Twenty
“That boyfriend of yours had better pitch better tonight than he did last week,” Frank said as we sat at our desks. The wedding was just a memory now and we were back to reality in Boston, which included having to interact with Frank, much to my dismay. He sometimes started mumbling to me for no reason as we sat at our desks. It was always about baseball. He never spoke about anything else. I wondered what would happen when baseball season came to an end. He’d probably give me the cold shoulder until Spring Training started again.
“I’m sure he will,” I said with a soft chuckle as I stared at my computer screen, the memory of Adam’s last start coming to my mind. It hadn’t been stellar. It had actually been his worst start of the season. He’d only lasted four innings and had given up five runs. He’d been pissed off and came home that night with a scowl tattooed on his face. I’d tried to console him, telling him to brush it off, but it hadn’t worked. I had my ways with him, but sometimes even I couldn’t help him and he just needed to sleep it off, which he’d done, waking up the next morning and apologizing for his sour mood. He hadn’t spoken of it since and he’d refused to listen to the radio or watch TV. The Boston media was ruthless and he found it best to just turn it all off and focus on the next start.
“What the hell was wrong with him last time? Couldn’t throw a strike to save his life and when he did, he threw a bowling ball straight down the middle,” Frank continued.
“Everyone’s allowed to have an off night, Frank,” I said, trying to focus on my work.
“Not when you’re paid the kind of money he is,” Frank scoffed. “He should be docked a thousand bucks for every ball he throws and a million for every homerun he gives up.”
I felt my jaw tightening. Frank already didn’t like me. He simply tolerated me. I’d spent the last few months at Logics trying to show Frank I wasn’t the dolt he assumed I was and I didn’t want to let his opinions about Adam or the Red Sox jeopardize what little relationship we’d built.
“He’s been working hard every day, so I think he’s ready for tonight.”
“He’d better be,” Frank said and then I heard him mutter, “Overpaid pretty boy.”
I told myself not to, but I couldn’t hold my tongue this time and I turned quickly around in my chair, glaring over to Frank.
“Why do you have to be like this, Frank?” I asked.
“Like what?” he said, turning his beady eyes to me.
“You know what I’m talking about.”
“Am I offending you?” he smirked.
“I’m not offended. I just don’t know why you feel the need to go on and on about Adam.”
“Hey, he’s fair game, so get over it,” Frank barked at me and I could feel the anger rising. It was taking everything in my power not to lay into him. “He needs to grow a pair,” Frank added and I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“Why are you such a miserable human being, Frank?” I finally asked him and his little eyes widened through the lenses of his glasses. “You have been nothing but rude to me since I got here.”
“You need to grow a pair, too. You’re too damn sensitive,” he shot back. “This is exactly why women don’t belong in this place.”
My blood started to boil and I sat there, my mouth agape, not even knowing what to say, not really able to register what he’d just said.
“Now, that’s enough.” Sean finally stepped in, standing from his cubicle and coming between myself and Frank. “You need to back off, Frank.”
“Mind your business,” Frank said, turning away from us and back to his computer.
Sean turned to me and I stood up, needing to get away from the jackass before I did something I would regret. I walked quickly to the break room, grateful it was empty. I went to the water cooler and poured myself a cup, taking a quick gulp just as Sean came in behind me.
“Are you okay?” he asked me.
“I’m fine,” I said, taking another drink. “Frank’s just an ass.”
“I won’t argue with you on that,” he said and it was quiet for a few seconds. “He was out of line. About what he said about Adam and especially what he said about you. You belong here, Caroline. You’re good at what you do. We need you here.”
It took a second, but the smile finally came to my face.
“Thank you, Sean,” I said softly.
“Do you want me to speak to Ron about him?” Sean offered, but I shook my head.
“No,” I answered quickly.
“What he said was wrong though. He shouldn’t get away with it.”
“No, he shouldn’t, but I don’t want to turn this into something bigger than it needs to be. If I report him, it’ll just give him more ammunition to hate me. All I can do is prove to him that I belong here.”
“You do, Caroline. Regardless of what Frank says, the rest of us are glad you’re here. Me. Brett. Ron. We’re all glad you’re here.”
Sean smiled at me in that kind way he often did. So different than Frank.
“Erica was right,” I said and he raised a curious eyebrow.
