Chapter 25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Cole

Ty parks his truck in the player’s lot and we both get out. We head towards the entrance and see a shit ton of photographers at the door. I was already eager to get this practice over so I can get ready for my date with Adriana but now with this? There are more photographers than normal. I want to turn around and get back into Ty’s truck because this means something is happening and I don’t know if it’s good or bad.

“What the fuck?” Ty says.

“That’s my thought.” I agree.

They don’t bother us as we walk past them and into the stadium. We go straight to the clubhouse so we can find out what is happening. We both go straight to our own lockers and put our bags in them. It seems like everyone is here, but coach is in his office with the door closed, which is odd since it’s normally open. I sit down so I can switch into my cleats, since I’m already in my gym clothes.

Coach’s door opens, and he walks out first with someone else behind him.

“Gentleman, let’s gather ‘round.” He says as he comes to the middle of the locker room.

“So, as we all know, Dean is out for at least three months. We made the tough choice to bring in a new player to help in his absence. Welcome Dylan Crawford to the team. Dylan want to say a few words?”

“Thanks Coach. I’m excited to be here and to get to know everyone. My goal is to help the team get to the championship games this year.” Dylan tells us.

I know that having his skills in our repertoire makes the team better, but man, I’m not excited about him as a person from all the talk in the media and from other players in the league. The media coverage outside of the stadium must be for him.

“Media coverage for the trade will die down. There won’t always be photographers outside.” Coach says, as if he read my mind.

“Welcome to The Grizzlies.” Sean is the first to say.

Everyone follows with the welcomes including Ty and myself. I hope that his presence won’t affect the team dynamic and derail what we already have going for this season. While I might not hang out with everyone regularly, we all have mutual respect for one another and that’s not something you just get. It’s earned, with the sweat, tears, wins, loses and maybe some bloody bench clearing brawls.

Dylan and his antics could be what breaks the team. Ty and I look at each other and nod, understanding that we have to help make sure he does nothing to jeopardize the team and the image of the organization. We have worked for years to get where we are and we won’t let anyone lead us astray.

“Alright, let’s get to the field. These games won’t win themselves.” Coach tells us.

With that, we all chuckle and head out to the field. We all start with stretching in the outfield since that’s where the most grass is.

“What’s up?” King comes over nearby and sits his tall ass down.

“Nada. Are you going to come by early on Thursday to hangout before everyone gets there?” I ask him.

Before King has time to answer, there is a shadow next to me, so I look up and see it’s Dylan.

“What’s happening Thursday? Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, I was just coming over to chat.” He tells King and I.

I don’t believe him, but now I feel obligated to invite him since I know it’ll get mentioned. It’s also a good way to figure out who he is before the girls have to be in his presence. I know Ty will agree, so I make the call.

“Some of the guys are coming to my house. I just moved in at the start of the season. If you’re not busy you should come by too. It’ll give you a chance to get to know us and us, you.” I say.

“That sounds good. Thanks for the invite. Before I leave, I’ll get you my number. Just let me know what time and where I’m going.” Crawford tells me.

King gives me a what the fuck look.

“Will do.” I confirm.

With that, he walks off to left field to stretch with the rest of the outfielders. This is going to be interesting. Even if he wasn’t eavesdropping, he didn’t have to insert himself into the conversation. He could have just said hi and kept it moving.

“I can’t believe you just did that. Ty is going to kill you,” King says after Dylan isn’t within earshot.

“No, he isn’t. I did it so we can try to get a read on him before the girls meet him.”

“That’s actually a good call. Maybe Ty will only punch you.”

“Whatever asshole.” I say as I finish stretching and get up.

“See you in the bullpen.” He laughs as I walk towards the dugout to get my gear on.

Three hours later coach calls practice for the day. It’s in the nineties today and I’m ready for a shower. We all walk off the field and back into the locker room. I sit on the chair at my locker to just take a second before hitting the showers. I go through my mental checklist of what I need to do when I get home. First, I need to go to the florist and the grocery store to get Adriana’s favorite movie snacks for after dinner. Once that’s done and I get back home, I’ll order our food to be delivered. I can grill but I’m no cook.

Sean nudges my shoulder and brings me out of my head. “Hey man.” I say as he drops onto the chair in front of his locker.

“What do you think of Crawford?” He asks.

“I don’t know yet. I invited him to come over on Thursday with you guys.”

“Really? That’s surprising.”

“Not as surprising as you being the first to welcome him.” I retort.

“Someone had to break the silence. It might be better to have him on our side. Besides, it looks like I might need a new permanent wingman.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” I ask him.

“You only come out with us when it’s dinner. You rarely stay and hangout after if we go to a bar or club that isn’t Lucky’s.”

“I hear ya. I’m just not into partying anymore. You want to do stuff besides that I’m your man. But I’m over the club scene and women just trying to use me for my name and fame.” I tell him.

“So it has nothing to do with a certain girl next door?” He asks.

“Honestly, no. I had stopped going out prior to her showing her up. The months after my breakup with Layla before we went public about it made realize I don’t want to deal with that bullshit. I want something more like what Ty has. A just happened to come around after I had made my mind up.” I tell him.

“Well then. I definitely need a new wingman cause I’m not giving up the nightlife. Sorry bro, you’re still my best friend, though.”

“Until you replace me.” I laugh.

“You’re not so bad as a best friend.”

“Thanks. I gotta hit the shower before Ty leaves without me.” I laugh.

“Later.”

I get up and head to the showers. I take a quick shower and come back to my locker to get dressed. Once that’s done, I put my belongings in my bag and head over to Ty. He sees me approaching and smirks. He grabs his bag, gets up and walks towards me.

“Let’s get you out of here. I hear you have things to do for the rest of today.” He ribs at me.

“I sure do.” I say with a smile.

We head out to the parking lot and when we open the doors; photographers are still there and they’re disappointed it’s just Ty and me. We get into his truck and head home. Today seemed like the longest practice ever.

“You weren’t going to tell your big brother you had a date tonight?”

“I was going to tell you after our first date. You know, in case it was a disaster.”

“You know it’s not going to be a disaster. You guys are friends who just find each other attractive.”

I laugh. I can’t help it because he’s not wrong and looking at it from that point of view might just help my nerves.

“Who knew my big brother was so wise.” I tell him.

“Well, I did. I’ve been trying to tell you, dude.”

“I hate when you call me dude.”

“I know it’s why I do it, little brother. Just be happy, little dude went out the window after you turned ten.”

“Thankfully.” I say as I roll my eyes.

“But on some real shit, I hope your first official date goes well. You deserve someone who will love you for you.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.”

“A isn’t a cleat chaser. We all know this. She’s a girlfriend and a woman you marry.”

“I don’t disagree with you there. Let me get through tonight and some more dates before you go marrying me off.”

“Whatever you say, man. But you know Heather is probably already picking out a theme for you two.” He says as we pull into his driveway.

“I’ll catch you later. I have a few places I need to go by before I have to be back here to walk A over to my place.”

“A true gentleman.” Ty laughs.

“See ya tomorrow.”

“Bye, be safe! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.” Ty says and falls onto the steering wheel, dying of laughter.

My brother is an ass. The thought makes me roll my eyes. I check my phone and see that it's already four o’clock. I need to put my ass in gear so I’ll be on time. Instead of bothering to go inside my house, I head straight to my car so I can check the items off my list before needing to meet Adriana.