Fastball (Wilde Players Dirty Romance) (17 page)

“How did you get here?”

“Uber.”

I shake my head. The man has shit for brains. “How long did you know you were giving your car up?”

“A week.”

“Why didn’t you go and buy another?”

He shrugs his meaty shoulders. Dumbass. He deserves not having a car. Maybe he’ll be gone when I come out, but no such luck. The locker room is nearly empty, except for Robinson, a few other players, and some of the janitorial people.

After I dress, we head to my car. The entire time, I notice he’s been on his phone texting. “Who’re you chatting with?”

“A chick. I saw her in the stands, and one of the ball boys snagged her number for me. I’m having her come to the party.”

“You’re a shit, you know?”

His head snaps in my direction. “Why?”

“This is why you’re getting divorced. Because you pick up random women. Why don’t you meet them in a normal way? Like get properly introduced and not have the damn ball boy get their number at a game. What? Are you sending sexts to her?”

He looks away for a second and then says, “Yeah, isn’t that what you do?”

“No, I don’t do that. Idiot. Please tell me you don’t send any of them naked pics of yourself or your dick.”

His mouth gapes open.

“Jesus Christ, Robinson, your junk is gonna end up online with a caption next to it that says—Max Robinson’s cock. You’d better hope it’s a big dick, my man, and not some four inch wiener that some chick wants to make fun of.”

His eyes drop down to his zipper, and he says, “Fuck. What should I do?” He has a panicked look about him.

“One, stop doing stupid shit like this. Two, stop fucking around with anything that has a pussy. Three, stop sending pictures of your naked ass self to every fucking piece of ass you meet.”

“Fuck.”

“Dammit, Robinson, if your wife gets wind of this shit before your divorce is final, you’ll end up with zip. How can you be so damn idiotic? And for once in your life, think about your kids.”

“My kids?” This guy doesn’t have a clue.

“Yes! How would you like it if your kids found out about this?”

“But they’re so young,” he insists.

“They won’t be four and six forever.” By now I want to shake him. “Maybe you need to move in with your parents.”

He looks at me like I’m the dumbass now, but whatever. We drive to the party, and sure enough, there’s his groupie hanging out by the door.

“That her?”

“Yeah.” He grins.

“You’re on your own, and good luck when you don’t have a dime to your name and your kids won’t have a thing to do with you.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind.” I think of Gina and how she didn’t know her mom and wasn’t close to her dad. I really feel sorry for Robinson’s kids. He walks up to the young woman, who’s waiting for him, and gives her a goofy grin. I think he has the maturity level of a sixteen-year-old.

He stands outside with the young girl, so I pass them and head through the doors, hoping that Ms. Cougar leaves me alone. My destination is the bar where I can grab a few shots, but I’m surprised to see my family here. I knew they were trying to get here, but Riley said she didn’t think Mom and Dad could make it in.

Mom rushes up to me, and I feel like that kid again in Little League who just hit his first home run.

“Ryder, let me look at you.” She pulls back, and it’s like looking in a mirror when I see her eyes. She smiles, and it’s full of pride. “You did it, and I couldn’t be any prouder than I am right now.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Dad is standing next to her, and when she lets me go, he gives me a man hug and pounds me on the back. “I’ve never seen anything better, son. You made this old man proud.”

“Old man, my ass. You’re not even fifty-five yet.”

Riley barrels into me with a tackle hug, and I almost fall on my ass. “Jesus, are you training for the Rockets? Fletcher said they were looking for a defensive end, but I didn’t know you took him seriously.”

“Shut it, bro. I’m just so excited for your sloppy ass, I can’t stand it.”

“I love you, too, old lady.”

She leans in so only I can hear and asks, “Are you good?” Her eyes dig into mine.

“Um, not really. What do you know about Gina? I take it that’s what you mean?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“Ryder! Get your ass over here. Now!” I look up to see David motioning to me. I stick a finger in the air, giving him the universal
wait a minute
sign.

“No, get over here now!”

Turning back to my family, I say, “I’m sorry. He’s a little insistent.”

“Go. We’ll be fine right here,” Mom says.

“Come with me. Then I won’t have to stay so long.”

