CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Cruise
I love the smile on Kelsea’s face, love even more that I’m the one who put it there. “You excited Kels?” I grin into the rearview as we make the drive to Birmingham.
“So excited, like I knew you knew him.” She bounces in her seat. “But I didn’t really know!”
Him references my college roommate Slater Harlow, known by everyone who watches professional baseball as Savage. He’s a formidable force on the baseball diamond, having the best season of his career. We’re not as close as we once were, because life took us two totally different directions, but we still hang out every once in a while. Typically I like to keep the fact I know him from just about everyone, because I know he values his privacy. Now though? Kels is old enough to go to a major league game, and I’m doing my best to impress Ruby.
“I’ve known him a long time.” I think back to our college days, how both of us had been so damn homesick. Him more than me, since I could at least head home on the weekend. Slater was from Georgia, his parents not well-off at all, and he’d never been able to afford a quick trip home. Hell, he barely went home in the summer, instead choosing to stay on-campus and work odd jobs to make money for the next semester. It was no surprise to me that our senior year he’d opted himself for the draft and gone pro. Within two years, he was the starting right-fielder for the Birmingham Bandits, racking up hits, RBIs, and a ton of fans. Now, it’s my pleasure to see my good friend do as well as he is.
“He was your roommate?” Ruby asks as she reaches over and grabs my hand.
I love when she grabs my hand on any drive we make together. Being connected to her makes me calmer than I’ve ever been. Something about the connection quiets my brain and eases any anxiety I feel. “Yup, up until our senior year, then he opted to join the draft and I got a single room. Which worked out perfect for all that booty I got being a football player.” I grin over at Ruby who shakes her head, now used to the way I talk.
“You’re so bad, and you’re so lucky I’m not jealous anymore over what you did before you met me.”
“What does booty mean?” Kelsea asks from the backseat.
“Yeah, babe.” Ruby gives me a smart-ass grin. “Why don’t you tell her what booty means?”
Fuck my life. “It means spending time with someone you really like.” I glance over at Ruby, sticking my tongue out at her for putting me in this position. “Like I spend time with Ruby.”
“You mean like Mom and Dad spend time together?”
“Kind of, but whatever you do, don’t say anything to them about getting booty. This will be one of our sibling secrets.” I reach back, my pinky finger extended to her. “Got it?”
“Got it.” She grabs hold of my pinky in hers and we swear on it.
For the rest of the drive, I keep my damn mouth shut about college.
* * *
As we approach the stadium, I follow the signs that go with the parking pass I was given from Slater. I can feel the excitement in the Jeep as we are told to break apart from the pack and follow a much smaller line of cars to a private parking area.
“Are we in the family parking?” Ruby asks, glancing around at the cars surrounding us. They’re definitely nicer than my Rubicon, but I refuse to feel like I don’t belong.
“I think so.” I put it in park, grab my hat and sunglasses, before I hop out. “C’mon, ladies, let’s get this show on the road.”
Opening the back, I help Kelsea down, and then go around to Ruby’s side, doing the same with her.
“Look at you being such a gentleman,” Ruby teases, reaching in and grabbing her bag. She’s a teacher, for sure. My mom carries the same bag everywhere. I call it a GO bag, because no matter what you might need, it’s probably inside that bag. You need a band-aid? They got it. A bottle of water? No problem. A poncho? Definitely in there. A sewing kit? No big deal, it’s fucking secured to the side with a magnet. Teachers are better than any Boy Scout I’ve ever met. When the world ends, I don’t need a prepper, give me a damn teacher, any day of the week. Securing it crossbody, she pushes her hair back behind her ears. “We’re ready.”
“What do you mean, look at me being a gentleman? I’m always polite. You know this.” I put my hand out for Kelsea to hold it as we cross the parking lot. I don’t want to lose her here, so she’s gonna have to be embarrassed by holding her big brother’s hand. “C’mon, Cupcake, you got your stuff?”
She holds up the shirt she wants signed and the pink sharpie she wants it signed in. “Got it!”
“Let’s go.” I hitch my chin to the gate.
Ruby
My heart is so full as I watch the two of them cross the parking lot, Kelsea’s hand in his. They’re speaking to one another, Caleb leaning down so he can hear her. Quickly, I take my phone out and capture a picture of the two of them, sending it over to Karina, since she’s not here to witness this.
