Don't Hate the Player...Hate the Game(49)

Noah,

Greg and I have gone to have dinner at the Country Club and to finalize the menu for the

reception. There’s some leftover chicken casserole in the fridge if you get hungry.

Love ya,

Mom

I was kind of glad I had the house all to myself. I needed absolute quiet and privacy for what I was about to do. Without turning on any lights, I padded down the hallway to the office. On the desk was my mother’s black address book. Flipping through the pages, I stopped when I got to the P’s.

My heart pounded in my ears, and my fingertips were so sweaty I could barely dial the numbers. When I finished, I shakily brought the receiver to my ear. He answered on the third ring. “Hello?”

For a moment, I couldn’t find my voice. I sat paralyzed in the desk chair, trembling all over like a little girl. Get it together, dickwad! I thought to myself.

Finally, I mustered my strength. “Uh, hey, you don’t really know me, but this is Noah—your son.”

***

Chapter Fifteen

I’d barely eased to a stop in the Parker’s driveway when Josh came sprinting up to my Jeep. He was outfitted in a baseball cap, and he was wearing my dad’s jersey. I couldn’t help but laugh at the way he was squirming all over like a puppy.

“Hey, Little Man, ready for the game?”

“Oh yeah!”

Maddie came out onto the porch. “Josh, you better get back here. You know what Mom and Dad said about putting on sunscreen.”

Josh rolled his eyes. “All right,” he grumbled and started back for the porch.

Damn, she looked fine as hell in her Sporty Spice game mode attire. Her long dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Praise God it was hot as hell as outside because she was wearing a rather revealing tank top and short-shorts. I glanced down at my crotch while thinking, “Down boy, don’t even think about it!”

Maddie started lathering Josh down with SPF 50—first all over his arms and legs, and then finally, she took his cap off and started on his bald head. I couldn’t help snickering.

“What?” she demanded.

“Don’t you think you’re overdoing it a little? He looks like he’s wearing a cream colored toupee!”

Josh giggled, but Maddie shot me a death glare. “No, I don’t think I’m overdoing it.”

“Okay, okay,” I said. I winked at Josh, and he tried to stifle his laughter.

Once Maddie had sufficiently slathered two or three coats of sunscreen on Josh, we were ready to go. I helped him get in the back of the jeep, and then I held the door open for Maddie.

“Thanks,” she said.

“You’re welcome.”

Finally we got on the road. It wasn’t long before we were cruising down the interstate towards Turner Field. As the skyscrapers came into view, Josh unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned forward. “We’re almost there!” he squealed.

“Josh, put your seatbelt back on. It’s not like you’ve never been to Atlanta,” Maddie ordered.

He reluctantly slid back and fastened it back. It was kind of fun having someone so enthusiastic along for the ride. It was certainly easing my nerves a little since today I would be seeing my dad for the first time in ten years.

The call had set a lot of things in motion. It just so happened that my dad had a few upcoming games in Atlanta. When I told him about Josh, he offered to meet me at the stadium, and I’d agreed. He said he would take care of the details like the tickets and all, and then we could see each other after the game. Like a true egomaniac, he’d picked the one he was pitching in of course for us to come to.

As Turner Field came into view, Josh could barely contain himself. “There it is! There it is!” he cried.

“Yeah little man, we’re almost there,” I said.

I exited off the interstate and followed the line of cars to a parking lot. A guy flagged us inside, and I rolled down the window and handed him a ten. By the time I pulled the Jeep into a spot, Josh was already out of his seatbelt and impatiently waiting for Maddie to get out.

“Geez, Josh, calm down!” Maddie cried, as she unbuckled her seatbelt and grabbed her purse.

Her feet barely hit the pavement when Josh leapt out behind her. “Come on,” he urged, as he hurried around the side of the Jeep. I grabbed his hand before he started to cross the road.

“Whoa, Little Man. You gotta hang tight and stick with us, okay?”

He reluctantly nodded.

It was a typical scorching Saturday, and I was already breaking into a sweat by the time we reached the ticket window. “Yeah, I’m Noah Sullivan—Joe Preston has some tickets waiting on me.”

The lady gave me a quick once over and then her eyes widened. I guess she saw the resemblance. “Even though I can tell it’s you, I need to see your driver’s license for verification.”

I dug out my wallet and showed her. “Here you go. Enjoy the game!” she exclaimed, as she slid the tickets out to me.

I’ve gotta say the Sperm Donor really went out. He scored us tickets in the air conditioned box where the extreme VIPS usually sit. Now only did we have an excellent view of the field, someone even came by to take our drink or food orders. It was tight.

We’d barely eased into our seats when Josh hopped up and pressed his nose against the glass pane. “Look there he is!” he cried.