10. Monty

Chapter ten

Monty

I woke up to an empty apartment and a sore neck from sleeping on the couch. Not the best start to my day.

She left without a note, no sign she had even been here except for the folded-up pair of shorts I guess she never put on and the water glass beside the bed. That and the pillow I normally use was lying lengthwise as if someone was hugging it in their sleep.

That makes me smile.

I make a quick protein shake and shoot a text to Darling and Yami.

MONTY: My dudes. Who’s up for a run this morning?

YAMI: Seriously? Damn, it’s 7 am.

MONTY: Okay T Swift, if you’re too lazy just say so…

YAMI: Don’t bring my imaginary girlfriend into this.

YAMI: Meet at the usual spot?

DARLING: Y’all are lazy. I’ve been up since 6. Already done my yoga. See you there in thirty?

MONTY: It’s on like donkey kong. And Yami, I’ll treat you to donuts after.

YAMI: Fine. But I want TWO donuts.

With just a few minutes to get ready before I need to leave and meet the guys, I briefly debate texting Lark. In the end, my self-doubt wins and I don’t. She probably doesn’t remember much from last night. Heck, she might even be embarrassed that I had to carry her inside. Not that I care; any excuse to hold her. Besides, she was a cute drunk, with those little hiccups and giggles. And seeing her in my shirt, in my bed?

Goddamn, that was as close to heaven as I’ve ever been.

I get dressed in compression tights, shorts, and a Tridents long sleeve thermal shirt, grab a toque, my keys and a water bottle, and I’m out the door. When I pull into the parking lot in Stanley Park where the guys and I like to meet, I can’t help but remember the last time I went for a run here.

With Lark.

The day she told me she was engaged.

I’ve avoided this spot since then and didn’t realize it until now.

Darling’s already waiting, but there’s no sign of Yami as I get out of my car.

“Mornin’, how long are we gonna wait for him?” Darling says as I walk over.

I shrug. “We’ll give him a few, we’re early.” I start to do some warm-up stretches, letting the crisp November air fill my lungs. If the skies stay clear all day like they’re meant to, I’m going to head up to one of the local mountains with my telescope.

It wasn’t easy being a science geek in a small town. And even being on a sports team, helping them hit the championships, didn’t outweigh the social suicide I brought on myself with my Star Wars T-shirts and space puns. Yeah, I was the nerd in school who wanted to study the stars.

At least now as an adult, I can embrace my nerdy side openly, and not fear the backlash. If anything, people love me even more for it — now.

I’ve always said that if I hadn’t gone on to play ball professionally, I would have considered getting a degree in astrophysics. Visiting NASA is a bucket list dream of mine.

A low black sports car speeds into the parking lot, the music thumping from inside.

“Always gotta make an entrance,” Darling says, a wry smile on his face.

We’ve all got our roles to play. Where I’m the friendly one, Darling’s the southern gentleman, Maverick’s the bad boy, Sin’s the father figure, and Yami? He’s the drama queen.

We’re finding our groove as a duo, and most of the time, our energies compliment each other. We’re both outgoing and love to have fun. But where I try to put everyone else first, Yami can be a bit more selfish sometimes. Not malicious, though. Nah, the guy doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. But it’s the little things like this — blaring loud music early in the morning, not caring who he might disturb as he drives through town.

When he cuts his engine and the music stops, the silence feels abrupt. He climbs out of his car and immediately stretches his arms overhead with a yawn.

“It is so fucking early.”

“Okay, you big baby, stretch and let’s go. I want some donuts.” Darling starts to bounce side to side.

We set off, the pace nice and easy, the only sound our breathing. But as always happens when us guys get together, the competition soon starts. And the next thing I know, I’m sprinting against Yami, proving catchers can do more than just squat.

Once again, I’m reminded of racing Lark that day. I guess it’s not one I’ll soon forget, seeing as it felt like the end of something that never even had the opportunity to start.

Except now? Now I might have a second chance with her. Maybe being here in the same place where she broke my heart without ever knowing it, the day after she tells me she’s ending things with Baron, is a sign. A sign my time is coming.

After finishing our run, I make good on my offer and we head to a local bakery that specializes in gourmet donuts.

We sit down at a table, each with a donut and coffee in front of us, and dive in. This is why I love the offseason. I can eat donuts after a run and not worry the team nutritionist is gonna give me shit.

Not that it would stop me from having one during the season, but still. Guilt-free donut? Yes, please and thank you.

“Excuse me, hi, um, are you guys from the Tridents?”

We all turn at the high-pitched, feminine voice. I gotta be honest, it’s way more common for dudes or kids to come up to us, but every now and then, women will approach us. Like the pair standing next to our table right now.

“Yes, we are, pretty lady.” Darling turns on the charm, his accent somehow more pronounced as he gives the women a grin. I just internally roll my eyes. He knows being the good old southern boy gets them every time.

