“Are we there yet?” Nate whined behind us, leaninghis elbow against Silas’s headrest as he stood. “What the hell is taking so long?”
“Hot date?” Chris asked next to him.
“I’m sure she’ll wait for you,” Silas said, craning his neck to get a better look at the traffic.
“I’m surprised you’re not more agitated, Coach. I’m sure the wife missed you.”
“I missed her too. But I can’t control this. Trust me, I’m ready for two days off with just her and not seeing any of you again until practice on Saturday. No offense.”
“Ouch,” Nate said, pressing a dramatic hand to his chest. “I’m sure Lee is ready to get off this bus and see his girl.”
I rolled my head at Nate’s smirk. He was one of the few players on this trip who hadn’t needed much treatment. His arm had seemed free of any strain and his stats had been even better than before his injury so far this season.
A year of rehab had taught him a little patience, at least while he was in uniform. He’d stopped swinging for the fences at every pitch and striking out more than making contact, the usual cockiness he strode to the plate with taken down a notch.
His mouth was another story.
“Yes, I’ll be happy to see my daughter once I’m home.”
I clenched my eyes shut, willing myself not to turn toward Nate’s snicker.
Stella wasn’t my girl, but excitement stirred in my gut over seeing her too, despite my best efforts to ignore it. We texted throughout the days, and I’d call her after the game when it wasn’t too late. Just like when we were teenagers, Stella and I could talk about everything and nothing for hours.
Even though I was never really alone, either at work orat home, the bone-deep loneliness was constant. Having Stella back in my life and talking to her all the time had eased a lot of that, but that wasn’t why I’d pull up the photos she sent of both of them whenever I had a free moment and no one was watching me.
My daughter regarded Stella in each photo with a beaming admiration that worried me. We had Stella for only months, not forever. I’d be home in place of her when the season was over. Stella would still be in my life enough for Bennie to maintain a relationship with her, but it would be different enough for her to miss Stella when this was all over.
Formeto miss Stella when this was all over.
Nate backed off, and when I opened my eyes again, the bus was traveling at a steady, if still slow, pace without any abrupt stops.
I reached into my pocket to grab my buzzing phone.
Stella
I’m guessing you’re still stuck in traffic.
Lee
Yep, but we just started to go more than ten miles an hour, so hopefully it shouldn’t be long.
Stella
Let me know when you’re a half hour out. We’ll pick you up.
Lee
Silas’s car is at the stadium, and he usually gives me a ride. You don’t have to worry about that.
Stella
What kind of welcome home would that be? Bennie insisted I make my macaroni and cheese when you came home, because after a long trip, you’d need a big, fancy dinner.
Lee
She’s always so helpful. I missed that little sneak.
Stella
