Moving Forward: A Baseball Romance Page 3
In the beginning, she’d work her ass off just to get his praise, or even a small smile of acknowledgement, and her mother always obliged, but it was her father’s affections she craved. Much to her dismay, she never got anything more than a quick cursory glance, and if she was good, a quick word or two.
Yes, she knew her father wasn’t the sentimental sort, but sometimes, she wished he was. She didn’t want a hallmark father waiting for her to come home from school to ask her about her day, or the cool father who let her get away with things all the time.
No, she just wanted a father who made an effort to be in the moment. Nothing more, nor less. She didn’t think it was an unreasonable request, but whenever she caught herself going off on one of his tirades, she’d picture the disapproval that would radiate off of him if she said it.
It was better if she didn’t anyway. She wasn’t sure if her father would understand, and the whole med school issue was making things worse. She never dreamed a decision as big as that would drive such a wedge between them.
It was her life after all, and it should be her choice, and sure, for a time, she believed she wanted medicine, but the more she argued with her father about it, the less she wanted to pursue it. Aimee let her fingers dangle off the edge of the bleachers, swinging them back and forth as she hummed under her breath.
She scrubbed her hands over her face and gathered her hair into a high ponytail. The best part about coming to the stadium was the inevitable peace that followed. Whenever she came here, nothing ever seemed that bad.
In fact, she’d even go so far as to say that she believed things would be okay.
Perhaps it was naïve optimism, but something about this big building where people convened to watch others run around chasing a ball seemed magical. Like their faith or loyalty to this sport clung to the air surrounding the stadium like a second skin.
The tips of her fingers grazed her ear, and she shivered as she lifted her collar up to ward off the sudden chill. If she sat still like this, there was a very real chance she’d catch a cold, and that was last thing she needed.
She swung her legs once, twice, then three times before she pushed herself off the bleachers and made a perfect landing. She pretended to take a bow in front of an imaginary crowd. Her arms stretched open in an arc as she spun around, letting her eyes fall close as she listened to the steady beat of her heart.
In that moment, Aimee felt alive.
Invincible.
Fearless.
Nothing, and no one could take that away from her. Not social expectations, not life, and certainly not her dad. She vowed to herself that she wouldn’t fall into the same pitfalls everyone else did. Her life was hers, regardless of the outcome.
Her head swam, so she froze and waited for the world to stop spinning around her. She giggled as she envisioned a group of grown men in tight shorts and tucked in shirts running around just to catch a ball. She supposed some things never changed, and grown men going crazy over sports wasn’t any different.
Still, she couldn’t picture how they could ever take themselves seriously in their get ups. They looked like they were getting ready to shoot an old commercial, she was being generous with that description. Of course, there was also the matter of how overrated athletes were.
Even if she worked hard all her life, she’d wouldn’t make half as much as a big-time baseball player, and she certainly wouldn’t get any of the recognition. It was an unfair system, but it was what it was.
Sadly, she couldn’t change anything about it.
Aimee allowed her eyes to dart off the stadium before she took off, cherishing the sound of her feet hitting the solid grass, and the wind hitting her face causing her eyes to well up. She bent over once she reached the pass, her chest rising and falling unevenly as she realized how out shape she was.
“Man, I need to exercise more,” she muttered under her breath as she wiped the back of her hands across the palm of her jeans. She straightened, took in another deep cleansing breath before she glanced down at her watch.
Time to go back.
She trudged forward, slouching slightly and scowling as she kicked dirt out of her way. When her head collided with something solid, she nearly went sprawling backwards were it not for the warm pair of hands that snaked around her waist.
“Whoa, easy there Babe Ruth.”
Aimee tilted her chin up, her eyes blazing defiantly when she saw that it was the man from the bar the other night. The one who stepped up to help them out. What was his name?
Tommy.
Up close, his hazel eyes had flecks of gold in them, and Aimee felt her knees turn to jelly before she cleared her throat and smiled weakly. “Hi.”
“Hi, slugger,” he greeted, his mouth curling into a smile. “What brings you to this neck of the woods?”
“Just out for a walk. It’s a nice night out,” Aimee responded, hesitantly.
“Yeah, it is,” he agreed, quietly.
Aimee glanced down at his arms around her waist before her eyes traveled back to the fact that her hands were around his shirt. She’d grabbed a fistful of his shirt, but for some reason she hadn’t let go. Aimee flushed as she hastily released his shirt, and he awkwardly removed his hands.
“So, you’re a baseball fan?” he asked, after a long silence.
Aimee shook her head. “Not really.”
“So, you’re not a baseball fan, but you’re at a baseball stadium in the middle of the night?” Tommy quirked an eyebrow, an amused smile tugging on the corner of his lips.
“It’s quiet out here, and nobody would ever think to look for me at a baseball stadium, so I like to come here to think,” she admitted as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
She had no idea why she said that. He was virtually a stranger, and she had no business sharing something that personal with him, but she couldn’t seem to help it. The truth came pouring forth out of her mouth, and she couldn’t stop it.
“I see.”
The silence stretched between them, and she tried not to stare at him, but she found her eyes drawn to him, like there was some kind of invisible web that tethered the both of them.