“About what?” he asked.
“That you’re too sweet.”
“What?” he exclaimed and I nodded.
“Yeah. That night at the club, she said you were too nice,” I said with a soft laugh.
“What the hell? How can a guy be too nice?”
“I don’t know, but according to Erica, that’s what you are.”
“So, if I were an asshole, she might not have blown me off?”
“I guess not,” I said, laughing again. “Who knows with Erica though. She’s a loose cannon.”
“That’s too bad,” he said. His voice dipped and I had a feeling Erica had had a deeper effect on him that night than I realized.
“Erica’s a great girl, Sean, but you’re probably better off not getting mixed up with my crazy cousin anyway.”
He laughed then, running a hand through his messy hair.
“At least she taught me something.”
“What was that?”
“I need to learn to be more of a dick.”
I started laughing too.
“No, you don’t,” I assured him and it grew quiet again for a few moments.
“You’re sure you’re okay?” he asked me.
“Yeah. I’m good. Thank you for backing me up.”
“You’re welcome,” I said and then I felt another smile forming. “Hey,” I began. “You wanna come to the game tonight? I’d planned on going by myself. I haven’t been to a game in a while and I like to go when Adam’s pitching if I can.”
He didn’t say anything for a few seconds.
“You’re serious?”
“Of course, I’m serious. I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”
“And Adam wouldn’t mind?”
“No. Not at all,” I assured him and I could tell he was thinking.
“Okay,” he finally answered.
“The game starts at 7:05. Wanna meet at Fenway at six-thirty?”
“Yeah,” he answered and I could tell he was trying to hold in his excitement.
“Sounds good then,” I said, smiling at him. “We should get back to work. Gotta prove to Frank I deserve to be here.”
“Frank’s a huge dick. Maybe Erica would like him,” Sean said as we walked out of the break room, causing me to burst out laughing. Maybe Sean was onto something.
~~~
I didn’t see Adam after work. He’d been at the ballpark for hours already getting ready for the game. I knew he was nervous after his last start. I’d tried to downplay it to Frank, but I was nervous too, especially when I approached Fenway. The crowd was buzzing like it always was. It was an energy you could only find at Fenway. Each game was an event and tonight, Adam was the star.
Sean met me at the gate and after grabbing some drinks, we found our places a few rows back from the Red Sox dugout.
“These seats are incredible,” he said, looking out onto the field.
“I told you Adam could hook us up,” I said with a grin.
“Have you talked to him today? How’s he feeling about tonight?”
“I texted him about the tickets, but I haven’t talked to him since this morning before I left for work. He seemed okay. He’s always a little quiet on game days. I didn’t want to let Frank know this, but I think he’s really feeling the pressure tonight.”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine. It’s not like him to have two bad starts in a row,” Sean said encouragingly and I hoped he was right.
“I take it you’re a big fan then?” I teased him and he rolled his eyes.
“Now you’re making it weird,” he said and before I could add anything, the PA announcer was asking us all to stand and remove our caps while the National Anthem was played. When it was over, the team took the field and Adam began his trot from the bullpen. I knew it was a silly gesture, but I gave him a little wave. I knew he didn’t see me, but I wanted him to know I was there.
He took the mound and started warming up. I both loved and hated watching him pitch. I loved it because he was amazing to watch, but I hated it because all I did was worry and fret over how he’d do. I knew I shouldn’t take it personal when people or the media said things about Adam, but I did. They only knew the ballplayer, but I knew the man and I hated to see him hurt.
All I could do was take a deep breath and try and relax.
~~~
“This game is amazing,” Sean said to me in the seventh inning. My heart was still pounding. It hadn’t stopped. It had only gotten worse as each inning went on. Not because Adam wasn’t doing well, but because he was doing so well. So far, he was pitching a no-hitter. I knew what a rarity it was in the game and the electricity among the crowd grew with each out. Adam had been near perfection. The other team couldn’t hit him. Every one of Adam’s pitches was spot on and the rare times the other team managed to make contact, the defense was there to back Adam up.
He’d also had run support by the Red Sox offense and as I looked up at the manual scoreboard on the Green Monster, I was relieved to see zeros across for the Yankees and a comfortable five run lead posted by the Sox.
