Javi loved Sunday early-start games. Some of the guys hated playing in the midday heat, but he liked being done early so that he could prep for the coming week, especially any class assignments with due dates that might clash with his playing schedule.
Lucky for him, this week he had nothing due and he was caught up. So he had taken Cami to dinner and then brought her back to sleep over at his place. They were going to watch a movie and chill, emphasis on thechill. Ever since the first night she’d stayed over with him, they’d spent every weekend at his place unless he was away for a game. He was starting to hate away games.
He’d just come out of the bathroom with plans to join Camdyn in his bed when his cell phone rang. His mother was calling, which was no surprise. It was eight in Arizona so it wasten for her, and she normally called to check in before she went to bed, unless she knew he was at a game.
He snatched up his phone and answered. “Hi,mamá.”
“Hijo, you played well today,” she began as she went over her favorite plays from the game.
While she chatted, Javi climbed onto the bed and sat with his back against the headboard. Camdyn was already snuggled under the covers and reading something on her phone. He loved having her in his bed.
He looked at Cami and she gave him a sweet little smile before returning to whatever she was reading. He needed to keep this conversation with his mother quick. She didn’t know about his relationship with Cami yet. And even though he knew Cami could hear, he was suddenly overwhelmed with the need to tell his mother. He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t already. They’d been together for nearly a month now.
Javi interrupted his mother’s rambling. “Hey,mamá, I need to tell you something.”
“Oh, no. Are you being traded again?” she asked.
“No.” He laughed. “I wanted to tell you that I’ve met someone.” Cami looked at him with wide eyes and put down her phone. He knew she’d been listening.
“You’ve met someone?” his mother echoed questioningly.
“Sí. I’ve met a woman and I’m crazy about her.” He smirked at Cami.
“Javier, you have to be careful with women,” his mother replied seriously. “You’re in a position where a woman will use you for your money and your fame. She may not actually want you, just what she can get from you.”
He winced.Thatwas why he hadn’t told his mother. He should have anticipated that response. “No,mamá, she’s not like that.”
“You can’t know that,” his mother insisted. “Does she know you play professional ball?”
“She knows,” he answered.
Camdyn placed her phone on the bedside table and sat up.
His mother doubled down. “Then you can’t trust that she’s not using you.”
“She would never?—”
His mother cut him off. “Yes, she would.”
Javi sighed. “No,mamá. Listen to me. She is perfect.”
His mother groaned. “Javi, no one is perfect.”
“Listen,” he repeated more forcefully. “She’s perfect forme. She’s beautiful. She’s smart. She has a successful career. She comes from a good family. She loves baseball.”
His mother groaned again. “Javier, I should have moved to Arizona. Mothers have a way of telling?—”
This time, Javi cutheroff. “Mamá, stop. Stop worrying. You’ve already met her.”
That statement caused his mother to pause. “What do you mean I’ve already met her? I haven’t been to Arizona.”
He’d caught her off guard. He could imagine hismamá’sface contemplating what he’d said. “That’s right, you haven’t been, and you need to come visit me. When do you think we could make that happen?”
“I can’t come right now, but you’re changing the subject. Who is this woman I’ve already met?”
“Camdyn Gallegos.” And that exact woman moved to straddle Javi’s lap. His free hand moved to her hip to stabilize her, and the large T-shirt she was using as a nightgown rode up her smooth thighs, like a fantasy come to life. Why had he decided to tell his mother while Cami was in his bed? He needed to wrap up this call.
His mother pulled him back to the phone conversation but he kept his eyes locked on Cami. “The lawyer who is helping us get Lola? Is it not a conflict for her to date you?”
