Chapter 20 Noah
Twenty: Noah
Goodnight Moon - Go Radio
Itook a different flight than my team because I had to sign papers for the house this morning, which ended up getting delayed.
I have all of ten minutes to put my suitcase in the hotel room Connor and I are sharing, before being due at the pre-game warm up.
When I pop the door open the sound of the shower turning off startles me.
Why is Connor still here? He would never be late for a game.
I quickly place the suitcase on the bed and as I move towards the bathroom door, it pops open. Instead of a six-foot-tall man, I find a tiny brunette, with big shock-filled brown eyes, gripping her towel tightly around her wet body.
Fuck me.
I close my eyes, hoping she thinks I’m trying to be courteous. But really, I’m trying to memorize how her skin looks with water droplets running along it.
And trying to not let my body react.
“So-sorry,” we both say in unison.
“I wasn’t expecting you to be here.” My Adam's apple bobs as I finally look down at her. “I gotta go or I’ll be late for warm up. Are you, uh, good here?”
“Y-yeah, I’ll see you there,” she whispers, clutching her towel tighter around her.
I grab my ball cap and my duffle bag before allowing myself to glance down at her one last time, only briefly. Before heading out the door, I mumble, “See ya later, Auddie.”
I don’t know if I want to be mad at Connor for not telling me she’d be here or grateful that I’ll have her in the crowd today.
Either way, she lit a fire in my heart and I’m hoping it means I’ll play well today.
Nothing beats having my good luck charm back.
The game is close, we’ve had a lot of give and take, and we’re in the ninth inning when I step up to the plate.
I peek over my shoulder to where Audrey is sitting alongside some of the other wives and girlfriends.
I’m reminded that a few hours ago she was practically naked barely five feet in front of me.
I close my eyes and let my mind clear. Maybe she’s not my girlfriend, but I’m sure as heck going to try and impress her like one.
Except I miss the first ball.
And the second.
Come on, Noah. You can do this.
The only thing that snaps me out of my trance is Connor's voice shouting, “MY BED OR HERS, BENSON?! Take your pick!”
I hear a few of the other guys catcalling and whistling.
And for five seconds my ego takes over. I tap my heart, feeling the outline of the four leaf clover and then I point my bat in her direction, shooting her a wink.
Audrey responds by shaking her head, hiding her face in her hands.
It only builds my ego up all the more.
I focus on the pitcher, ready to knock this one out of the park.
The crack of the ball flying through the stadium is loud, but the cheers are louder.
I run the bases as adrenaline passes through me. If I’m going to get a home run every time she shows up I just might set a record.
When I reach my team, they all jump around me, while our field manager gives me a prideful smile.
Connor claps a hand over my back. “I was kidding by the way, neither of us have a say in whether you end up in her bed tonight.”
I chuckle. “I know. Besides, if I end up in her bed you might want to find some–”
Connor covers his ears. “Do. Not. I swear to God.”
“I’m kidding, man.”
Sort of.
After the game everyone decides to go out to celebrate, but when Connor texts Audrey to ask if she wants to come, she says she’ll pass for tonight.
I debate going back to the room, but Connor tells me to give her some space to get settled.
“Asshat's new girlfriend is almost five months pregnant,” Connor mumbles between sips of beer. “Apparently he had a few people in his back pocket.”
My jaw tenses at his words. “Fuck. Is she okay?”
Connor nods. “She seems oddly at peace with it, honestly. Apparently, it made her realize who Paul was all along. She's who I was texting when you got home last night. I didn’t know if she wanted you to know or not, but earlier today she said she’d rather I tell you.”
I fix my gaze on the wall behind Connor’s head as I say, “I’m mad on her behalf, no matter if she’s alright with it or not … what he did was wrong in so many ways.”
“Me too. He isn’t worth shit. Hopefully he does better for his baby mama.”
“Yeah, maybe he’ll treat her well.”
Neither of us sound convinced.
“I think you should know she’s sticking around for the season.
She’ll be moving in with me.” Connor gives me a long look, trying to gauge my reaction.
I don’t meet his eyes and he groans. “This feels more frustrating than when we were growing up. It was hard to know what you both felt towards each other sometimes, especially the summer before college.”
I like to refer to it as, “The summer of trying not to pop a boner in public every time I saw her.” But I feel like Connor might not want that information, so I keep that little fact to myself.
I ask him something we’ve never discussed, “When did you realize I liked her?”
Connor takes a long swig of his beer. “Easy. The weekend we went camping, the summer of sixth grade. When you wouldn’t shut up about Barbies.”
I snort—I was kinda annoying about it.
She’s playing with her favorite Barbie, dressed in a sparkly dress, and a Ken doll dressed in a baseball uniform.
“Have you seen Connor?” I ask as I approach the front porch.
“He’s inside packing. Last minute, like always.” She tilts her head towards the house, sitting up a bit taller.
I think she expects me to keep walking, but instead I sit beside her, shifting a little Barbie towards her. “That’s a small Barbie.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “That’s Kelly, she’s Barbie's little sister … but sometimes I pretend Barbie is her mom.”
“And what about Ken? Is he the dad?”
Audrey gives me her best side-eye. “Yeah, Noah. Obviously Ken is the father. But his name isn’t Ken. I rename my Barbies … imagine how confusing it would be to have seven Barbies and five Kens?”
I look down at my feet, fighting back a laugh.
God, she’s quirky. And I wouldn't want it any other way.
Before anything else can be said, Connor comes barrelling out of the house with his camping gear.
“Later, small fry! I’ll see you Monday,” he calls out to Audrey and I follow behind him slowly as she gathers her Barbies up.
“See ya, Audrey,” I whisper, but I don’t think she hears me.
As I reach the bottom step I swear she says, “Come on Audrey and Noah, time for an outfit change.”
Connor snaps his fingers in front of my face, a smirk on his lips. “I hate when you get lost in your memories, she’s my sister, dammit.”
“Sorry.”
Connor looks down at the table for a moment. “I know you’re both adults now and no one’s asking my permission, but I want you to know that I’m okay with it. Let’s be clear though, if you fuck up or break her heart, I’ll choose her every time … and I’ll probably deck you.”
“Glad we have that in common, I’d choose her over you every time, too.” I chuckle, putting my beer on the counter. “Are you ready to go? I’m beat.”
“Yeah, let’s go,” he replies, standing.
We say our goodbyes to the team and make the short walk back to the hotel.
“Don’t wake her up,” Connor whispers as we move into the room.
No shit, Sherlock.
“Guess you’re my teddy bear tonight,” he adds, making a kissy face.
We quickly move around the dark room to get ready for bed. Connor takes the side closest to the wall while I take the side closest to her.
I blink until my eyes adjust enough to make out her silhouette.
I spent so many years sleeping one wall away from her at their house, but being an arm’s length away, seeing her hands tucked under her face so sweetly, it makes my heart flip flop in a whole new way.