But today, with him, it was almost as if she was putting on a show. A show I am not sure I enjoyed watching. Almost like… she knew him, heard of him, knows his contacts and where he comes from. I never pegged Momma for that type, the kind that would care about names, titles, and money. She always made me feel like we had enough because we had each other, at least she did in Georgia.
Now, watching her lay in a spot I haven’t seen her in in years, I can’t help but wonder why she’s suddenly trying? A sinking feeling settles in my stomach. It warns maybe there is a whole lot more I don’t know about the woman in front of me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Hunter
“Centerfield!” Rex yells, as the pitcher winds up and throws into home plate. He swings, connecting instantly with the pitch and sending the ball soaring. Rodrigues runs forward and catches the ball before throwing it back to the mound.
“Sounds like her meeting with Ed and Sylvia went exactly the way I’d fucking expect,” Rex laughs, as he takes his stance once more and points out to Ritchie at the mound. I crouch behind the plate, raise my glove and watch as Ritchie winds up before throwing in and making Rex miss contact.
He glares at me as I rise and throw back out to the mound, and I can’t help but smile at his smug ass.
No one gets them all, Roberts!
“Yeah, well what else do you expect from the Cunninghams, best friends of the Alexanders, right? I mean shit, if the City of Angels had any royalty, they’d sure as hell probably be it!”
Ritchie pitches again, another swing, another miss as the ball comes in at a burning fast rate making me wince slightly from the contact. Rising, I throw out to the mound before taking my stance again behind the plate.
“If that ain’t the fucking truth,” Rex mutters. “Third base!” He yells out to the field, calling the shot before Ritchie ever even throws the ball.
“But, then she took you back to her place, to meet her mother?” Rex asks, still trying to make sense of the shit I briefed him on in the locker room. The pitch gets thrown, the bat makes contact and the ball soars exactly to where Rex said it would.
“You sure I can’t convince you to try out next year?” coach says from the dugout.
Rex laughs and just shakes his head. “Not unless you can also convince me to stay in California. This guy, too.”
Coach Wilson pushes off the fence and makes his way toward us.
“Don’t remind me,” he grits out, looking my way with a heavy sigh after the talk we had earlier this semester. The one in which I informed him that I tried out for Ole Miss, was accepted, and was now going to be rooming with Roberts next year somewhere I never saw life taking me. The deep South.
The thought makes me think of Rochelle and her sweet southern accent. It also makes me realize that this was part of my plan before I ever went and laid eyes on her, and I hope to God she will be okay with that.
A chance to play for the Bulldogs is just what I need if I want to make it into the MLB. Hell, since I was a little boy just learning about the game there is nothing I could ever want more. Unless I have to do it without her. In that case, my mind is already made up and Roberts will be bunking alone next year.
“Boys, take five,” coach yells out into the field before walking towards me. “You’re making the right choice, Son. But we sure as shit are gonna miss you.” Patting me on the back, I frown as he walks out to talk to Ritchie at the mound, leaving me alone with Rex.
Turning, recognition flashes in Rex’s eyes as he reads me before I even have a chance to speak. He’s onto my damn inner thoughts, and he’s about to rain hell down on them.
“Knock this shit off, Hunt. You can’t fucking fool me. You honestly think she’s fucking worth it?”
I glare at him and wipe the sweat from my brow. “What the hell are you talking about, Roberts?”
“You know what the hell I am talking about. Her. Rochelle! You really think she is worth giving all of this up for?”
He gestures out to the field and my heart sinks. Damn, I do love the game, but I love her, too. Nothing will ever change that.
“I’m not giving up shit, you’ve lost your damn mind.”
I push past him to the dugout. But Rex is hot on my heels and quick to push the issue.
“You sure as shit are thinking about it, Alexander! I can see it in your damn eyes. You’ll never have a chance again like this, man. Playing for Ol’ Miss. That can put you on the fucking map, Hunt. Get you what you always wanted. Long before she ever came into the damn picture, and you know this!” I take a sip off my water bottle and glare at him over the top. When I refuse to respond, he goes for a low blow and says, “No pussy is good enough to sacrifice your dreams over.”
“Hey,” I yell, causing him to stand tall and square his shoulders. “Watch your fucking mouth, Roberts. I let you run it whenever you want, but you will not fucking run it if it means talking about Rochelle like that. You got me?”
“Yeah,” he fumes. “I got you. But let’s see if you got me. There is a reason she didn’t let you into her world before now. Even though you let her into yours,” he takes a step closer. Hatred radiates off his body for a choice that isn’t his to make. His words sting as their truth worms its way around my heart. “Think about that the next time you’re debating all the other shit you are willing to give up that she might not. And where will that leave you in the end? At home, opportunities missed, jacking off your own dick dreaming about the past and the chances you should’ve taken.”
My fist collides with his nose before he gets a chance to take his next breath. His head falls back and he grabs his face just as blood begins to ooze from it. “Son of a bitch!” he starts, but trails off once he looks up in my eyes. Wiping his nose with his sleeve, he backs away angrily. “I hope she’s worth it!” Taking the steps two at a time, he leaves me with the ugly truth of a reality I have been trying to escape.
