Chapter 8

CHAPTER

EIGHT

DANI

Tyler bounces in his seat so hard I’m afraid he’ll break the shocks in the car. He can’t contain his excitement as we park in front of the Reaper’s stadium. Here we are again. I shake my head in disbelief. Casey Samuels surprised me when she called and practically begged me to bring to Tyler to open practice today. Apparently, Archie wouldn’t stop talking about Tyler, and he wanted his new friend at practice. After a little persuasion, I said yes, and well, here we are. I know Tyler will have a blast, and if it means a little awkwardness for me, then it’s a price I’m willing to pay.

It's been over a week since we were here meeting the Deckers and their Reaper family. It was surreal. I’m riddled with guilt as I think about my harsh and dismissive tone with Alexander when he invited Tyler here today. And yet, here we sit, ready to attend because Casey invited us. Will Alexander take it personally? Do I care? That’s probably the big question of the day. I won’t deny I’m attracted to him. But any heterosexual female with working eyes c ouldn’t help but be attracted to him. What kept me from saying yes? Probably temporary insanity fueled by fear and insecurity.

I’m usually the say yes, ask questions later kind of person. But with Alexander? He, well, he scared me. I’m not sure quite why. It’s his, what? Formality? Intensity? Money? Not sure, but yet, there was a certain something just below the surface. Vulnerability, perhaps? And that vulnerability makes him sexy as hell. And deep down, I know that’s what scared me. Once I see behind his self-imposed wall, I’m afraid I could fall. Hard.

I’m lost in my mini-self-therapy session when Tyler’s bouncing speeds up, making me shake my head and let those errant thoughts go. I’d do anything for my kid and that includes facing Alexander Decker again. After parking the car, I steal a glance at my son in the back seat. Any amount of guilt evaporates when I look at his full-faced smile. I’m willing to endure the embarrassment for him. Maybe I won’t even run into Alexander. I’m sure he was just being polite when he extended the initiation. He didn’t really mean it, did he? Besides, I’m sure he’s a very busy man who doesn’t frequent open practice sessions with kids.

After our last encounter, I googled him. More than once. I became curious when his magazine appearances were mentioned. It’s one hundred percent understandable. He’s pure hotness. When I went to Google images, there was shot after shot of him at various charity galas, and, wow, does that man looks good in a tux. I turn the air conditioner to high just thinking about those images.

In some pictures, there were various women on his arm, all statuesque, beautiful, with long, straight hair, and the perfect figure. Most were socialites or successful business women. They weren’t me, that’s for sure. My hair is naturally curly, the tight ringlets more cute than sexy. People always think I’m younger than I am, and I attribute it to my curls. I sure don’t feel young at thirty-two .

My reflection looks back at me from the side window, and I barely recognize myself today. I had time to kill this morning, and my anxiety got the best of me. While I listened to my favorite podcast, I straightened my hair. It was practically meditative, and while it was calming, I don’t feel quite myself. With the new hair, I added makeup too. It’s like I’m wearing a costume and playing pretend. Maybe I can hide behind this new persona.

“Moooooooommmmmm,” Tyler whines from the backseat. “I can’t unbuckle until you turn off the car.”

I glance at the clock. Casey told us to be here around nine-thirty, and I’m right on time. Not typical of me. I’m always late. Unsure of the protocol, I wanted to be fashionably late today. Oh well.

“Remember what we talked about. Be polite. Listen, and do exactly what you’re told. Don’t run off. Lots of please and thank yous. Most of all, have fun. Got it?”

“Yes ma’am. Got it.” He’s waving his glove, sending me the visual he’s ready to go.

His grin is the validation I needed to know it’s okay to be here. My mind wanders to Alexander again. He’s sure living rent free in my head lately.

We make our way to the entrance, following Casey’s instructions and follow several other people to the field.

“I’m so glad you made it! Ohmygod, you look fantastic.” I’m embraced by Casey, swinging us side to side. Tyler sees Archie and runs to the dugout where the kids are gathered. So much for staying by me.

“I should say a little prayer for the players. Tyler is wound up.” Casey laughs and loops her arm in mine.

“Oh, they’ll be fine. They like this, especially since it keeps the coaches off their ass for today. Joey will keep an eye on them. Come on, let’s go sit in the shade.” She leads me to a place in the stands where a few other women I met in the suite are seated and offer various greetings. I’m watching Tyler and Archie run the ba ses with the other kids. We sit behind home plate and next to a tunnel that must connect to the locker room because players keep appearing one and two at a time. Everyone appears to be happy and relaxed.

We watch the practice, and I’m not sure who is having more fun, the kids or the players. Tyler’s smile takes up his entire face. This was a good decision and my heart is full.

“Thanks again for inviting us. Tyler is having the time of his life.”

“I’m so glad y’all could come. I wasn’t sure you would.”

“Why do you say that?” She’s right. I said no more times than I could count before I gave in and said yes.

She gives me a sly smile. “They’re just guys who have talent with a ball and a stick. Their job happens to be a game. They still leave their underwear on the bathroom floor and have to be reminded to take out the trash. Marriage is marriage. Men are men, regardless of the job.” She laughs at her husband as he runs backwards to catch a pop-up ball. “Good job, honey,” she yells when he crashes into the fence, ball in his glove. The rest of the team responds with wolf whistles and teasing.

“How long have you and Joey been married?” They’re cute. It’s obvious he’s an adoring husband and father. Even if he leaves his underwear on the floor. It’s a good reminder that they are people that have different circumstances than I do, but they’re still people. My mind flits to Alexander. I doubt he leaves his underwear on the floor.

“We got married right out of college, a week before the draft. I needed him to understand that I was all in, no matter what happened with the pro offer. I wasn’t a cleat chaser.” She smiles at the memory. “That was eight years ago.”

“Cleat chaser?” Now I sound like Tyler, asking questions for words I don’t know.

“Yeah, girls that hitch themselves to college athletes hoping they go pro, and when they don’t get the call, the girls drop them and find another one. They chase money and fame. Let me tell you, m inor league ball is not all that. Joey’s been in the show for the past four years. But those first three in the minors? Not easy, especially with a baby.”

“Cleat chasers are the worst,” Darcy says as she joins our conversation. “Almost as bad as those people telling you that your guy has a girl in every city and can’t be faithful.”

“Is that a thing?” I ask. Are these guys players on the field and off? I wonder if Alexander has a woman in every city?

She winces. “There might be a few guys like that. Some of the bachelors, but not all. Most of the guys are solid, family men. Especially on this team. The Reapers don’t put up with that.” Family values are important to this team. That’s something I can stand behind.

I’m enjoying Casey’s company, and we’ve already planned for Archie and Tyler to get together for a pool day before school starts back. From storms come rainbows. I’ll add Casey Samuels and her family to that list of rainbows.