Chapter 19 #2
Sam leans forward to set her empty bowl behind the phone, and I imagine her leaning into a kiss.
I’m going to drive myself insane picturing the first time I kiss her, considering I swore I was going to “properly woo her” first. I think I forgot how often I’m out of town with the team when I made that vow.
“I miss you,” she says as she wraps her arms around her knees and leans her chin against them.
I sigh heavily before I echo the sentiment. “I miss you too. Now I understand why Griffin was always moping around our condo while we were at spring training after he and Danae started dating.”
“Yeah, this sucks,” Sam says. “And one week is way shorter than six.”
She turns her head, and even through the video, I can see the tight set of her jaw.
“What are you thinking about?” I prompt.
Her eyes hesitantly look back to the screen. “Can I . . . can I ask you something?”
“Always.”
She smiles briefly. “What did you—or, no, I guess maybe when—” She shakes her head before piecing the question together. “Why did you start to like me as more than a friend?”
Before I can begin my never-ending answer, she rushes to rationalize, “That’s kind of weird to ask. I’m sorry. It’s just that you’ve witnessed some low points in my life. Really low. And I want to understand if—you know what? Never mind. That was a weird question to ask.”
I wish we were talking in person so I could pull her into my arms and cut off the self-doubt spiral.
Replace the memories of the low points. “Sam. It’s not a weird question.
And I just so happen to be an expert in liking you as more than a friend, so I’m happy to tell you all about it if you’d quiet down. ”
A breathy laugh escapes, pulling her lips into a smile. She mimes zipping them.
“You’ve always been one of my favorite people, even when I viewed you as only a friend. You were always so casual with me and the other guys from the team when you were around, not acting like we were a big deal,” I begin.
“Yeah, well, someone had to shrink all your big heads when there were crowds of fans and women fawning all over you,” Sam quips.
I give her an exaggerated smolder through the video. “Is that jealousy I hear?”
She pfffts and exclaims, “No! We’ve already established we didn’t like each other back then. I couldn’t be jealous of other women when I didn’t like you like that. You’re just prone to thinking very highly of your skills on and off the ball field.”
“Hey, now. You’re getting us off track. I’m supposed to be telling you all the reasons I like you. You can humble me later,” I tease, and Sam laughs. “As I was saying, you were up for anything while also keeping Griffin and me grounded. Plus, you’ve always played along with my spontaneous ideas.”
“Like sneaking all the Crowns’ position players into the hospital to visit Griff after his first injury?” Sam interjects.
“Those nurses only acted mad. You know they were all happy to see us,” I add.
Sam rolls her eyes. “Are we to the part where I humble you yet?”
“Not when I’m about to tell you when things changed,” I say, effectively quieting her down.
“When Danae came onto the scene for Griffin, I think it changed how I viewed our life. Our life as professional athletes, I mean. I’d been so focused on living up every opportunity, but then I saw Griffin finding this whole new life with Danae. ”
Nodding, Sam says, “I understand exactly what you mean. I saw that in him too.”
“Maybe it’s because you and I were on the sidelines together watching Griffin find his person—maybe that’s what initially shifted the way I felt about you,” I say.
“Because it was so easy to look over and see you beside me. You were already there, and you were everything I thought I could ever want in my person.”
Despite the fact that this is only a video call, the tension between us is palpable. It’s like a living, sentient being in the conversation with us, and I worry that I’ve been too serious. Too honest about how I feel.
I cut the tension with a joke. “Besides, you asked me to be your coconspirator in getting Griff and Danae together, so you proved you know how to have a good time.”
Sam laughs. “You and that otter personality. Never-ending playtime with Adrian Ortiz.”
“You know the way to my heart,” I say with a grin.
“But also, I saw you in a totally different light with Jason. You were there for Danae in a way that no one else could be during that transition. You showed so much strength in how you used your own hard experiences to help Jason and Danae.” Memories of my mom sweep into my mind, but I swiftly send them out the back door.
Sam’s face is pensive, and I hope I didn’t trigger more painful memories.
“You were an avalanche, Sam. Little things you said and did kept shifting my thoughts about you from friendship to attraction until I was buried in it. Until I realized that you were all I wanted to think about—and not in a ‘just friends’ way.”
Her eyes crinkle as she smiles, and I’m grateful for the sign of reassurance. This is new territory we’re exploring—connecting beyond friendship. Beyond jokes and lighthearted connection.
The real stuff.
And even though I’m not always the most perceptive guy, it’s obvious that I need to tread lightly. Because it’s obvious that Sam has been deeply hurt in the past.
Which makes me want to hurt some people.
But since that won’t help anything, I’m going to focus on demonstrating to Sam that I’ll always treat her the way she deserves to be treated. Like treasure.