Page 108 of The Troublemaker
Hadley turns her head toward me, and I’m sure she’s going to say some smartass comment, but I press my lips to hers before she can.She doesn’t draw back or stop the kiss.
We don’t go any further than a chaste kiss, and as we pull away when the young cashier calls for the next customer, our eyes remain on one another’s.
Things are shifting, we both know it, and it seems I’m the one pushing it there.
Hadley snaps her head forward and breaks out of my embrace, placing her order.
I decide on a salted caramel chocolate scoop and pay for the two of us.
We file down to the waiting area, and I hear the murmurs and whispers, knowing I’ve been spotted before Hadley does.
“We’re about to be bombarded,” I whisper in her ear.
She glances around as two boys and a girl run up to us.
“Easton Bailey?”the oldest one asks.They all have napkins in hand and a pen that their mom probably dug out of her purse.
“How are you guys tonight?”I bend down so I’m at their level.
They tell me their favorite ice cream flavors, and I sign their napkins.Then I take pictures with them.Apparently they were the bravest ones, because after them, more kids and adults come over to tell me how much they love the Colts and how great of a player I am.
No one criticizes me tonight, but I’ve been on that side of it too.After we lost the World Series last year, not all Chicago fans were nice about it.It’s always the ones who think they could coach better than Ripley or make a play I didn’t that have the loudest voices.
I’m not even sure how long it takes, but when I’m finally done, Hadley isn’t at my side anymore.She waves to me from a nearby table, both of our ice creams in front of her.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.I know I have to share you.”She spoons some of her raspberry chocolate ice cream into her mouth.
“Let’s get out of here.”I pick up my ice cream, clasp her hand, and lead us out of the shop before I get bombarded again.Once we’re outside, I say, “I’m sorry again.”
I guide us to the Riverwalk, hoping we’ll have more peace down there to talk and be alone.I wish I had a genie at my disposal who could stop time so tonight never ends.
Hadley shrugs.“You don’t have to apologize.I get it.”
We head down the steps to get off Michigan Avenue and to a quieter area.
Mission accomplished, there aren’t as many people here.With the lights being warm and dim, the darkness will be our friend.
“Why baseball?”she asks once we’re walking along the river.
“What do you mean?”I hold out a spoonful of my ice cream, and she opens her mouth.
She makes a sound of approval low in her throat that I attempt to ignore before my libido takes over.“Oh, that’s yummy… I mean what made you want to be a baseball player?”
I laugh because once she hears the story, she’ll realize there was no other choice.“First let me try yours.”
“Dodging the question?”She spoons her ice cream and holds it out to me.I wrap my lips around her spoon, and she slides it out, her eyes fixated on my mouth.
Maybe ice cream was a bad idea.
“That is good.I’m gonna want another bite.”
“So…”
“Oh yes, baseball… well, my name is Easton, so that should give you a clue as to how big baseball is in my family.”
It takes her a minute, but I see in her expression when she puts the name of the baseball company together with how I was named.