As they get to the gate, Kelsea turns around. “C’mon, Ruby!”
I jog to catch up with them. It’s a blur as Caleb leads us through some corridors, flashing a badge here and there. Eventually we come to a hallway and standing there is the guy I recognize as Savage Harlow. He’s almost dressed for the game, wearing a pair of baseball pants, cleats, and a shirt with the arms cut out. It’s probably too hot for him to wear the full uniform right now. Kelsea stops in her tracks, letting go of Caleb’s hand, turning back to me.
“Kels.” He reaches back for her, but she comes to me, hiding behind my leg. I’ve never seen her do this before, but I recognize it. This is something I did when I was a small child and I was shy to meet someone who meant a lot to me.
“She’s a little shy.” I run my hand over her hair. “I think she’ll be good in a few minutes.”
The way she clings to me, makes my heart flutter, my stomach clinch. If Caleb and I ever have a child, is this what it’s going to be like? I can see it in the future, but I know I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
“It’s good to see you, man.” Caleb walks up to Slater, giving his hand a shake and pulling him in for a hug.
“You too.” Slater slaps him on the shoulder. He glances over at us. “Is that Kelsea? I haven’t seen her since she was a baby.”
“You knew me as a baby?” That makes her move from behind my leg and causes her to speak up.
“Yeah.” He squats down so that he’s at eye-level with her. “Last time I saw you, you were about two years old. We used to hang out with you all the time. Your mom and dad would bring you when they came to visit your brother.”
She looks up at me. “I think I’m okay, I’ve known him a long time.” She holds out her shirt and her sharpie. “Can you sign this for me?”
Caleb and I share a laugh and a grin over her head. All the shyness that was there before is gone now. She’s asking him questions and asked to be taken out onto the field. “Yeah.” Slater stands. “We can go toss a ball real quick, if that’s okay with your brother.”
“Sounds good to me,” he answers when everyone looks at him.
As we walk to the field, Slater turns around. “I don’t know your name yet and I’m sorry to have been rude, I’m Slater.”
“This is my girlfriend, Ruby,” Caleb introduces us, putting an arm around my shoulder.
“He’s gonna marry her.” Ruby giggles before she runs off.
“Is that right?” Slater gives Caleb a look, before he turns around and runs off after her.
“I know she’s kidding and pushing what she wants, off onto you,” I tell him, letting him know that as much as my heart wants it to happen, I’m putting no pressure on him.
“Slater will take her mind off of it, he doesn’t like to talk about relationships,” he tells me as we walk to the field. “He and his high school girlfriend couldn’t make the long-distance thing work. As far as I know, he’s never gotten over it and given having a relationship another shot.”
I watch Slater as he throws a ball back and forth between him and Kelsea. Her smile is huge, as is his when they laugh at something one of them say.
“Hopefully one day he’ll find what we have.” I hook my arms around his waist, holding him tightly.
“That’s my hope too.” He leans down, kissing me on the forehead.
* * *
“One more out!” I look over at Kelsea, who’s literally vibrating in the seat between me and Caleb. “Can you believe it? They’re going to win your first ever Major League Baseball game. How exciting is this?”
She jumps up and down as the final out is made and fireworks erupt over the stadium. We’d had great seats, given to us by Slater, behind the Bandit’s dugout. As we’re gathering our stuff to leave, I hear someone yell Harrison.
We all turn around and see Slater standing there. He motions for Kelsea to come down, holding out a ball to her. I’m not sure what he says, but it gets him a huge smile, and when she comes back holding the ball, I’m beyond thankful to have experienced this day with the two of them.
“Y’all ready?” he asks after waving to his friend. “It’ll be at least a few hours before we get home, and the longer we put it off, the worse it will be.”
“Let’s go.” I grab some of the stuff we bought and we slowly make our way up the stands as the massive group of people begin filing out.
It’s been a great day, I realize as we hit the interstate, heading north. The Bandits won by two runs, we got to spend time together, and I got to experience my first baseball game. As I lean back with a huge smile on my face, I don’t know that this is the last day everything will be normal for us, and reality is about to make itself known in a big way.