Chapter 56
The look on Rhys’s face when that man confirmed the park was gone… Alfie couldn’t stop seeing it, even when they were back at the clubhouse and Rhys had gone off… somewhere. He should have stayed in their hotel room, resting.
Alfie might have done damage to Rhys’s shoulder last night. They should never have done anything. Even if Rhys insisted he was fine.
No, Rhys was not fine. Not at all. Even if he had been joking with their teammates during practice. There had not been even one chance to get him alone and ask him the things he’d wanted to.
Like who this Simon person was? Why he reacted so strongly to thinking that man was him. There were a lot of things Alfie wanted to know about what happened today, but not the first idea how to find out. Rhys likely wouldn’t tell him.
He rarely told him anything of substance about his past.
Alfie couldn’t battle his way through all of Rhys’s armor now.
Not when he had a game he needed to focus on.
Especially when Rhys was doing his best to avoid him.
His laugh cut through the room then and Alfie couldn’t help but look over.
There was something desperate in the sound, as if he was determined to make everyone believe he was okay.
The rest of the team seemed to be going along with it. They had not seen him the way Alfie had earlier. Looking small and lost and…sad. Not the image he was trying to project at the moment.
Alfie took in a deep breath and held it for a moment before letting it out again. He needed to get his head right before they walked out onto the field. Rhys certainly wouldn’t thank him for worrying so much he ended up causing them to lose the game.
He left the lounge and headed down the hallway to an empty room– there were empty shelves but not much else– and some blessed silence.
He closed the door behind him before taking out his phone.
A call with his family might help him remember the things that were important.
Making sure he succeeded here so they would be provided for.
His mother’s smile was the first thing he saw when the call connected.
“Alfredo, what are you doing? Do you not have a game to be getting ready for?”
“I have some time, Mami. I just wanted to talk to the family first. Is anyone else around?” Everyone should have been showing up for dinner by now.
“Your brother is still out practicing his pitching. He said scouts are coming to the school soon. I worry, Alfredo.”
Yes, he worried about Lucero as well. His little brother wanted out now, instead of taking the same path Alfie had into college.
Alfie did not exactly blame him, but he also did not want people in some front office somewhere who didn’t even know his brother to use his talents to exploit him because Lucero thought it was the only way for a better life.
“I’ll talk to him, Mami.”
“As if that will do any good. All of my children contain equal amounts of stubbornness.”
“They get it from the best person,” Alfie’s father said, coming up behind her. “Hello, Alfredo. Do you not have a game to play?”
He laughed at the fact his father said nearly the same exact thing as his mother upon greeting him. And that he believed Mami was the only stubborn one in that relationship. “I just wanted to check in before I go to get changed.”
“You are going to win today, yes?” his father asked.
“That is certainly the plan.”
“How is Rhys doing?” Mami asked. “We heard he was injured.”
Alfie swallowed hard, remembering the way Rhys’s face twisted as his hand had come up to his shoulder. “It’s a minor injury. He’ll probably be back next week.”
He ended the call with his parents, but his assertion kept circling in his head.
Rhys would be fine. As long as they didn’t do something to aggravate his injury.
Like sex and then letting him drag Alfie all over town.
That had definitely been a mistake. Alfie needed to remember it would be better to keep his hands to himself.
He had bigger things to worry about than his own pleasure.