“So, what are you doing here?” she asked as she squinted her eyes to try to make out his outline.
Tommy let out an incredulous laugh. “Seriously?”
It was only then that she noticed he was wearing a jersey. Not just any Jersey, it was a Chicago Coyotes one. Now, she felt like an idiot. She might not like baseball, but she didn’t live under a rock.
“Wait, you play for the Coyotes?” Her mouth fell open in surprise. She thought he was around her age, but at the moment, she wondered if maybe he was older, and she just couldn’t tell.
“I tried out for them the other day, and they liked me, so we’ll see how it goes.” He shrugged as he dropped his backpack on the ground and bent over to rummage around for something. He produced a jacket a minute later and slipped into it, a low noise of approval escaping his throat.
“That’s good, right?” Aimee asked, curiously. “I mean, I’m not sure how baseball works, but if they want you to come back, you must’ve done something right.”
“I guess so. How about you?”
Aimee furrowed her brows together. “What about me?”
“What do you do?” he clarified.
“I just graduated, and I’m supposed to go med school.”
“Supposed to?” he questioned. “You don’t want to?”
“I’m not really sure. I thought I did, but maybe it’s just because my dad wants me to,” she revealed as she clasped her hands together.
Why did he make her nervous?
Her palms were sweaty, and a frenzy of butterflies erupted in her stomach. That certainly wasn’t the reaction guys elicited. She hadn’t gotten nervous around a guy since elementary.
So, how come Tommy was different?
“Is that why you’re out here?”
He looked embarrassed to be asking the question, but genuinely concerned.
“So, are you going to show me how you play, or what?”
Tommy threw his head back and laughed. “You don’t beat around the bush, do you?”
“Not really no.” She gave him a sultry grin and watched as his eyes darkened, and his gaze raked over, sending delicious shivers racing down her spine.
“Would you like to get some coffee some time?”
“I’d love to.”
Chapter 4
Tommy grunted and felt himself slide backwards, the ball hitting him squarely in the chest and knocking the breath out of him. He rubbed his chest and stared at it incredulously.
“What happened?” he asked, confused.
“I did call out to you,” Leo responded, matter-of-factly. “You just didn’t hear me because your head was up in the clouds.”
“It was not,” Tommy said, defensively. He scratched the back of his neck nervously and tried to get his thoughts in order. He hadn’t heard what Leo said, that much was true, and his head was somewhere far away.
He kept thinking of Aimee. He couldn’t get her out of his thoughts, no matter how hard he tried. Her picture was clear in his mind, clear blue eyes and chestnut hair. A mouth that curved into a flirty smile, and a voice that made him stop in his tracks.
Tommy hadn’t even spent that much time with her, but he could tell she was special. It sounded cheesy, but it was true. He would’ve stepped in anyway, that day at the bar with the guys who were harassing Aimee’s friends, so meeting her was a nice bonus.
The last thing he’d expected when he went to the stadium was running into her. He’d gone there with his jersey to breathe it all in and try to get in some practice time. Just because the coach was impressed didn’t mean he was in for good. They called people up then changed their mind all the time.
It could happen, and Tommy didn’t want to leave any room for error. He couldn’t get this close then lose it all in the blink of an eye. So, he’d arrived at the stadium with a clear head and a goal in mind.
All of that flew right out the window when he caught sight of Aimee muttering to herself and running around, pretending to get a home run. He’d crossed his arms over his chest, placed one ankle in front of the other, and leaned against the fence to get a better look.
He couldn’t help the smile that tugged on his features as he watched her tackle it with grace. He could tell she was struggling by the tense way she held herself, and the strain in her legs, but she held her own nonetheless.
Here was a woman who wasn’t afraid to push herself all the way to the edge and then some. Instantly, he liked her even more, and it had nothing to do with the fact that she wore a pair of shorts that showed off her firm ass, and that her jacket barely covered her thighs. She had a pair of nice long legs, and from his standpoint, he could barely make it out if they were tan, and he wanted to take a closer look.
Tommy had cleared his throat and pushed himself off the fence, shoving his hands in his pockets. He hadn’t expected her to barrel into him, nearly stumbling backwards, and he let his fingers linger a little longer than necessary, feeling her body heat pulse through him.
“Yo,” Leo called out, frustration leaking into his tone. “Watch out for the---“
Leo didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence because Tommy let out a stream of colorful profanities and scowled as he clutched his head between his hands. Gingerly, he touched the bump on top of his head, at the back of his skull and winced.
“What the hell was that for?” Tommy hissed.
“I did try to warn you.” Leo shrugged. “Sorry, man. Seriously though, are you thinking about that chick from the bar the other night?”
Tommy released his head, blinking. “Aimee, yeah. I ran into her at the stadium last night, and she hates baseball.”
Leo snickered. “No kidding. Wow, you two are off to a great start. Does she know about the Coyotes?”
“Yeah, she does,” Tommy revealed. “She seemed okay with it.”
Leo raised a dark eyebrow. “That’s good then. Have they called you back yet?”
Tommy shook his head. “No, the coach said something about coming in on Monday, but they haven’t confirmed yet. I’m still waiting to see. What if they changed their mind?”
