Cruz leaned back, pleased with himself. “Sure, Matthewson. Be sure to get her number before the game ends.” He didn’t sound starstruck. He sounded entertained, which told me he had no clue who she was.
Nobody else on the bench reacted either. No double takes, no heads turning. To them, she was just a girl in the stands waving at a guy she liked. Cruz saw my face for half a second and did what he always did: he talked shit.
The game ended in a tie.There were no extra innings in spring training games. Just nine innings, high-fives with our teammates, and everyone heading in.
I’d gotten another at-bat in the fifth and finally barreled one—a line drive that carried to the gap and smacked off the fence in right-center. I hit second standing and tried not to look into our dugout for any reaction, but I couldn’t stop grinning when I heard our bench pop off anyway.
Dylan had a solid day too. He took good at-bats, ran down a ball in the gap that should’ve been extra bases, and still found time to chirp at me from center.
We never had a big lead, though. They answered, we answered, and then it turned into pitchers, subs, and quick innings until the board stayed even.
I hit the clubhouse, went straight to my locker, took off my jersey and undershirt, then grabbed my phone to check the group chat.
Faye: Tie game???
Dylan: Spring training special
Yep. That’s how it goes sometimes
Faye: You two are done right?
Dylan: For today
Faye: Meet me at the resort. Same room number
Yes ma’am
I grinned at the screen and shoved my phone back into my bag before someone wandered by and got curious.
Cruz walked by, still sweaty, with a towel slung over his shoulder and looking too relaxed for a guy who’d been in cleats all afternoon. “You in a hurry to meet that hottie?”
“No,” I fibbed.
He laughed as I moved past him with my shower stuff. “Sure, Matthewson. You got her number, huh?”
“Fuck off.” I chuckled and kept walking toward the showers, where I took the quickest one of my life.
I dressed quickly, pulling on shorts and a hoodie, then slipping into my slides. Once I stuffed my keys, wallet, and phone into my pockets, I grabbed my bag and headed out.
I got in my car and pulled out of the lot slowly because getting pulled over would’ve been the dumbest way to end my day.
My leg still bounced at every red light, and I couldn’t stop smiling because she was here and I couldn’t get to her fast enough.
By the time I pulled into the resort parking lot, Dylan’s car was already there.
I parked, grabbed my bag, and headed inside. The elevator felt slow. The hallway felt longer than it should’ve. When I reached her door, Pederson stood off to the side and gave me a nod hello.
I knocked.
The door opened, and Dylan answered it.
“You speed here?” I teased.
“I stopped at every red light,” he answered, moving aside to let me enter.
“Did you only hit one?”
He grinned. “Something like that.”
