Blake (Season One: The Ninth Inning #2) (17 page)

“Thank you for being the best kids and husband in the world. I couldn’t have asked for a better present.” She wipes the tears from her eyes.

We all head to dinner together and it’s relaxing, fun, and the best time I’ve had in a long time. I love my family more than anything. I watch the interaction between Mom and Dad. Their soft brushes against each other, how they lean into one another, and the love in their eyes.

I walk on the beach after everyone else goes to their cabin to sleep. The sun has set, and the moon is bright. Even though I’m trying to keep Blake out of my mind, he’s been there the entire time. I think about his hazel eyes, his strong arms, and his laugh. My heart jumps at how protective he is of his mother and the love he has for her. There’s something admirable about it. Seeing his protective, sweet side is something only I see. When he’s around other people, all they see is his scowl.

When I get back to the cabin, I slide the patio door shut and change into a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top. I check my phone, but there’s nothing from Blake. I’m sure Hector has kept him busy all day. I rest against the pillow, letting the moonlight be my natural nightlight, and I call Blake.

“Hey, are you busy or is Hector still driving you crazy?” I ask casually.

“I’m not busy. Having fun?”

“Yes. Mom loved her surprise. We all had our pictures done, and I think my shoulders are sunburned. I think that’s a successful day in the Keys.” I giggle at my own lame joke.

“Put some of that aloe vera gel stuff on your shoulders. It’ll take care of the sunburn pretty quickly.”

“I think Harmony has some. I’ll steal hers. What did you do today? Enjoying your day off?”

“Played video games. Aside from being able to rest, I don’t really care for days off sometimes. I feel like I should be doing something more productive.”

“You could,” I pause for a beat. I shouldn’t rock the boat, but I wonder what he’d say. “Fly down here and hang out on the beach with me?” I can hear the nervous tone in my question.

“You want me to crash your time with your family?” He seems unsure.

“I’m joking.” I put on my best fake laugh because I know he’s slightly panicking. “I know that you can’t come down here.” I quickly change the subject. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“I don’t know yet. And I never said I couldn’t come.”

My smiles grows at his words. “Would you if I really wanted you to?” My nervousness is back.

“Yeah, I would, Sofia, if you really, really wanted me to.” He stops for a second and then says, “And if you’re sure your family won’t mind.”

My heart is all aflutter thinking about him coming to me. “That’s sweet, Blakey, but you don’t have to come. Although, my mother is nagging me to death to bring you to Sunday dinner. Do you think you can suffer through an afternoon with my family? Hey, maybe we could take your mom with us.”

“We’d like that.” He sounds confident in his answer and it makes me smile more.

“Okay, I’m sure we’ll find a Sunday together.” I stop and look up to the ceiling. Pushing Blake is something I’ve done before to get him to express himself to me. My thoughts are running away from me, but I need to find out the truth before I really put my heart out there and it gets broken.

“I’m going to ask this, but I’m asking for my own curiosity and not to pressure you. Do you think our friendship will be
more
later on? Or will we always be just friends? And let me clarify, I’m happy being your friend, but I’m wondering, too.”

There’s no sound coming from the other end of the phone. I even check to make sure the call didn’t drop. I’ve done it. I’m pushing him into something he doesn’t want. I’m about to tell him to forget it when he answers me.

“I already think it is
more
.”

My cheeks hurt from the smile on my face. “When did you get to be so romantic, Blakey?” I tease him to lower the tension between us.

“Just because I’m grumpy doesn’t mean I’m not romantic and all the stuff that goes with it.”

“You surprise me at every turn. I’m shocked. Before you know it, you’ll be sending me flowers and love notes.” I giggle at the thought of him sending me gifts.

“I’ve never written a love note and if I tried, you’d probably return it and say not to do that again.” He laughs through the phone and my heart races at bit more.

“Then we’ll stick to sexting and naked pics.” I match his laugh.

“That works, but I’d much rather actually have you in front of me.”

I moan as the ache for him comes back. “Really? You’re going to flirt with me right now when my eyes are starting to grow heavy and I have a full day ahead of me.”

“Sorry. I’ll let you go, so you can get some rest.”

“Blake,” I lick my lips and blurt out my feelings. “I think you should know that I like you, a lot.” I’ve officially become a sixteen-year-old schoolgirl again and I’m telling my crush that I like him.

“I like you too, Sofia.”

With that, I say good night and fall asleep the happiest I’ve been in a long time.

ON MY LAST day off, I’ve been running errands, cleaning the house, picking up some of the stuff I slack off on during the season. Nothing was accomplished yesterday with Hector around, which is to be expected. I’m putting groceries away, the last of my tasks of the day, when my phone rings. I half expect it to be Sofia, but by the ring tone, I realize it’s Mom.

Before I can even say anything, I’m distracted by the commotion in the background. It sounds like shouting, stuff breaking, and Mom’s ragged breathing.

“Mom? What’s going on?”

“He’s gone crazy,” she replies in a low voice.

“What? Why? Where are you?”

“The Hall of Fame nominations were announced today. He didn’t get in. I’ve never seen him this angry, Blake. He’s been on a rampage and I’m in the closet in the spare bedroom, so I could call.”

Shit. I didn’t even think about those being today. “Are you okay? I’m on my way, alright?” I grab my keys and head for my truck.

“I’m fine for now. He’s destroying his office. Hurry, Blake. He’ll come looking for me soon and I don’t think there’s anything stopping him.” The fear in her voice holds my heart still as I press the gas to hurry like she asked.

