, from the last days to all the goodbyes with our fellow classmates.
I love that the school doesn’t do graduation in alphabetical order and that I get to sit next to Annie and our friends through all the events of the ceremony.
I am behind Annie when her name is announced, and I shout along with her family in the crowded arena.
When I hear “Drew Joseph Davis,” I hear my family and give them a look, holding up my diploma and waving it in their direction.
Craig gives a bow to the lady giving out the diplomas, which gets a laugh from the audience.
Luke can’t let Craig upstage him, and he shouts near the mic, “Looks like they passed me after all, don’t look suspicious, don’t look suspicious…
” as he heads to the lady with the diplomas, gaining another round of laughter.
Meg is the last to be announced, and we all cheer from the audience again as we get back to our seats.
When it comes time to move our tassels, I grab Annie’s, and she grabs mine, and we flip them for each other.
We share a short kiss as our classmates cheer, celebrating our graduation.
***
Two days later, I get the call from my agent about the draft.
I should go downstairs and tell my parents first, but I leave the house and walk over to the Campbells’.
Per normal, Mr. Campbell opens the door and ushers me inside.
“Davis, how are you?” Annie and her mom come into the open living room from the kitchen, carrying a bowl of popcorn.
I blurt it out: “I’m getting drafted, I’ve been asked to attend the draft in person.
” The excitement breaks out over at the Campbells’.
Mr. Campbell pats me on the back, telling me, “Proud of you, Davis.” Mrs. Campbell runs over and gives me a hug, saying, “Anyone watching you play knows it’s what you're meant to do—congratulations, Drew.” Annie drops the popcorn before jumping around her mom and kissing me, not caring that her parents are right behind her.
When we break the kiss, she tells me, “I always knew you would make it.” Mr. Campbell says we need to celebrate with a dinner out and that they can postpone the movie night.
I ask if my parents could join us, and then I go home and share the good news with them as well as our dinner plans.
The night out with both our families is a blast. Our parents laugh and share all our embarrassing stories.
The whole time, I hold the hand of the most beautiful girl.
I know that I want her to be part of all my big moments.
***
A few days after the family dinner celebration, I walk over to the Campbell’s house when I know that Annie isn’t home.
Mr. Campbell opens the door, looking a little confused.
“Hi, Davis, good to see you, but Annie isn’t here.
” I tell him I’ve come over to talk to him about something.
He seems a little worried but welcomes me into the living room.
Before I can even start to ask if Annie can travel with me to the draft, he says, “Drew, I know you love my daughter, but you are just starting your career. I can’t give my approval yet.
Let her go to school, let her go get her dreams, too, and then ask me again.
I’ll be ready to approve then. You’re a good guy, and I know she loves you too, but please, just wait.
” My mind was not prepared for his speech.
What did he think I was going to ask him?
Replaying his words, I realize he thought I wanted his approval to ask her to marry me.
For just a split second, I see it all in my mind: us engaged, us married, us getting to set up our first place together, but then just as quickly, I see that she’d follow me if we got engaged now.
She’d put her dreams on hold for me, and I don’t want that.
I want Annie to get her dreams, too, and not feel like she’d given them up for me.
I thanked him for the advice, agreeing that I love his daughter and that getting engaged now isn’t the right time.
After he looks satisfied, I address the actual reason for my visit, having Annie come with me and my parents to the draft.
He tells me that if Annie wants to go, it isn’t a problem with him.
I thank him for his time and leave with a lot more on my mind than when I showed up.
***
Now I am sitting here at the draft in my suit and red tie, with my parents and Annie.
She is in a beautiful red dress that matches my tie, and my hand is resting in her lap.
She has both her hands wrapped around mine.
Dad leans in. “Heard anything?” “My agent said he’d text me when it’s about to happen,” I reply.
We are six guys into the first round, and my agent estimates that I will probably go early in the second.
He’d received an indication that a few clubs are interested and that I impressed in the media interviews a few days ago.
I am trying not to show my emotions on my face, but my brain is going in a million directions.
I eventually focus on Annie’s fingers sliding over the top of my hand.
I’m so lost in thought that I jump when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
I feel sick with the nerves as I reach into my pocket for my phone.
My agent's name appears across the screen, and I swipe open the message.
Dominic Stone
You’re going in the first round to Arizona
They pick next so be ready with that smile
Looks like a signing bonus of at least $3M
Well, fuck, is the first thing that goes through my mind.
$3 MILLION is the next thing that flashes like neon lights in my mind.
I squeeze Annie's hand to get her attention, because I know my time is coming. She looks over, noticing I have my phone; I turn it to her. As she reads the message, her eyes go big, and then a smile appears. “Drew,” she whispers. “I know, be ready to be on camera, Angel,” I say, smiling back at her. The announcer says that Arizona is making their selection, and I look over at my parents before I hear, “With their first-round pick, the Arizona Sands select shortstop Drew Davis.” I make sure to smile at the camera crew in front of me before pulling Annie into a hug and a quick kiss. I hug both my parents before making my way to the stage. I get handed an Arizona hat, and I place it on my head before shaking the hands of the announcer. Cameras are clicking, and I don’t have to remember to smile, because my dream just came true.
The reality sinks in when my agent joins me backstage.
He goes over the next steps of now being a drafted player.
I’ll do some press, and he is sure that I’ll get some calls to do some sports radio interviews.
He tells me that I’ll play out of the minor league group for Arizona in Scottsdale; the club has recommended apartments that work with the baseball players, but we can deal with that in the next few days.
He tells me to start packing, because I’m now a pro baseball player.
I get a call from the organization welcoming me to the club, and they let me know we will finalize the paperwork, signing bonus, etc.
, in the next few days, but for today, they tell me to enjoy the moment.
Then, in two weeks, I’ll be expected in Arizona, and we can get serious then.
I thank them for the opportunity before the call ends.
When I finally see my family again, I feel like I’ve been through a whirlwind.
Mom comes up to me: her eyes are all wet, and it looks like she's already cried and that she may start again now. I pull her into a big hug. “Mom, don’t cry.” She mumbles against my chest, “These are happy tears.” She rejoins Dad.
He hugs her and kisses her forehead. Annie is standing back.
I think she is trying to give us family space, but I’m not having it; she’s going to be my family one day, and she needs to realize that none of these moments are just mine, they are ours.
I pull her into our little circle and against my side.
She comes without hesitation. “So, what’s next?
” Dad asks. “Well, I was thinking dinner, I’m starving.
” This gets everyone laughing. We head to dinner, and I forget for a few hours that I’m about to move away from all of these people I love, and that I’m not going to have this summer with Annie, because the dream is now real.
***