Third Base (The Boys of Summer, #1)(68)
One thing I have learned from Daisy is that she was accurate in her assumptions. I spent hours pouring over her blog, reading the shit that she was writing only to find out most of it is true. Cooper Bailey is coming to Boston, and soon. No one knows what his position will be, as there’s still no word on what’s going on with Bainbridge.
Jasper Jacobson is currently up to bat. The rumors about him not being happy in Boston are true, which makes things a bit awkward in the clubhouse. He wants a trade, but Stone hasn’t done anything about it yet. There’s speculation that Jacobson might be involved with Bainbridge’s wife, but no one’s talking.
Jacobson is facing a full count and the fans are rallying behind him. We’re all standing in support. We need a win; after our last two games being losses, we need some happy. He swings and connects with the ball, sending the right fielder to the warning track. We lean back and pray as the right fielder jumps, missing the ball by an inch. We run out and meet him at home plate, slapping him on the back and trying to show him that we’re still his team despite everything going on with his personal life.
With no outs, all we have to do is add more runs. Bryce Mackenzie is up next with Travis Kidd on deck.
“Someone’s dogging ya,” Kidd says as he nods behind me. I can hear my name being called, but I don’t want to look because he’s likely up to something. The fact that my name is being called means nothing, since the kids are always trying to get us to sign things, give them a bat during the game or even look at them. It was a thrill when it happened to me so I know what it’s like to get attention from your favorite player, let alone any player.
“Just a fan, I’m assuming,” I say, shrugging him off and focusing on Mackenzie’s at bat.
He shakes his head and starts laughing. “A super fan,” he says, nodding behind me again. “You might want to turn around.”
“You might want to pay attention to the game. Mackenzie could hit a foul ball and smack you in the tallywacker.”
“Jesus Davenport, just turn the hell around.”
I roll my eyes and finally give in, but only halfheartedly. I look over my left shoulder and see no one calling me and over my right to find the same thing.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Kidd swings the bat a few times before he stops because Mackenzie has a hit and is now on first base. “Turn all the way around, Davenport. Stop being a bitch.”
I do as he says and I’m met with a pair of green eyes that I have burnt into my memory. She’s sitting behind our dugout in the center seat. She stands and points to her shirt. The front of it says, “I’m sorry”. I can’t help the stupid ass grin that is plastered all over my face.
I lean forward, resting my hands on the edge of the dugout. “Are you busy after the game?”
“No,” Daisy says with a smile.
“You are now,” I say, not caring that I’m probably jumping the gun and assuming she wants to see me. It’s not a guess; I know she does. “Stay right there and I’ll come get you when the game is over.”
Before I know it, we’re on the Jumbo Tron with hearts all around our picture. She covers her face and I turn back to the game, only to turn around and wave my hat at the section she’s in. They roar with cheers and start chanting my name.
We win, nine to one. I had a few more base hits and some RBI’s to add to our run count. Every Renegade player had at least one base hit. It’s odd when that happens, but we take it and run with it when it does. As soon as I enter the clubhouse the reporters are there. They call my name and instead of going to them, they come over to me and shove their microphones into my face as soon as I sit down.
“Ethan, you made a pretty big display of affection today during the game. Do you care to tell us about your girlfriend?”
“Yeah, sure,” I say, running my hand through my hair. “I’ve been in love with her for as long as I can remember. She means everything to me.” Suddenly their microphones are even more in my face.
“What’s her name?”
“Baseball!”
I wish I had a camera at this exact moment so I can capture their expressions as they all deadpan at my answer. They’re stupid if they think I’m going to say anything about Daisy. We have a long road ahead of us and the last thing we need is the media hounding us. I do enough stupid shit that brings us plenty of attention. We don’t need any more.
The reporters don’t like me much after that answer, not that I can blame them. Kidd punches me in the shoulder and winks at me.
“Gettin’ laid tonight?”
I start to undress, hoping that if I ignore him, he’ll go away but he doesn’t. It’s not in his nature to just let something like this be brushed under the rug. He elbows me and I make the mistake of looking at him. His tongue is doing things I can’t even describe to his cheek.
“Not gonna happen,” I say, bursting his bubble.
“Why not?”
“Because we have a lot of unresolved issues and jumping into the sack isn’t how you fix things.”
Kidd looks at me like I have two heads. “You’re a f*cking *. You better turn in your man card. I think I’m embarrassed to know you.” He shakes his head and stalks off to the showers. It would be easy to be like him, but that’s not who I am. I tried to be the one-night stand guy and it wasn’t for me. Yeah, sex with no attachments is great, but sex with someone that you really care about is so worth it.