Hector (Season One: The Ninth Inning #3) (21 page)

“I’ve had bad days too, but please remember to slow down.” She pauses before she continues, “And some helpful advice from one woman to another, life is short. If you’re in love, then embrace it and enjoy it.” She gives me a small smile and leaves me.

BOTH OF MY aunts are staring at me after I ramble out the same insane thoughts I’d told Ms. Officer. I’m sure
they
will be the ones to commit me to the nut house.

“And I really love him. I want all those things with him, but I don’t think I’m capable of doing it,” I finish.

“Is this because of his mother?” Aunt Minnie asks.

“Not really.” I burrow deeper into the recliner. “It’s about me.”

“What do you mean?” Aunt Lanny asks me, taking my hand.

I sigh and look over at them and their concerned looks. “I’m scared of being in love, but I’m even more scared of not being in love with Hector. When I pulled the stunt of taking a break from him, it was the worst time and the lowest point of my life. It sounds dramatic. but it’s true. I can’t run up to him and spill out all these feelings, but I’m dying to do it at the same time.”

“Zoey, you’re in love, and all these emotions are perfectly natural. Just let it flow.” Aunt Minnie smiles. “You’re smart, talented, kind-hearted, and Hector loves all those thing about you. You will know when the time is right to tell him about your hopes and dreams. Okay?”

“Okay.” I smile at them.

SINCE IT IS our first year together and because of some of the growing pains we’ve had as a team over the season, I haven’t expected us to excel in the playoffs. Things have been crazy busy, and I haven’t seen much of Zoey, or when I do, I’m distracted by baseball. During every game at random times, I’m hit with a thought of how she’ll have all my time once the season is over. It causes me to grin like a fool for no apparent reason.

Like now, while I’m watching Felix prepare for his next pitch. My grin is so wide because Zoey has popped into my head. I shake my head to clear my thoughts just as Felix pitches. We’re in the final game of this round. We’ve won every other game, forcing a game seven, and I have to admit, even though we’re being clobbered right now, I’m proud of us. We may go down, but we’ll go down swinging.

The batter connects with the ball, sending it soaring high over center field. Tanner can try all he wants, but the ball is out of the field and the guy jogs around the bases, sending in the runner already on second. Even from here, I can see Felix’s jaw clench. I’m sure Grumpy is looking the same way. These guys are killing us. A loss wouldn’t be so bad if it was close, and this game is
not
close.

Today just sucks. From the warm, sticky air that won’t give us even the lightest touches of a breeze to the fact that after the game, I’m sure I’m going to have to deal with my mother since we’re supposed to go out to dinner with Zoey and her aunts. I focus on my current problem for the moment. Felix gets ready to pitch again. I pinch the front of my jersey and pull it to let my skin breathe for a moment.

When the batter hits on his second pitch, it goes straight to Trent’s glove at second base. Everyone looks so relieved to finally have our third out. I’m so relieved to get some water. I should probably be more serious about this. There’s only an inning left to go. The ninth always feels like the hardest to me, especially in games like this when you’re behind and a bit ready for it to be over with already.

Instead, we have to gather our strength and endurance and do our best one more time. Grumpy and Tanner get some runs while Roman, Jordan, and I get out before we get very far. Third base never seemed so far away when first and second are such a challenge. The saving grace is that the inning ends rather quickly.

The moment we hit the locker room and that heaven-sent air-conditioned air hits my hot skin, I feel better. Until it hits me that our season is truly over. My shoulders slump automatically. It feels like we’d just started and were getting to know one another. I like and dislike the end of the season. Next season feels so far away and sometimes, it’s possible to have too much free time.

“You better not come to my house as often now, Hector,” Blake says to me with a barely there smile.

“Are you kidding me? I’ll be coming by more often.” I slap him on the shoulder, and he scowls.

“The first time you come over unannounced, there’s a good chance you’ll have a black eye or a broken jaw when you leave.”

I laugh. “Sof would never let you hurt me.”

His eyes harden. “She doesn’t like you as much as you think she does.”

My mouth opens to reply, but our head coach gathers our attention. He’s a man of few words, even when he’s pissed. He runs a hand through his thinning hair and takes a deep breath as if he’s about to give us a long speech. “We’ve had a season full of ups and downs, but we’ve all played hard together. I hope to see y’all next year.” He raises the ball cap he was holding in his hand before turning and walking out of the room.

And that’s that.

Knowing Zoey is waiting for me, well everyone is really, I hurry to shower and change. When I find her by my Jeep, she looks nervous. She smiles when she sees me though. I kiss her and rest my hands on her hips.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Are you okay?” she ignores my question. “With the season being over and all?”

“The season ends every year at some point, Zoey.” I walk her to the passenger side and open the door for her before going around to get in myself. “What’s bothering you?” I ask again, starting the car, but making no move to leave.

“Nothing really. I’m pretty sure your dad is making your mom come to dinner with us though.”