“Oh my God, we love the Tridents!” One of them giggles, and without being asked, the two of them start to pull over chairs and sit down.

A brunette squeezes in between me and Yami, the space so narrow her thigh is pressed against mine. I give her a small smile and try to subtly put some space between us, which proves impossible. “Hey. I’m Monty.”

“Hi, I’m Leia,” she says in return.

“Like from Star Wars ?” I blurt out, and she nods, giggling again. Not sure how my question was funny, but okay. Or wait, do I have something stuck in my teeth? I run my tongue over them to check but can’t feel anything.

A hand lands on my arm, startling me. “So, what position do you play, Monty?” she asks coyly.

“I thought you said you love the Tridents?” I ask without thinking about how it might sound. “I’m one of the catchers.” And seeing as there’s only three of us, a fan would know who I am.

Her face falls slightly, but she recovers quickly. “Right, of course.” She giggles again. Okay, now that sound is getting annoying. And I’m not easily annoyed. Leia leans in and presses her chest into my arm. Woah, that’s not cool. I try to shift away but Yami’s on my other side and there’s nowhere to go.

“Uh, yeah. So.” I push away from the table, my chair scraping across the floor and stand up, dislodging her. “I gotta take a leak.”

I escape to the back of the bakery, not even sure if there is a washroom back here. But I don’t know how to act around women like Leia. Women who are bold and forward. It’s cool, I mean, all power to them. I just don’t have a fucking clue what to do when I’m not interested in that at all.

At least, not with them.

After a couple of minutes, I peer around the corner, and to my relief, the girls are gone. I make my way back to the table and sink down in my chair.

“Monty. Dude. What the fuck?” Yami punches my shoulder. “She was into you.”

“Yeah, but I wasn’t into her,” I reply lightly. “I’m here for donuts, not girls.”

“Who says you can’t have both?”

“Give our boy a break, Yami,” Darling says, leaning forward. “Everyone knows he’s only got eyes for one woman. He has since the day he joined the team, ain’t that right?” He looks at me, sympathy clear on his face. “But Monty, you gotta figure out how to move on. She’s gettin’ hitched.”

I want to tell them she’s not. But it’s not my news to share, so I keep my mouth shut, and just incline my head to show I heard him. He is right, I’ve had eyes for Lark since the very beginning, and unfortunately, these guys know the story all too well.

They helped me work up the courage to ask her out, witnessed me show up at the stadium with flowers, only to find her kissing some dude in khaki shorts and a polo shirt.

She introduced him as Baron, her boyfriend. Of course, the guy wearing fucking khakis and a polo shirt had a name like Baron. There was no mistaking the arrogance as he looked me over. I can still remember how his chin lifted, likely taking in my clothes — athletic wear for the workout I had to go and do — and clearly finding me lacking. I knew right then, there was no hope for me. If she was with a guy like him, she’d never want a guy like me.

“Who’s up for some batting practice this afternoon?” I ask as a way to try and redirect the conversation. It works, and talk turns to what time we want to meet up at the stadium to get some hits in.

Thank fuck. Talking about women with my teammates is one thing I work hard to avoid. I don’t want to deal with the questions that might come up. It’s been easier to let them believe I’m pining over Lark and that’s why I’ve never had a girlfriend.

And I mean, let’s be real. That’s basically the truth.

They just don’t need to know exactly how true it is. It’s not only the last few years that have seen me single as single can be. It’s my entire damn life.

Hours later, after meeting the guys for BP, then joining some of them for dinner at a local pub, night has fallen and I still haven’t heard from Lark. She wasn’t at the stadium either, at least not that I could see.

But the skies are still clear, which means, regardless of how I’m feeling about the lack of communication from her, my mission is a go.

I grab an old hoodie from my closet and the large case that holds my baby. My pride and joy. The second most important item I own, next to my very first catcher’s mitt.

Once my astronomy gear is loaded in the car, I drive out of the city, and up the winding road that climbs one of the mountains in North Vancouver. When I reach the lookout I’m headed for, it’s empty.

Perfect.

It takes no time at all to set up my telescope, the hardest part being leveling the tripod on the rocky ground. But I’ve set up here many times before, so it’s doable. The air is cold tonight, with a bit of wind that’s biting against my skin. I grab the jacket I’m grateful I tossed in at the last minute and zip it up tight. There’s no snow up here yet, but it’s coming soon, I would guess. Then I won’t be able to come up here so easily, since setting up my equipment in the snow is a pain.

I take out my phone and open my favourite star chart to double-check the location of what I want to see, then set the telescope in that direction. It takes a bit to align everything and get it into focus but then, there it is.

It’s not the best time of year to view this particular star; in the spring, it’s much brighter. But there she is. The star I bought two years ago as a birthday present. A present I never gave to the person I purchased it for, worried it would be seen as too much.

The star I named Birdie.