I look at him and drop my hands to the sides. “That’s weird, right? Kids always run the bases.”
He shakes his head. “Yeah, but he’s always been a little on the odd side. I’ve been seeing him around more, so I get the feeling he’s looking to take over completely from his old man and become the not-so-silent owner.”
I look at Eddie, then back at Kelton, still confused as to why he would stop me just to say that.
Kelton slaps my chest with the back of his hand. “Don’t let him get to you. Owners think they run this show, but really, they don’t. Forget about it and move on.”
I nod. He’s right. I’ve met some interesting people in the front office of teams I’ve played on, so this must be no different than those.
We lost our game, so there’s a somber mood in the locker room as we pack our things to head out tonight for New Jersey. That’s the game though. It’s a game of failures. I’ve been told my entire life that how you deal with those failures is what sets you apart from a player and a professional player. The game can eat you alive if you let it get to you.
“See you tonight,” Tripp says, holding his hand out to me.
I slap it in a bro way. “Yeah, see you tonight.”
We have a few hours before we have to meet to go to the airport for our flight, so I head home, shower, and pack.
On my way to the airport, I text Christy.
What’s your address?
She sends it to me, and I respond with:
Any chance you can sneak outside in 5 minutes?
Yeah, I’ll put a show on for Nolan. That will give me at least a few minutes.
I smile at my phone screen, click her address to bring it up on my car’s navigation, and put my phone in the cupholder. If I only get a few minutes with her, I’ll take it.
I pull up to her house, and before I can text her that I’m here, she opens the door and walks out with a giddyup to her step as she hurries toward my truck.
I open the door, hop out, and meet her halfway by picking her up and kissing her with everything I’ve got.
“Mmm,” I hum as I place her back down on her feet, then lean against my truck but keep her hand in mine. “Glad I made a detour on my way to the airport.”
She grins, looking more beautiful than ever with her hair pulled back. “Me too. Where are you going again?”
“New Jersey for three days, and then I’ll be back home.” I wrap my pointer finger with hers. “We’re still on for something when I get back, right?”
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
“Me too.”
We grin at each other like silly teenagers.
I pull her into me. “I couldn’t leave without stopping to say goodbye.”
She places her arms around my neck. “I’m sure glad you did.”
She leans up to kiss me, and I know I’m done for this girl.
I pick her up so she can swing her legs around my waist, and then I hold her up against my truck. It takes everything I got to pull my lips from hers, and I place my forehead against hers.
“I have to get going, or I’m going to be late.”
She slides down my legs until her feet are on the ground, and I move aside to let her go, keeping ahold of her hand though.
“I’ll call you when I can.”