“I think I might be sick,” I said to Sean, who laughed and focused his eyes on the game, which didn’t give me any relief because by the top of the ninth inning, nothing had changed. Adam was still pitching. The crowd was on its feet, unlike anything I’d ever seen at Fenway. The volume in the ballpark was deafening. Everyone knew we were on the verge of something special. I stood watching, my hands curled up into tight fists to try and calm myself. I was certain I wasn’t breathing. I couldn’t. Not when Adam was having one of the biggest moments of his life.
I felt my phone buzz in my pocket just as Adam struck out another batter and the crowd erupted. I pulled the phone out and glanced at the text from my dad.
DAD: HOLY CRAP! ADAM’S AMAZING TONIGHT!
I had to chuckle to myself as I slid the phone back in. It was after ten. My dad never stayed up that late, but just like the rest of Red Sox Nation, he knew we were on the brink of something special and he was going to stay up, even if he had to drag himself out of bed the next morning to tend to the cows.
The next batter hit a fly ball to centerfield. Fenway went silent as everyone held their breath. There was a collective exhale and a roar from the crowd when Emmett Thorne caught the ball.
Adam was one out away from pitching a no-hitter, one of the biggest achievements a pitcher could accomplish. I could feel myself trembling from the nerves and as Adam began his next wind-up, I felt Sean grab my arm with a death grip as we all waited.
I heard the crack of the bat as the ball made contact. I didn’t want to watch. I wanted to close my eyes and wait for the outcome, but I couldn’t look away. I couldn’t miss this.
The ball shot to the second baseman. He bobbled the ball and I could feel my heart start to sink, until he scrambled for the ball and chucked it over to first base just before the runner crossed the base. The umpire made a fist, calling him out and then Fenway went wild, including the players.
Dominquez, the catcher, charged the mound, the infield following a second later and then the outfield. The dugout cleared and everyone swarmed Adam. Even though he was on the field, I could see his smile as his teammates overtook him. I’d never seen him smile so wide and I felt tears in my eyes. I was so proud of him.
Our eyes met and I knew he saw me when he pointed at me, the smile even bigger now. It only lasted a second, but even amidst all the craziness, he’d found me. The crowd was going crazy around me and the team had lost their minds in excitement on the field, but I stood there, watching him, the biggest smile on my face and a lump in my throat. I don’t think I’d ever seen him look so happy and I imagined life couldn’t get any better than this.
I watched him push away from his teammates and he rushed towards the edge of the field, where the seats met the warning track and he pointed to me again, motioning me towards him.
“Caroline!” he called. “Get down here!”
He was smiling even wider now and when the crowd realized he was talking to me, they all started shouting for me to go. I could feel my cheeks burning from all the attention, but I wanted to be with him, to share this moment with him, and so I went to him, pushing past the people and down the steps. I’d barely made it to the bottom when he reached over, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me onto the field with him and kissing me deeply before I could say anything to him. I couldn’t recall a kiss like this before. There was a different feeling in it, an excitement from the pure joy he was feeling.
“That was amazing, Adam!” I finally had the chance to say when he’d pulled back. I had to shout over the noise, but he heard me. He didn’t get to say anything back because his teammates had pulled him back and the sideline reporter was trying to get Adam to do an interview. I felt a cold splash then as the other players, led by Emmett, poured Gatorade over Adam. The whole scene was chaos, but it was incredible and then Adam turned to me.
“Wait for me, Caroline!” he shouted just as he was being whisked away and I watched until he was swallowed up into the commotion again.
~~~
It seemed to take forever for the frenzy to die down. It finally did though. The stadium was almost empty of fans, but I was still there, waiting for Adam. Sean had stayed for a while. He didn’t want me to wait alone, but eventually I’d insisted he go home after we’d been waiting an hour. I knew after the events of tonight’s game, it would be a longer than normal wait. He had the press to deal with on a whole other level this time.
I was looking at my phone to pass the time. It had been blowing up all night with messages from my family and friends. It was all over the news too. No-hitters didn’t happen often, but it had tonight for Adam and everyone was talking about him and the image of us on the field together was flying across the sports world, which I still wasn’t used to.
“Hey.”
A deep voice pulled me from the article I was reading on ESPN about Adam and looked up to see him standing there. Gone was the uniform and the sweat and the Gatorade. Now it was simply Adam. My Adam with his jeans and t-shirt, his old UVM hat and a smile.
