Chapter Four Alex #3
Toad. I always chose that little guy. I thought he was faster than the others and I always liked the fast ones. I hit the Go button and selected the little guy with a funny mushroom head.
Rome glanced sideways with a sly grin and nodded slowly. “Okay, okay. I think I’m seeing things a little clearer now.”
I snorted out a silly laugh. “Oh come on. What judgment have you passed on me for selecting cute lil’ Toad?”
Rome’s eyes dimmed in mock assessment. “Fun. Fun ny . A touch of sarcasm. Loyal. Values friendship.” He tapped the cleft on his chin. “Likes fast things.”
Whatever playfulness I exuded evaporated like water on July pavement. That was an alarmingly accurate description.
Rome selected a track before I could speak my mind. Something buzzed three times, then the starting fire, followed by me still staring at Rome.
“Go!” he urged me.
I returned to the screen and powered up, fumbling my way along a cartoon road and trying to remember the controls. Rome blasted ahead to first place while I carted along last.
“So was I right?” Rome asked.
I had scooted forward to sit at the edge of the couch. My concentration was fully on the television. “Huh? About what?”
“My description.”
I leaned into my turns, as if my body could control Toad. Rome remained perfectly still, his fingers moving a mile a minute. “Yes. Very much so.”
“So, you do like fast things.”
I snickered, then hit a banana, spun out, and cursed. “Sometimes, sure. Not all.”
“Oh? What are some things you prefer slow.”
I pushed my tongue against my lower lip. I couldn’t split my concentration on witty, double entendre banter and getting Toad across the finish line. So, I defaulted to blunt honesty. “Relationships.” I spied Rome with a side eye. “Can you respect that?”
“Very much so,” he said, repeating my words. No hesitation. “Very, very much so.” A double “very.” All right. Before I could inquire further, he explained, “I have strong principles.”
“I’m starting to see that.”
Another banana. Another spinout. I suck at this but at least our conversation is great , I thought.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” Rome asked.
“Couple of appointments in the morning. Free in the evening.”
I saw him smile, triumphant as though he already won this round. “Come to my game.”
“I would but I don’t think your media people like me. The email they sent after I shared a link to the photos was… less than happy.”
“No, not that. I meant come to the game for me. I can get you into the family suite.” He turned away from the game, from his lead, to say right to me, “Come watch me play. Really watch.” He looked back at the television.
But I had turned to stare at him. Toad drove into the wall. His invitation came without ego. I would expect a star athlete of his level to want the fanfare, to have an adoring fan come and worship him. Instead, it seemed like he wanted me there because he wanted to feel seen. To feel connected.
I returned to the screen and tried to get Toad along. “You don’t have a big ego, do you?”
“Nope. Dad taught me that pride would be my biggest downfall if I let it. I got cocky as a kid when I realized I was a lot better than the other players. He nipped that in the bud the first chance he got.”
I snickered. “A family of principles. I can respect that.”
He crossed the finish line but I still had another lap to go.
He set his controller down and faced me.
“I want you, with your fresh eyes, to get to know me through the game. Everyone already comes at me with preconceived notions. I’ve never met someone who doesn’t know me like that.
A connection that comes without the celebrity worship.
Something genuine.” He shrugged. “And baseball is a big part of who I am. I want you to get to understand why that is.”
I let Toad go off the road where he dropped into a pond. I put the controller down and ignored the rest of the lap as something flying in the sky fished my little guy out of the water.
His face pinched together, bulbous shoulders deflating. “That was too much. Wow. Sorry. Trying not to sound desperate here.” He huffed. “I… I don’t have a lot of practice at this.” He let out a nervous laugh.
“Ah, so we’ve found something you’re not good at. Only took a couple days for me to find it.”
He responded without hesitation, “I’m batting blind here. Taking swings in the dark. Trying to find the right things to say.”
“What do you mean you don’t have a lot of practice?” I spun on the edge of the couch to fully face him. “Surely you…” I gestured up and down to indicate his form. “I mean. Come on.”
He scratched at his neck and leaned into the couch. “You’d think so. But.” I saw heat rise in his cheeks as his eyes went to the floor. A man of his size and reputation looking shy ?
“Hey,” I said to grab his attention. “Don’t be ashamed that your body count is low.”
He shook his head. “I’m not ashamed. It can just be embarrassing to admit.”
I let out a light chuckle as I sank back into the couch. “Who are you?” I said through a breathy laugh. “Quite the conundrum.”
“So will you? Will you come to the game tomorrow? The suite is really nice. There’s free food and drinks. Air conditioning.”
I had my head resting on the back of the couch and rolled it to look at him. “I’ll go on one condition.”
“Name it.”
“That you get to know me .” What was I doing?
Hopping back into something again? The black eye hadn’t even faded yet.
This was a mistake that I couldn’t stop.
“When you have the time—I’m sure you have a weird, regimented schedule or whatever— come with me and take pictures. It could be wherever, as long as—”
“Done. I’ll let you know when I have time.” My brow went up at the quickness of his response. He continued before I could respond. “Come on, let’s get back to the party.” He popped up from the couch on spry legs and held out a hand to help me up.
I accepted it and, with ease, he pulled me up to my feet.
We stood inches apart, hands still interlocked.
A fan of thin, dark hair dusted his chest that I didn’t see earlier.
He wore two gold chains that snaked together, the symbols at the end hidden beneath his tank top.
Damn, he was so tall , and I wasn’t short by any means.
“What happened to your eye?” he asked me carefully, as if he knew a landmine lie buried somewhere in the question.
I rubbed at it. “This is what happens when I move too fast.” I looked down, collected my thoughts, then back up at him. “I’m a cautious person, Rome. Please don’t mistake hesitation for rejection. All right?”
He shot me with a half grin. “Never.” He stepped back to create space between us. “Shall we?”
Together we walked to his front door. On the driveway back to the house, he said, “Oh, a total smokeshow, knockout of a woman named Rei is going to find you and interrogate you. It’s all in good fun. Share or withhold at your discretion.”
I nodded. “Rei. Hottie. Got it. Anyone else?”
“Someone named Brett will give you endless crap but he’s harmless. Hiroshi will assess you from a distance like some weird, overprotective dad-bot cyborg. Other than that, you’re in the clear.”
“They do know we’re not even dating, right?”
He nodded, but I swore I saw a thought bubble form over his head in all caps: YET…
I smiled at the imaginary image. Giggled a little.
“What?” Rome asked.
“Nothing. Nothing at all.”
?
I stayed until the sun sank below the horizon.
Which in the summer, was late. My car was one of the last ones in the drive.
Like a true gentleman, Rome walked me to my vehicle and stayed until I turned it on and banged a quick three-point turnaround.
I saw him, splashed in red light, as he stayed and watched me ease down the drive.
As the gate opened to release me from an incredible night, my phone buzzed. The giddy boy in me swooned at the idea of already getting a text from Rome.
But no. No such luck. Instead, I had a message from someone who I shut out of my life.
Ricky: I can’t send you enough apologies. I know that. But here’s another: I’m sorry.
Ricky: I’m getting my head examined tomorrow. Literally. Doctors think I have head trauma from all of my matches.
Ricky: I’m so sorry, Alex. I’ll text you when I know more.
I stayed halfway out of the gate as I stared at my phone. My heart jumped into my throat, vision narrow, palms dripping with sweat.
I called my brother as soon as I hit the road.
“Hey, Alex. Kinda late. Everything okay? Something happen at the party?”
“It’s Ricky. He just texted me. Can we talk?”
“Yeah, yeah of course.” He cleared his throat. I heard the rustling of sheets. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”