CHAPTER FIVE

 

 

BILLY WATCHED the kids running toward him. He squinted in the sun and shifted his feet. His team depended on him. How the hell would their parents feel if they knew he was out getting blow jobs from gay guys? Sick, man.

They circled him like the crazy little monsters they were. He smiled. “Okay, guys, gather round.” He knelt, and the kids huddled up. Twelve kids. Seven boys and two girls on the regular team and three alternates who were all boys. “I’m sorry I have to leave early today, but I have an appointment.” Which he wished he could get out of. “Saturday we meet the Ravens. Are we ready?”

“Yes, coach!” the kids yelled as one. Mostly fifth graders, they reeked enthusiasm. He loved this age. They were cool, but not so cool that nothing was fun anymore. For him, eleven years old hadn’t been so great. Twelve had been shit. He’d do what he could to make it happy for his team.

“Practice your glove work, eat well, get lots of sleep. Get ready to win!” He put his hand in the middle of the circle, and the kids piled their mitts on top. “Go Tigers!”

The kids danced around, cheering. One boy, Willie Jenkins, glowed with happiness and stepped up and gave Billy a hug. Billy patted his back. This was one of the safe places for a kid like Willie. Billy saw to that.

The kid looked up, and his eyes got wide as he realized what he’d done. He blushed crimson and stepped back. “Thanks, Coach.” He ran off with his stuff, but not before Torkelson, the little shit, punched his arm. “Gay for the coach, Jenkins?”

Willie ducked his head and kept running.

Billy reached out a hand. “Yo, Torkelson.”

“Yeah, Coach.”

He grabbed the kid, one of the tallest boys on the team, and gave him a huge hug. The kid sputtered and yanked himself from Billy’s grasp. Billy smiled. “Hey, thanks for the hug, man.”

The kid stared at him like he half wanted to smile but wasn’t sure if Billy meant it. He glanced uneasily around, and a couple of the other kids giggled. Torkelson pulled down his cap and stalked off the field.

Billy walked to the bench and gathered his stuff.

“Hey, Coach.” Willie’s dad jogged up to him.

“Hi, Mr. Jenkins.”

“Carl.” The medium-height fireplug of a man stuck out his hand, and Billy shook it.

“Hey, I wanted to talk with you about Willie.”

Billy nodded.

“The kid’s having trouble toughening up, you know? Still spends too much time with his mom and loves games that are too young for him. Yeah, and too girly.”

Billy felt his spine stiffen. “Willie’s a really nice kid. I’d like to have more like him.”

The man frowned. “Yeah, but nice won’t pay the rent, you know? He gets bullied a lot, and the other boys make fun of him.”

Billy stood a little straighter. “Not when I’m around. Willie plays well, and I want all my players to be respected by their teammates.”

“Respected. Interesting choice of words.”

“Kids can like who they will, but if they want to play for me, they show respect to everyone.” He shoved his sneakers into his bag and pulled on his flip-flops. June in the OC was warm in the afternoon. Mornings brought June gloom.

“Well, that’s what I want to say. I think you’re a good role model. I don’t have much time what with my business and everything. I appreciate the time you spend with him.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

“If you can give him a little extra coaching, I’d be happy to pay for it.”

Billy gazed at the man. Such a typical Newport Beach type-A, looking for someone to be a parent for him. “I’m a volunteer, Mr. Jenkins. Willie’s doing okay, and he gets along with the other kids just fine.”

The man frowned. “Just okay, huh?”

“He’s unlikely to live up to his namesake, but he’s perfectly adequate on the field and at bat. He won’t embarrass you.”

“Namesake?”

Billy smiled. “I assumed you named him for Willie Mays.”

“For his grandfather, actually, but I’ll tell him about Willie. Maybe it’ll inspire him.” He slapped Billy on the bicep. “Wow, that’s some arm you got there, Coach.”

Billy nodded. “I work construction.”

“But you don’t have any kids in the league?”

“No. Not married.”

“Nice you like to spend time with the kids.” His voice took on that hint of suspicion some of the parents seemed to get when they found out he was single.

“Yeah.” Billy started walking toward his truck, then stopped and turned back to Jenkins. “Stay on top of the bullying thing. Willie doesn’t get a hard time while he’s here, but if he’s getting beat up at school, it can really screw up his whole life before you even know it.”

“Sounds like the voice of experience.”

Billy nodded. “I wasn’t always this big.”

“I’ll keep it in mind, thanks. Get the boy some boxing lessons.”

Billy sighed really softly. “Bye.” Poor Willie.

He piled his baseball gear into the truck and climbed in the driver’s side to go back to the stylist. Jesus, why was he doing this? He blew out his breath slowly. Maybe if he got his shit together he could date that girl, Sissy. She seemed nice and, if he showed up with her at the wedding events, his mom would forget about Annie. Yeah, that would be good. He just had to endure a couple of meetings with Shaz. How hard could that be?