Page 28 of Catching the Coach
I look up at the ceiling and back at Brent. “Jesus Brent, say it louder. I don’t think everyone heard you.”
“Sorry, sorry. I just, Oh-” he stops mid sentence, giving me a shit eating grin of his own. “Is that who kept you up late last night?”
“I need to find new friends,” I mutter under my breath.
“Sorry bud, but you’re stuck with us.” Reese tips his head at my phone. “Spill.”
So I do. I spill everything. What happened after that practice. Our dinner at Tony’s. The stuff I had sent to her office. The damn article and the texts we’ve been sending each other. Her sending me updates on the boy’s games today. By the time I’m done spilling my guts like a high school girl, we’re out on the field and going through warm-ups.
“So, you’ve been texting for a week and she hasn’t given you an answer yet about a date?” Brent asks, tossing a ball to me.
I shake my head, catching the ball and throwing it back. “That article really upset her and I don’t want to push her. But at the same time she might need a push? I don’t know.”
“You need to prove to her that you’re worth taking a chance on,” Reese says, catching a ball Duke Keller, our first baseman, throws to him.
I jump for a ball Brent overthrows and catch it in my mit. “I know, but how?”
Duke, who’s usually the quiet one of the group, speaks up. “Show up.” Two words, that’s it.
“Care to elaborate?” I ask.
He sighs like I’m a moron. “Show up, any way possible. Be there for her, and her kid. You said the dad isn’t in the picture. Maybe she’s worried you won’t stick around either.”
Well fuck.
Duke coming in with the wisdom, as usual. We finish with our warm-up routine and head to the locker room to change. I’m not in the lineup today, but injuries happen. I’m mulling over how I can show her I’m serious about pursuing a relationship with her, when Reese plops down on the bench next to me.
“So I’ve been thinking,” he starts
I raise my eyebrows at him. “Did it hurt?”
“Fuck off, you want help with Hot Coach or not?” He gives me a pointed stare
“She has a name,” I growl back at him.
He gives me a smirk. “I know, I just like seeing you get worked up over a chick.”
“You’re an asshole.”
He shrugs his shoulders. “Yeah, but an asshole who has a brilliant idea. Do you want to hear it, or keep insulting me?”
I let out a sigh. “Give it to me.” Hoping it’s actually a good idea, because I have nothing.
He cracks his knuckles, like he’s getting to work. “They have a tournament this weekend right?”
“Yes, I just told you that,” I bite out.
“Chill grouch. I have a point,” he says, holding up a hand to me. “They’ll play tomorrow no matter what, it just depends on how they do in their next game, that determines how many games they play tomorrow.”
I give him the go ahead motion.
“We fly home tomorrow morning. What if you flew home tonight?” I stare at him, the pieces he’s laying out clicking into place.
“And show up at the tournament tomorrow,” I finish for him.
He gives me a finger gun. “Bingo.”
I mull the details over in my head, grabbing my phone to look at flights. Reese interrupts me.
