???
The league added five additional teams this year, and there’s a low hum of excitement in the air from the minute we pull into the parking area. Everything is new. The stadium,the lights, the vendors, down to the athletes themselves. Idaho is here for it. It seems like every person in the county will be heading into the stands tonight. Tour buses from big companies and passenger vans painted with church logos pull up alongside campers and pick-up trucks for the tailgate.
Mr. Miller opens the trunk of the minivan and gets to work setting up a pop-up tent while Mrs. Miller unloads a crockpot of sloppy joe meat and a foil pan filled with chocolate chip cookie bars. We share dinner with some friendly parking lot neighbors who offer chili, hot dogs, and JELL-O shots while Mike’s mom proudly tells everyone within earshot that her son is playing tonight. Finally, it’s time to head into the stadium for the game.
“How many of those cookie bars did you have?” Shelley whispers as she slides up next to me. It’s windy tonight, and she’s wearing a light jacket over her jersey. “I stole a few extras. They’re in my pocket for emergencies.”
I lean close to whisper back. “I won’t tell. Pretty sure I had like five. Think your mom will give me her recipe?”
She scoffs playfully. “My mom share her cookie bar recipe? Not a chance. She won’t even give it to Mandy.”
The fielders are starting to take their positions, and Shelley cups her hands around her mouth to shout, “That’s my brother!” as we take our seats. Mike looks up and smiles, nodding in our direction.
It’s a low-scoring game. Even I can admit, baseball is a lot more fun to play than it is to watch.
During Mike’s at-bat in the top of the third inning, he makes contact but it’s a pop-up easily caught by Idaho’s pitcher. As he returns to the dugout, Shelley says she needs to use the bathroom, and her sisters decide to tag along, vacating their seats.
“I’ll come with you,” I say as I get up to follow them.
After using the facilities, Mandy and Maddy come out of the restroom together and head back to the stands. Not wanting Shelley to be left behind, I hang back. It only takes a minute for her to reappear.
“Sorry. There was a line. You didn’t have to wait.”
I shrug and tuck my hands into the back pockets of my jeans. “Did you want to get some cotton candy or something?”
She laughs. “Are you seriously still hungry? I know I said I could always eat, but I think I’m good after that tailgate. And I’m not letting you pay twenty bucks for cotton candy when I have pocket cookies.” She pats her jacket pocket and effortlessly pulls a chuckle out of me before she gets more serious. “But I do want to take a walk and see if I can find a quiet corner for a second. It’s a little overstimulating in here, if I’m being honest.”
“Can I join you, or do you want some space?”
“Sure. Come on. Let’s explore a little.”
It doesn’t take us long to discover the stadium actually has a designated Quiet Room behind thick glass doors. The signs on the walls invite anyone who needs a break to come in and get out of the noise for a few minutes. There are headphones lining the left wall and a bin of dark sunglasses available, along with a small plaque that explains how everything is sterilized between each use. Shelley runs her fingers over the sign but doesn’t take any of the items they’re offering.
“This is cool,” she muses. “It must help a lot of kids. I wish stuff like this had been around when I was younger.”
“It’s nice,” I agree.
We’re the only people here, and she sits down on a long vinyl bench, which is upholstered in the orange and yellow Idaho Talons colors. Shelley leans her head back against the wall, closing her eyes and inhaling a deep breath through her nose. This window into her private moment makes me feel like I’m intruding, but I can’t take my eyes off her.
“Come sit.” She pats the space to her right, eyes still closed. I cross the room to accept the invitation, sitting down next to her.
Shelley pivots toward me, and her eyes open while she lifts to tuck one leg under herself. “It was really nice of you to come out to support Mike. It must be hard for you to take time away from your team during the season.”
My focus falls to her lips, which are painted with a shimmery pink gloss that steals my attention. I’m so tired of fighting this.
“I have a confession. I may have had an ulterior motive for agreeing to this particular trip.”
“Oh? Do tell.” Those pink lips turn up on one side in a crooked half-smile.
She’s so close. Our legs are touching, and with no barrier like an armrest between us, we’re even closer here now than we were on the plane or out in the stands.
“Your mom called me family, and that’s sort of my kryptonite.”
Her smile widens to brighten her whole face, and it warms me from the inside. “Well, she’s right. You’re stuck with us now.”
“I could get used to that.”
She nods. “Good.”