I rushed towards him, throwing my arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. I felt his hands slide around my waist as he nuzzled into my neck. We were quiet for a few moments and I could feel him pulling me closer, taking in a deep breath.
“It’s so good to finally see you,” he said softly into my ear.
“It’s good to see you, too,” I said back as we slowly drifted apart. I looked up at him and rested my palm against his cheek, smiling. “How’re you doing?”
“I think I’m still in shock,” he said with a quiet laugh. “It doesn’t seem real. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up.”
“It was real, Adam, and it was incredible. Everyone’s talking about it. You’re baseball’s golden boy tonight,” I said, grinning at him.
“I pitched a good game. Let’s not go overboard,” he said humbly.
“Bullshit, Adam. You were awesome tonight. Just accept it and be proud.”
“It’s weird though…having everyone talking about me.” He looked like a timid little boy.
“I’ll bet it is, but enjoy it because it’ll be forgotten the next time you suck.” I nudged him and he started laughing, draping his arm around me as we started walking towards one of the gates.
We stepped out into the almost empty street now. I knew there were restaurants and bars still loaded with people on Yawkey Way, but on the streets by the player’s entrance, it was quiet and I was grateful for that.
We strolled toward the parking lot, almost like two regular people and it felt good. His truck was there waiting for us. He unlocked it and then held the door open for me, taking me by the waist and lifting me in. I was perfectly capable of getting myself in the truck, but I liked when he did this. When he looked out for me. When I felt his strength and I knew he could protect me. It may sound old-fashioned and I knew it didn’t fit with the feminist agenda currently so popular, but I liked it. I liked having someone take care of me every once in a while. I liked the chivalry.
I was buckling my seat belt when he got in next to me, turning on the engine. The truck was a beast and the engine seemed to roar to life as he backed it out. It was way too big for the city, but that was probably why Adam liked it. It was the perfect truck for the country, a place like Silver Falls where we’d grown up.
“It’s so nice to be in the quiet,” he said, reaching over the console and taking my hand after we had been driving for a bit. We’d been quiet as Adam navigated through the narrow streets and fought the Boston traffic that never seemed to go away, even at nearly midnight. “I feel like I haven’t had a moment to breathe since that last out.”
“Have you had a chance to talk to your parents?”
“Yeah. They called while I was in the locker room. They were screaming so loud I could hardly hear them,” he said with a laugh. I had to smile too. I could only imagine the pride felt by Mr. and Mrs. DeLain.
“My family kept texting me throughout the game once they realized what might happen.”
“I’m glad I didn’t disappoint anyone,” he said, reaching into the back for a second and pulling something out of his bag and then holding it out to me. I looked down and saw it was a baseball.
“What’s this?” I asked, taking it from him.
“The game ball,” he said with another grin.
“Another addition to your trophy room?” I asked, tossing it up and catching it again.
“You know it,” he said, taking it back from me.
“You’re kinda hot when you’re cocky, Adam DeLain,” I grinned.
“I’m always hot,” he said smugly and I cracked up. He reached over the console, putting his arm around me and then pulling me to him, kissing me on the top of my head.
When he let me go to turn onto our street, I turned to look at him, his profile staring ahead at the road and I was struck with how much I loved him. I loved everything about him. I loved everything about being with him. I loved what he did to me and how he made me feel.
“Adam,” I said and he glanced at me with that smile that gave me butterflies.
“Yeah, babe?” he asked as he pulled in front of the house.
“I love us,” I said softly when he turned off the ignition.
He looked at me, his body facing mine and he reached for my hand.
“I love us too, Care,” he said, kissing the back of it and holding it to his lips for a few seconds.
“Things are so good. You’re so happy. Everything is going so perfectly. I hope things never change.”
“They won’t,” he said, letting go of my hand and resting his palm on my cheek. “It’ll always be you and me. Us, baby. Always.”
I couldn’t respond because his lips were on mine, kissing me so deeply I felt it throughout my entire body. At that moment, I couldn’t imagine my life without him. Without his kisses to make me feel this way, to make everything okay, to share in the amazing moments, like tonight. To know we had each other’s backs, no matter what. I started kissing him back, so in love with him, so proud of him, and I never wanted to let go.