“I’m on the road. Stay on the phone with me. What has he been saying?”

Mom is quiet for a moment. “He can’t believe it and how he’s one of the best. He’s convinced you had something to do with it.”

Good. Even though I didn’t, it’ll make him focus on me once I get there, which means he’ll leave Mom alone. I can handle the brunt of his anger.

“How long has he been in his office?”

“Since five minutes before I called. Where are you? He’s gotten quiet.”

“Turning down your road.”

“Caroline!” I hear his yell and Mom’s yelp. “Get the fuck out of there.”

The call ends. I’ve pulled into the driveway and rush to get inside once I’ve turned the truck off. I can hear his shouting first thing followed by the resounding sound of a slap. I quickly find them. His back is to me, his arm pulled back, getting ready to hit her. I reach out to stop him by grabbing his shoulder and tugging him backward.

“Leave her alone, Jack.”

“Look who’s all big and bad now. My fucking worthless son. You’re nothing but a bastard! You’ve ruined everything! You and your bitch mother have ruined everything!” He lunges forward, taking a swing and hitting me in the jaw before I can move out of the way.

“How the hell did we do that? If your life is ruined, it’s your own doing. Not ours.”

He stands in my face, the stench of alcohol overwhelming my senses. “I’m fucking Jack Foster, you little shit.” He pokes my chest hard. “You should be thanking me every day of your damn life that you have had the opportunities you’ve had. It’s because of
me
! Now, it’s because
you
that I’ve lost the nomination, because you fucking suck.”

“Thanking you? For what?” I ask incredulously. He’s gotta be kidding me! I should keep my mouth shut, but I don’t. “Jack Foster obviously doesn’t mean shit to anyone but you. If you lost the nomination, I can’t say I’m upset, but it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with the fact that you’re not good enough. Your ego must be bigger than the talent you had.”

“You fucking asshole. How dare you say I have no talent? I’m more of a man than you’ll ever be. Now, get the fuck out of my house and don’t come back.”

I’ll gladly leave and never return. “If I leave, Mom’s coming with me.”

His eyes narrow. His arm swings out, pointing back at her. “She’s mine and if you try taking her, I’ll kill you where you stand, Blake!” he yells.

As if to prove his point, he turns and lunges for Mom. Once again, I intercept. Jack doesn’t mind at all. Two quick punches to my ribs steals the air from my lungs. I take my own jab, but he’s a man on a mission and no matter how many punches I hit him with, he won’t slow down. My torso, namely my ribs are his target. I can already tell this week is going to be hell.

“Stop!” Mom shouts. “Blake, that’s enough!” I feel a pull on the back of my shirt and know it’s her.

Breathing heavily, I shove Jack away from me and hold my hands up. Mom comes to stand in front of me, her hands on my chest. Concern flashes in her eyes, but I lift my gaze back to him. Jack wipes the blood from his nose away with his hand, watching carefully as Mom pushes me farther away.

“That’s enough,” she says again.

“Fine. Go get a few of your things.” There’s no way I’m leaving her here with him.

“No,” she says quietly. Her words don’t sink in until I see Jack grinning.

I glance at her. “What? Mom, you can’t—”

“I’m not leaving, Blake.” I open my mouth to argue with her, but she adds, “I’ll be fine. Go home, please.
Please
.”

My mouth hangs open as I stare at her in disbelief. After all of this, after calling me scared to death, she’s going to stay?

“You heard her,” Jack speaks up. “Get the fuck out.”

I don’t bother looking at him. Mom doesn’t say anything else. Turning, I leave, every step feeling like one in the wrong direction.

As I drive home, it hits me. She’s never going to leave. An image of a body bag being carried out of the house shakes me to the core. It makes me want to turn around because if she doesn’t leave soon, that’s her future. How could she not want to leave?

Numb from her answer, the aches and pains from his punches get the best of me. I’m on autopilot as I grab a bottle of whiskey. After locking the front door, I head to my room. No matter how I try to view it, I can’t wrap my head around why she’d stay. I lift the bottle to my lips, wincing at the pain around my ribs. My phone beeps with a text.

Sofia: I was thinking about you. What are you doing?

Talking to her right now probably won’t be a good idea. My head hurts just thinking about avoiding any questions she’ll ask. I switch the sound to vibrate and toss the phone to the side. Sofia can wait until later. Tonight, all I need is the whiskey.

FREEZING WATER POURS on me, jolting me awake. “Fuck,” I mutter. Again? What the hell? I reach forward and turn off the water, seeing Hector and Felix standing on the other side of the tub. What are they doing here? Damn. Hector’s fault, I’d bet. My famous scowl is on my face as I glare at Felix.

“Why are you here?”

“Because you locked the door, and I needed his help. I couldn’t get up with Sofia, so it was Felix instead. Deal with it,” Hector answers.

Sofia? God, he’s tried calling her? What the hell for?

I narrow my eyes at him. “You shouldn’t have tried calling her to start with.”

“Well, I did. You need to get yourself ready for practice and thanks to us, you have plenty of time.” A phone rings and Hector pulls his from his pocket, looking at me. “Do you want me to answer or ignore her?”

“Ignore her.” I just want Felix out of here. It’s one thing for Sofia to have been here last time or for Hector to show up this time, but Felix needs to go. “I’ll smooth things over with her later,” I tell him, sighing. Flicking my eyes at Felix and the Hector, I realize it’s probably good that they woke me up. “Thanks.” I stand, wincing and holding my breath at the pain around my ribs, and add, “Y’all can go now.”