Mom puts her hand on my shoulder. “Ryder, you just pitched the best game of your life, and you’re getting ready to play in the World Series. This is something you’ve worked for your entire life. We can wait a few minutes. We’ll be here a few days. Now, go and celebrate this victory.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Even with all the handshakes and back pats, the one thing that I miss the most is my girl. And, yes, she is mine. She should be here, right by my side, helping me celebrate. Without her, I have to wonder if I would have pitched the same game that I did. Knowing she was there helped me throw with perfection. Maybe it was because I wanted to make her proud, or maybe it was because I wanted to show off my mad skills. Whatever, it worked. But now I’m hollow and empty inside, and I miss her like a crazy fucker. The party in me is gone, and all I want to do is go home and drown my sorrows, alone. I hate to admit this, but I don’t even care that my parents are here, and that’s a shitty thing to say or even think.

Putting a stick of rebar in my spine, I down a couple of shots and use Mom, Dad, and Riley as an excuse to leave the screaming group of testosterone that surrounds us.

My family grins at me as I wobble back toward them.

“Looks like someone’s had a few,” Riley says. She sticks a finger in my ribs and pokes me hard.

“Ow. Stop that.” She’s always known exactly where my tender spots are.

Mom looks at Dad and says, “Some things never change.”

“Hey, do you all mind leaving? I could use a bite to eat.”

“Not at all. You sure you want to leave?”

Right then, Ms. Cougar sidles up to us. “Ryder, are you going to introduce us?” She puts her arm around me and acts entirely too chummy for my taste. I try to shrug out of her grasp, but every time I move, she goes with me.

“Ms. Whitestone, this is my family.” I make all the introductions, and she gushes over me like I was the greatest thing in the world. She hangs on my every last word, and my mom stares at me, as does Riley. They both think something is up.

When there’s a small break in the conversation, I finally say, “It was nice talking with you, but we were just heading out. My parents are only here for a few days, so I want to spend some private time with them.”

“I understand. By the way, did you tell them about the trade?”

“No, I haven’t had the chance.” What a fucking bitch. I need to get out of this team. She’s a flaming whore.

“I see. Well, enjoy your evening.”

We leave, and on the way out, my mom asks, “Trade?”

“I’ll explain. Let’s get out of here.”

Right by the door, we pass Robinson with his tongue jammed down that girl’s throat. I grab his arm and pull him off her. “Would you straighten up? You’re going to lose everything you have if you don’t pull your shit together.”

He looks at me with glazed eyes, and I have to wonder if he’s on drugs. “Are you on anything?” I ask.

“Huh?”

“Did you take anything? Drugs?”

His damn eyes can’t even focus. I look at the girl and ask, “Did you give him anything?”

“No.” And to be honest, she doesn’t look like she has an active brain cell in her head.

“Robinson, look at me.” He stares for a second, and I ask him again, “Did you take drugs?”

“No, just that.” He points to the table next to where they stand.

“Jesus, how much did you drink?” He motions to the bottle of tequila, and three quarters of it are gone.

I ask my parents if they can find the restaurant because I need Riley to drive us. Even I’ve had a bit too much to drive, and Robinson needs to go home. I order the girl an Uber, and we take Robinson to where he’s been staying. Once I get him inside, we head to the restaurant.

“He’s a dumbass.” I explain his circumstances. “I’m not sure he’ll ever learn.”

“But at least you tried,” Mom says. “So, what’s this about a trade?”

I groan and tell them about the vicious cougar attacks I’ve been experiencing.

My mom nearly jumps out of her seat. “That’s sexual harassment.”

“Yeah, and who would believe me? She’d just deny it, or even turn the tables and say I was the one harassing her. I have no proof. And honestly, right now, I would welcome a trade to be away from her. She’s a nutcase.”

Dad stares, and he’s pissed. His face always takes on an angular look, as his cheeks appear more chiseled somehow. His mouth turns down, and then he speaks, “Ryder, you can’t let her push you out like this. You earned your place as ace, and if you’re traded you’ll be in the fourth or fifth spot, depending on where you end up.”

“Guess I’ll have to take my chances, because playing under that woman is not worth it to me anymore.”

“Please, son, let’s see if we can take legal action,” Dad begs.

