Chapter 19
GRAYSON
Away games are my favorite. Traveling. Sometimes a hotel stay. Making the other team miserable on their home field.
Today is no exception. I’m locked in, pitching the best game I’ve had this season so far. Seven strike outs, no hits, no walks.
It’s the bottom of the eight when I make the mistake of looking up in the stands. Lila is sitting a couple rows behind our dugout next to her father, who’s sitting next to mine. The fuck.
He’s only been to one of my games—says his time is too valuable to waste on a poor excuse of exercise. He showed up during my sophomore season. The day my mom passed away.
It was not fatherly concern. He wanted the account information and passwords mom had only shared with me. Albert Klein, my mom’s secretary, is the one who delivered the horrible news.
I clear my head and focus on the batter. Sammy calls time and jogs out to the mound. Guess I took too long. The infield jogs in too.
“Dude, what’s up?”
“You’re pitching a hell of a game,” Freddy, the third baseman smiles.
“Hell yeah he is,” Troy nods, hitting my shoulder with his glove.
Trevor and Turner are the last to the mound.
“You good, G?” Trevor asks.
I’m not. An uncomfortable chill has settled over me.
“I’m fine. Got distracted, is all.”
Immediately, they look up at the stands.
“Cute girls behind opposing dugout?” Trevor wonders at the same time Turner mutters, “Hey, Sammy’s sister’s by first base.”
“Stop looking at my sister, guey.”
My eyes wander in that direction as Sam mumbles under his breath. Guess he spots my father. I, on the other hand, only see her.
Her hair is up in a ponytail and she’s wearing a gray Tower Lake Baseball hoodie. For some strange reason, I want it to be mine, the one I let her borrow at The Lion’s Den.
“Let’s get back to the game, boys!” the home plate umpire calls.
“You good to go?” Sammy asks and I nod.
I have to be. I won’t let that man fuck up anything else for me.
“I’m good,” I assure them. And I will be.
Everyone returns to their position and I stand alone on the mound again. It’s usually my favorite place to be. Currently, it feels like I’m up on a stage, too far from home plate, too close to the stands.
I take a deep, steadying breath.
Inhale confidence.
Exhale doubt.
I get into my wind up and release the ball. Strike! Our side cheers and when I look up, I find Alvarez jumping up and down, a huge smile on her face.
Favorite dessert?
It can’t be something I’ve never tried, so double chocolate chip cookies it is.
Wind up. Release. Strike!
Just one more to get out of the inning. I shouldn’t, but I glance up at the stands again. Alvarez is high-fiving Letty, her teammates, and the random asshole behind her.
Confidence.
Calm.
Pitch.
Strike!
Half of the crowd erupts in cheers, the other into moans and groans of disappointment! I maintain my composure and walk to the dugout. When I look up towards first base, the most disturbing image is on display before me.
My father is talking to Alvarez. He’s a tall man and she looks tiny next to him.
Nausea swirls in the pit of my stomach. How do I stop this?
He shouldn’t be anywhere near her. I want to keep her from shaking the devil’s hand. And yet, her smile doesn’t waver. Her green eyes remain bright.
“Rhodes! Get your ass in the dugout!” Coach barks.
Trevor has to physically drag me down there. I sit on the bench, running a hand through my hair, my left knee bouncing. I can’t even talk to Sammy, he’s up at bat.
“Coach!”
He looks at me with murderous intent in his eyes. “I’m trying to manage a game here, kid. What is it?”
“This girl—”
“Stop right there. No family or friends—and especially no girlfriends—allowed in the dugout. NCAA rules. We’ll get fined, Rhodes,” he scoffs.
“I’ll pay it.”
“Sit your ass down! Martinez! Why aren’t you doing your job?!”
The pitching coach, Coach Martinez, rushes over. He insists I wear a jacket to keep my arm and muscles warm.
I pace the dugout. Can’t sit still. Can’t stop moving. It’s the longest three outs of my life.
Everything’s a blur. I’m not sure how I pitched or if anyone scored. All I know is we won, I gave a post-game interview providing yes and no answers, and coach’s talk ran longer than usual.
I shower and change faster than the guys. Which is why I’m out of the locker room, heading to the team bus in the parking lot before anyone else. That’s when I spot Alvarez while searching for my father.
