“Ready to rock?” Barker, our field manager, affectionately known as Skipper—or Skippy to Connor, gives me a pat on the back. I give him a quick nod in response and follow the team out to the field. I've played at thisstadium countless times over the years but knowing this is my “home field” now takes a minute to get used to.
I've grown close to my new teammates during the last few weeks through team dinners, poker nights and pre-season training in Surprise, Arizona.
A rookie, Adam, and I are the only new players on the team this season, but they all make us feel like we’re family to them as well.
Maybe being best friends with the team captain helps.
Connor beelines for the dugout, scanning the front row for his sister. I follow behind, hoping I look casual, even though I’m panicking.
Sure enough, she’s sitting in the front row with who I assume are Selena and Fiona. One of them, likely Selena from what Connor has told me of her, sticks her tongue out at Connor when he climbs the wall, unphased by all the fans screaming his name.
“Hi, Sel-amander.” He leans forward and hugs her as I climb up onto the wall beside him. I avoid looking at Audrey.
“Hi, Conn-ator.Hi, Noah.” My eyes find Selena’s. I’ve never met her before but something in her expression lets me know that she’s heard a thing or two about me over the years. “Well this is awkward, you and Audrey match! Good news is if you get hurt, she can play for you, hm?” she teases, knocking her knee against Audrey’s.
I turn my attention towards Audrey and my heart skips a beat. She’s wearing a white tank top under our blue jersey, which is unbuttoned in the front. Her long hair is pulled back into a high ponytail, my number fully on display.
She looks too beautiful for her own good.
And she’s wearing my number.
I spent the better part of my life wanting to see her wear my jersey and it doesn’t disappoint. If anything, it feels better than I could've imagined.
She smiles coyly at me, while I give her a boyish grin in return.
I press a hand over my heart, tapping the charm underneath. “Thanks for bringing this back. Would hate to suck on my first day because someone stole my lucky charm.”
Her eyes land on my chest, confusion showing within them. Growing up, it was in my left arm sleeve, but when I went off to college I moved it to my heart, always wanting her close to me and I never stopped wearing it there.
She blinks, composing herself as she smirks at me. “Pretty sure you’re the one who shipped it to me.”
“Glad to see your attitude is back, Auddie,” I reply playfully, winking. Skipper calls out to Connor and I so we hop down off the wall, backing towards the field. “I hope you ladies enjoy the game.”
“Hey, Benson,” she calls out, loud enough for everyone around to hear her. “Don’t suck too much, okay?”
I chuckle as Connor and I jog towards the main field.
“So are we talking now or later?”
I feign innocence, like any smart man should. “Dunno what you’re talking about, man. I was just making small talk with my best friend's sister.”
“Mhm. You're a terrible liar. And all I gotta say is if you want to win my sister over, you best get a home run or two.”
Little does he know, that was already the plan.
“You're up, Benson,” Skipper calls out to me.
Here goes nothing.
The team pats me on the back as I make my way towards home plate, taking in the atmosphere as I move.
I tune out the announcer welcoming me as my walk-out song plays.
It’s the song that came on the radio after I won my first T-ball game and if there’s one thing that's true about athletes, it’s that we’re superstitious and we like our rituals.
AM to PMby Christina Milian. I smile, remembering the time Audrey made it her ringtone and got caught. She was so flustered and blamed her friend for changing it. The next day she changed it back to some upbeat Justin Bieber song.
I step up to the plate tapping my bat on the front corner before tapping the inside of my shoe with it.