“Then my reputation will really be toast.”

Riley steps up to my aid. “He’s right, Dad. I see where your thoughts are, but Ryder would be completely screwed, and no one would touch him after that.”

The waiter stops by to take our order, and out of habit I get the bone in ribeye, medium rare. I’m not even sure if I’ll be able to eat. I hear the low hum of chatter around me, but I can’t help but wonder where Gina is tonight. Is she happy, or sad? What’s she doing? Who’s she with?

Riley kicks me under the table. When I look up, she gives a slight shake to her head.

Mom says, “So I hear Cassie and Fletcher are going to have a little one.”

“That’s the news,” Riley says.

“How exciting for them,” I say.

“Oh, and I almost forgot. How many tickets to the World Series can you get?” Mom asks.

“I don’t know. Why?”

Mom reaches for a warm piece of bread that the waiter just delivered and says, “Your cousin, Kaycee, wants to come.”

“Kaycee? Isn’t she like twelve?”

Riley leans across the table and punches me. “No, she’s not twelve, you dork. She’s twenty-one.”

“Already?”

“Yes,” Mom says. “And she’s probably going to be skiing in the next Olympics.”

“No shit.”

“Watch your mouth, Ryder,” Mom admonishes.

“Yes, ma’am. Sorry.”

“Anyway, Kaycee just retuned a week or two ago from Chile. You know that’s where they train in the summer. She has a month off before the big snows hit out West, so she wants to come and watch. That is, if you have any extra tickets.”

“Sure. I’ll see what I can do. I know Fletcher will want to come when he can, Cassie, you all, and—” I would’ve said Gina, but I doubt there’s any chance of that.

After dinner, we all head back to my place. As soon as Mom and Dad go to bed, I beg Riley to tell me what she knows.

“I talked to her, and she told me she needed to get some things straight with her life. Ryder, be patient. It’s all so new to her. She didn’t say as much, but I gather with everything that happened, she’s trying to sort it all out. We didn’t talk more than a few minutes, but I think she was trying to let me know how much she cares.”

“Uh huh. So much that she couldn’t stick around to tell me herself.” Riley looks at me with pity, and that’s the last thing I need. “Stop it, Riley. I don’t want that from anyone, least of all you.”

“I know how much you care for her.”

“No, you can’t possibly know that.”

“Okay, maybe not, but I do know you love her. And that’s saying a lot. I’m pretty damn sure she loves you, too.”

I snort. “Well, she has a fucked-up way of showing it.”

“Ryder, she wasn’t raised like we were.”

“True, but when you show someone how much you care, the last thing you do is turn your back on them.”

“You’re not getting it. At all,” Riley insists.

“Guess not. But I’ll tell you what I am getting. She stuck her fist inside my chest and ripped out my heart. I got that part just fine. I’m done. I can’t deal with that again.”

“Oh, Ryder, I’m sorry. But I wish you would trust me on this.”

“Sorry, the only person I’m trusting where Gina’s involved is myself.” I turn away and head to bed, even though I seriously doubt I’ll be able to sleep tonight.

GINA

Hours before

There has been so much to do. So many decisions to make that will affect the rest of my life. The first one was to get a new lawyer. No offense to my mother’s, but he’s been a little too possessive for my liking. And maybe in a different time I would have given him the time of day, but there’s another man who makes my heart pound in my chest. So a headstrong female is assigned to me, and I’m all about girl power.

That is one of the many things I had to take care of, including deciding the fate of my mother’s estate. It’s something she purchased recently, wanting to ride out her days in Florida, where the climate is good all year round. So I put it up for sale after spending time with an estate seller and my lawyer going through the things I would let go. It turns out ninety-five percent of it is going up for auction at month’s end.

There are several portraits and paintings I decide to keep. I let go of most of the furniture as none of it really appeals to me.

It’s surreal to be back in my tiny living room after the vastness of her estate. I wonder how I could ever leave this place. This is my first apartment. It’s home, even though the clutter has been organized. And what about that? Ryder paid money for me to get to this point, and now I plan to box everything up.

This is one decision I haven’t been able to make. A knock comes at the door and takes me out of my misery. My steps falter when I think it might be Ryder. I peer through the hole and open the door.