There it is. Nothing makes Zoey so unlike herself than my mother. “She’ll be civil.” Hopefully, but probably not. She wasn’t when it was just Zoey, so I don’t know if she can manage it with Minnie and Lanny there, too.

When we arrive at the restaurant where everyone is waiting for us, we see our families standing together, talking, and laughing. Everyone except for my mother, who is standing awkwardly off to the side. We get out of the Jeep, and when I take Zoey’s hand, I give her a quick kiss.

“Just keep thinking about how much you love me and how amazing I am and everything will be fine.”

She laughs, shaking her head at me. We close the distance between us and our families. Carissa squeals when she sees me, running over to hug me. Well, I thought she was excited about seeing me, but she runs to Zoey, not me.

“You can’t hug your own brother first, Carissa?” I frown, pretending to be hurt.

She rolls her eyes and gives me my hug. After Zoey and I have hugged everyone, save my mother, who managed a polite smile, we walk inside and are seated at a round table. Conversation is minimal until we’ve ordered.

“Do you have any big plans until you have to start getting ready for the next season, Hector?” Minnie asks.

“I’ll probably go home to visit, and hopefully,” I glance at Zoey since I’ve yet to mention this to her, “Zoey and I can take a vacation somewhere.”

“That would be wonderful. She needs to get out more and I’m sure it’ll be good for her art,” Lanny says.

“It would,” Minnie agrees.

“When are you going to take me on vacation?” Carissa asks and I laugh.

“Considering you’re why I skydived, never.”

“So was Zoey,” she points out, but I just shrug.

Minnie and Lanny begin telling us funny stories of their traveling mishaps. Not once during this conversation does my mother speak. It’s like she’s not even here. I sometimes glance her way to find her watching us all, her expression carefully blank and composed. Eventually, I stop paying attention to her altogether.

I’ve never laughed as much as I have tonight. Between the girls and my dad, they keep the table laughing, exchanging stories of our lives. Carissa’s were mostly of embarrassing ones about me. I shake my head with an easygoing smile with every tale. My arm is resting on the back of Zoey’s chair and I draw circles on her shoulder, sort of bare thanks to her no-sleeved shirt.

As the night winds down, the waitress drops off the bill, which I quickly take to pay. I can’t stop smiling as Minnie and Lanny tell my family how nice it was to have dinner with them, even though my mother is still being silent. It’s starting to get under my skin, but I ignore it the best I can.

“How long are y’all in town for?” I ask my father, ignoring my mother.

“A few more days,” he answers.

I nod. “Okay, that works. I’ll see you soon then.” We all exchange hugs and when my mother stays where she is, glancing toward the parking lot, I don’t go over to hug her. She could give a little more. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy she chose to be silent rather than stir the pot, but come on. What is she going to do? Come around but never speak to Zoey or me again? What would be the point of coming?

We go our separate ways, Zoey with me back to my house. I’ve never truly been at odds with my mother, not like this, and I can’t help but be bothered by it somewhat. How long is it going to take her to get over this? It’s been too long already.

“Are you okay, Hector?” Zoey asks for the second time today.

“Yeah, I’m starting to feel the effects from the long day though.” I pull her against me and start walking backward toward my room. I give her a big grin. “Want to make me feel better?”

“Why would I want to do that?” she teases.

“Well,” I begin. “First round of the playoffs and I’m already out. Were you at the game today? It was brutal. And then my best friend, Blake, tells me to make myself scarce pretty much, so I basically have no friends now.” Zoey starts laughing and I pout. “And apparently, my girlfriend finds that hilarious. It’s been a rough day.”

Zoey finally takes pity on me, nods, and kisses me as she wraps her arms around my neck. I can always count on her to turn my day around.

“PLEASE DON’T MAKE me get on my hands and knees and beg.” Carissa gives me the same look she uses on Hector when she wants something.

“I’m not big on shopping,” I protest.

“I know you’re not, but you get to hang out with me while Dad and Hector are golfing.” She smiles brightly at me as if she’s wearing me down.

“Um... what about your mom? Is she coming?” Last night at dinner, she didn’t say a single word. She sat there like a stone and stared at everyone.

“No, she’s not coming. She’s sitting in the hotel room reading and not talking to anyone.”

I’d hate Carissa to have to sit around all day and be bored. Plus, Maria isn’t coming; I won’t have to deal with her. “Alright, we can go, but you’re driving.”

Carissa claps and jumps up and down. “Don’t worry, I have Hector’s credit card.” She winks. “Lunch is on him.”

I shake my head and laugh at her as I grab my purse and head out the door. The moment I take my seat in the car, I regret it. Carissa isn’t the greatest driver. However, we make it to the mall in one piece and Carissa is off in her world. As I watch her go from rack to rack, I wonder if I have the same mesmerized look when I’m painting. Carissa caresses each piece of clothing she likes. She holds the cloth with a tender touch and love. It’s sweet to watch her.