“Sorry for the intrusion,” she said, holding up a plastic container of what looked like some kind of baked good. “I wanted to stop by and introduce you to my husband, Jimmy.”
I made my way back down the stairs, smiling at them both, although Jimmy’s mouth didn’t move. As boisterous as his wife was, Jimmy stood and stared, his scrutiny more obvious without Diane’s bubbly chatter.
He wore a black jogging suit, his salt-and-pepper hair buzzed on the sides with the top slicked back, his dark eyes focused on mine.
“Nice to meet you.” I offered my hand.
“Nice to meet you too,” he said, his voice low but softer than I expected it to be.
“I tried to time it right for when you’d be back from school if you didn’t make any stops. I made some blueberry muffins and thought you could use the extra for breakfast this week. Bennie loves my muffins.”
“That sounds amazing. Thank you,” I said, taking the still-warm container from her hands. If she brought food every time she wanted to spy on me, I was all for it. Thepoor lady would be disappointed by the lack of juicy stuff to watch.
“Listen,” Jimmy said, bending as he leaned closer. “Lee told me about the trouble you had. I want you to know thatnothinggets past me on this block. I’ll make sure when Lee’s not around, no one bothers you. Okay?”
His tone was both menacing yet comforting, like a big teddy bear letting out a growl.
“Oh,” I managed to say, caught off guard both by their surprise visit and what Jimmy had said. I’d have to ask Lee what exactly he’d told them about my “trouble.”
“Thank you,” I said, a little breathless. “For the muffins and for…that. Nothing should happen, but I appreciate it.”
“Of course nothing will happen,” Diane said, patting my shoulder. “Enjoy these and let us know if you need anything else.”
“Anything,” Jimmy repeated, pointing his finger at me before Diane pulled him away. “Come see me at the shop.”
Jimmy reminded me of my uncles on my mother’s side, who always “knew a guy” and would say “don’t worry about it” after they did you a favor.
Life had taken a huge and weird shift over the last couple of months. I’d gone from living off room service and rest stops to fresh muffins from my new neighbors. Or Lee’s neighbors, as this was an extended stay, not home.
But as strange as it still seemed, it felt like exactly where I was supposed to be.
TWELVE
LEE
“I could live here,” Nate said while I worked on his arm. He’d been having a great first few games, but I still studied his face for any quick winces of pain. He’d played through injury most of his last season and had told us to go fuck ourselves when we’d notice his obvious pain and ask. Surgery had humbled him, but Silas and I still watched closely for any reactions he’d try to hide or blow off.
“I don’t know if I’d love a hundred degrees in April. At least in New York, you don’t have to roast until July.”
“Come on, Doc,” Nate said while I felt for any tension in his neck. “It’s a dry heat out here.”
“Right,” I said, examining his profile as I stretched his shoulder back.
“Jesus Christ, Lee,” he grunted out with the same irritated sigh I remembered from my first season with the Bats. “I will tell you when something hurts.”
“I know. Just doing my job and making sure. Looks good. You should stay nice and loose since this whole state is like a big sauna. Dry heat and all.”
“How’s Bennie doing? Your friend is staying with her while you’re gone, right?”
“Your girl is fine. Yes, Stella is living with us for the season.”
I noticed Nate’s shoulders shake on the table while I made notes.
“What’s so funny?”
“You’ve really been friends with her for all this time and never hooked up?”
“Yes,” I said, tossing my clipboard on the counter. “Why is that amusing?”