Leo clapped Tommy on the back before releasing his shoulder. “I doubt they did, man. They wouldn’t have said anything about Monday if they did.”
“How did the ball land on my head?” Tommy asked, scrunching his eyebrows in confusion.
“I might have overshot the ball,” Leo admitted, and he jumped back as Tommy attempted to lunge for him. “What happened to focusing on baseball?”
“I am, and I think my first act is to kick my best friend’s ass.” Tommy narrowed his eyes and hunched over, placing his hands on his knees. “I don’t want to get distracted, Leo. I can’t screw up my chances with them. I might never get this opportunity again.”
“So, don’t,” Leo suggested. “There’s a thought for you.”
“Tommy,” his mother called out, her head peeking behind the front door. “There’s a phone call for you. It sounds important.”
Tommy held up his finger. “Two secs, Leo. I hope it’s them.”
Leo gave him a thumbs up. “Good luck.”
Tommy skidded into the living room, barely avoiding knocking his mom over in the process. He apologized over his shoulder and breathlessly picked up the phone.
“Hello?” he asked.
“Tommy Adams?”
“Speaking.”
“This is the representative for Chicago Coyotes. We just wanted to tell you that you have officially been drafted, and we’d like you to start right away.”
Tommy fist pumped the air. “Really? When?”
“I believe the coach said Monday, so we’ll stick to that date. Bright and early. Congratulations, son, and welcome to the Coyotes.”
The person on the other end of the line sounded clipped and professional, so Tommy reigned in his excitement.
“Yes, I understand. Thank you so much.”
His mother hovered in the doorway, nervously shifting from one foot to the other. Tommy scooped her up and spun her around before placing a firm kiss on her cheek.
“You’re in?”
His mother’s eyes welled up with happy tears.
“I’m in,” Tommy confirmed as his mother threw her arms around him, bringing him in for a bear hug.
*****
“So, you get accepted to one of the best baseball teams in the country, and you’re still stuck with grocery shopping?”
Leo shook his head as he fell into step beside Tommy.
“I told my mom I’d pick up some groceries for a celebratory dinner,” Tommy responded as he folded the piece of paper into tiny pieces then shoved it in his pocket.
Leo waggled his eyebrows playfully. “A celebratory dinner? Is Aimee going to be there? Maybe serving the food in a French maid outfit?”
Tommy choked back a laugh, the image springing up to his mind and derailing his focus.
“Is that a yes?” Leo’s grin grew wider. “Come on, you’ve thought about it, I’m sure.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Ah, but you probably have. You just want to be a gentleman and not talk about it.”
Leo paused in the middle of the street and started making kissing faces, much to the chagrin of Tommy, who caught the way several people shook their head and quickened their pace. Some parents even covered their children’s eyes.
Tommy loved Leo to death, but he needed to come with a warning label. Most of the time, he tended to be chill and laid back, but there were times like today when he started cranking it up a notch.
Today seemed to be one of those days.
“Yeah, sure. Whatever you say man.” Tommy dismissed
his comment and took the list out of his pocket, scanning the contents.
“Mom comes up with weird shit sometimes.” Tommy sighed deeply before he put the list back. “I’m not even sure what she does with them.”
“If its spices, she probably sprinkles it on the food,” Leo informed him.
Tommy gave him a look.
“What? I have three sisters, dude. What do you expect? I know all kinds of useless shit about women and cooking.”
They stopped outside the grocery store, and Tommy glanced up at it, already envisioning himself getting lost in the aisles, looking for his mom’s obscure necessities. Leo fished his phone out of his pocket and frowned as he read the text.
“As much fun as it would be to watch you squirm as you try to decipher your mom’s groceries, I have to go home because my parents need me. See you later dude.”
“See you later.”
Tommy nodded at him, pulled up a shopping cart and unfolded the paper. He unfolded the paper and walked down the aisles, grabbing the things he already knew. The shopping cart began to fill up with peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and a cabbage.
If he had to guess, he’d say his mom was going to attempt to make salad. It wasn’t her strong suit, but he appreciated the effort. The list also included potatoes, turkey legs, ingredients for gravy and vegetables.
Clearly, his mom wanted to make his favorite dish, and it wasn’t expensive. Mostly because they could only afford to make it once a year at Thanksgiving. His stomach growled at the thought of food, and he patted his stomach consolingly.
His ears perked as he heard something backfire a few minutes away. Ice cold fear began to run through his veins when he recognized the sound of gunfire. He froze in his place, unable to force his legs to move forward.
What was happening?
Images flashed through his mind in quick succession, and his heart began to pound in his ears, drowning out everything else. A slight tremor went through his body, and his knees knocked together as he dropped to the floor. He crawled between the aisles and hid behind one of the shelves, trying to calm his irregular breathing.
He drew his knees up to his chest and placed his head there as he tried to sort and sift through his muddled thoughts. All he could think about was his father’s figure lying on the floor, the life bleeding out of him as Tommy stayed rooted in fear. He should’ve been able to save him, but he couldn’t. Not only that, but Tommy had gone on to survive, and he’d never gotten over his survivor’s guilt.