She’s alone. Where did her friends disappear to?
While she’s on her phone, I can’t keep my eyes off her. Those black leggings leave little to the imagination. Her hair up in a ponytail should not look that good. And, I’m fairly certain that’s my hoodie she’s wearing.
I run a hand over my mouth to keep from smiling. Thing is, I know she’s waiting for her brother, not me. I know this. In the past, she might’ve smiled and waved, but I’ve been too much of an asshole and doubt she’ll be doing that again. She proves me wrong, of course.
When she sees me, she takes off on a run into my arms. I’m too stunned to do anything but catch her.
“I just need to tell you two things,” she whispers in my ear. “You pitched a pretty good game, Rhodes. It’s about time! And also, your dad’s here. And he makes you look like a ray of sunshine.”
I inhale the sweet scent of vanilla and coconut. “What did he say to you?” I ask, holding her tight, as if that can undo anything.
“Nothing worth repeating.”
That piece of shit. I want to apologize, but when I pull back, she’s smiling at me and I forget to breathe. The rage consuming me subsides when she runs a hand through my hair. It’s almost like she’s enjoying being in my arms.
“Alvarez?” I ask, confused.
“I’m playing along,” she explains, smiling but it doesn’t reach her eyes anymore.
“Because Lila Jane is here too. And since your dad’s not very nice, I wanted them both to know that.
..well, that you’re not alone. That you have friends who care about you.
I mean, I know you don’t want us to ever be friends, but—”
Without thinking, I kiss her, lightly, faintly. Just enough to get her to stop talking.
Her lips are soft. Warm. And I almost stop her from pulling away.
“Sorry,” she mumbles, her cheeks turning pink. I’m the one who should apologize.
“Oh, um, I think some of the guys are coming out,” she adds, glancing behind me towards the locker room. It’s the only reason I let her go.
“Nice hoodie,” I say as she’s walking backwards away from me. If she turned around I could see my last name across her back, but she doesn’t. She simply smiles, blushing as she continues to walk away.
From the opposite direction, my father approaches. Lila’s behind him. I make certain to grab my phone.
“You’re a meanie, Gray-Gray,” she says to get my attention. I don’t give it to her.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see her father pull her away before she can get too close.
“Grayson.”
I don’t bother with a reply, I only stare him down.
“Tell your little girlfriend if she pulls more stunts like—”
“Like what?” I get in his face.
“Keep your voice down,” he urges, looking around. I gave up worrying about him and his ego a long time ago. The man is a monster, but doesn’t want the world to know it.
“Public displays like that are beneath you,” he sneers.
Like anything he says matters.
“I need to be on the bus,” I state and turn to go.
Sammy’s walking out of the locker room, ice on his left shoulder. Alvarez takes his catcher’s gear as they continue to the bus.
“If you answered my calls, I wouldn’t be here. But now that I am, I will only say this once: keep away from that girl.”
It’s clear Lila complained to her father who complained to mine. It’s the only reason he’s here. My father wants a merger between their companies, Lila’s father wants her happy. Fuck all of them.
Alvarez waves at the guys, then walks off with her friends. Wonder where they disappeared to? She turns back, meets my gaze, and gives me a tiny smile.
“It will be quite unfortunate if her life is ruined, she’s so young.”
I see red and spin to grab his thousand dollar suit as if it were a hamburger wrapper.
“You will leave her alone,” I growl.
“I won’t if you don’t.”
“Rhodes!” Coach howls. “Time to go!”
Breathing heavy, I release my hold.
He adjusts his suit and says, “I would hate to see her brother never play again due to unforeseen circumstances.” My hands are fists at my side.
I’ve never hit my father despite wanting to on many occasions.
I might tonight. “Did you know her parents are barely holding on? Even with the money your little girlfriend sends them, it’s not enough to keep them afloat.
” He smiles and I detest the cold, cruel tilt to his mouth.
“Will you help them, son, when I buy the bank that owns their home and kick them out?”
I don’t have to wonder how he discovered any of this information. Albert can find a lucky penny thrown in a fountain five years ago.
It’s why I don’t bother with a reply. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
Without acknowledging him, I turn to go without another word. As I head to the bus I check my phone to make sure the whole exchange was recorded.
It was. I make copies and secure the original.