by Amanda Kay
“Bye, Mom.” I hung up and rested my head against his shoulder. He didn’t say anything, he just sat there quietly and waited until I was ready to talk about it.
BRYSON
He lifted his head from my shoulder finally. “Can we go somewhere?”
“Like?”
“Dinner, I’ll pa...” his voice trailed off.
“Of course, we can.”
“No, it’s okay, Bry.”
We had an amazing afternoon, I wasn’t about to let this ruin it. “Come on, my treat.”
“I can just cook for us.”
“No, come on. I have a surprise for you anyway.” He eyed me for a bit but then stood. I couldn’t wait to tell him it would be okay. That money-wise, he was okay, but we were going out first.
As we drove through town, to a spot we’d been once before, I waited him out. “She lied to me.”
“What was the money for?”
“Pills, stupid fucking pills!” I couldn’t remember if I had ever heard him use that word.
I pulled into the parking lot and took his hand in mine, bringing it to my lips. “Do you trust me?”
His eyes snapped my way. “With my life.”
“You aren’t broke.” His eyes widened and he blinked several times.
“What?”
“Let’s go get a table inside and I’ll explain.” He nodded and slowly climbed out of the car. I shut the engine off and followed.
Chapter 38
CAIDEN
We ordered our drinks and then our food before I was able to find the words I was looking for. “What do you mean I’m not broke? I’m not going to allow you to pay for everything.”
He shook his head. “Remember when we drove out here together?”
“Yes, and I wanted to stay then.”
“Believe me, I wanted you to stay. While you were here, we opened an account together. Two accounts actually. A checking and a savings.”
“I remember, you closed your account and transferred the funds to open the account that included your sign-on bonus from the league.”
He nodded and took a drink. “Yeah, but there was something else in there too. Do you remember the twenty-five grand we used to open the savings account?”
It was my turn to nod. “Yeah, what about it?”
“It was your money.”
My eyes widened. “What do you mean, it was my money?”
“Well, in theory, you acted as my agent, and therefore, you are entitled to a cut of my earnings.”
I shook my head. “No, Bryson. We agreed that you’d get an agent, that we only did what we did because we knew what the possibilities could be if you came here.”
Bryson reached across the table and covered my hand with his. “Listen to me, Caiden, I don’t want another agent. No other person is going to have my best interest at heart. All those other agents want is the biggest contract they can get for me, so they get a big pay day. But you, you’ll listen to me and understand what I need in my career. You get me in a way no one else could.”
“Your faith in me never ceases to amaze me.” He smiled my way and released my hand as our food arrived.
“I have your debit card at home. The money in the checking is my sign-on bonus but feel free to use it. The money in the savings is solely yours.”
I thought quietly for a moment about how I wanted to ask this question. “What are my limits?”
He looked up from his plate. “I’m sorry?”
“Well, given the financial situation I got myself into, I figured you’d have rules put into place.”
“Caiden...,” he paused, “it’s your money.”
“I promise, she doesn’t get a cent,” I panicked.
“Calm down,” he said lowly, looking around at the tables near us. “We can figure out everything together. How does that sound?”
I exhaled and nodded. “I think I’d like that.”
BRYSON
We got done with dinner, but I wasn’t ready to go home yet. I wanted to just spend time with him. Time out in public. As we got in the car, and I thought I’d see where he was at.
“Want to take a walk along the beach?”
He smiled at me. “That sounds nice.” I put the car in reverse and backed out. His hand came to my thigh, and I sucked in a breath.
He laughed, “Problem?”
“Look at you. You’ve found confidence. I like that.”
“It’s easy when I have you by my side.”
“I’m glad. I want you to feel like you can conquer the world. You make my life incredible; you need to know that. We’re going to have our ups and downs. Hell, we’ve had plenty already, and I know there will be more, but as long as we trust each other and talk to each other, we’ll be okay.”
He nodded, “Honesty.”
“Honesty.”
“What do we do about my mom, be honest with me? I know I can’t give her another dime, but I don’t want to tell Coach either.”
“Why don’t you want to tell Coach?”
“She’s happy with him.” I sighed I saw where he was going with this.
“What does she take?”
“Way too many anxiety meds. She has a prescription for one, but I had convinced her to talk with her doctor about slowly coming off that.” He shook his head, “I should’ve known. I had to get something out of her room not too long ago, and I saw the extra pill bottles. I guess I didn’t want to believe it.”
“I get that. Come on, we can walk and talk some more. We’ll figure it out, Caiden.” He nodded and got out. I quickly walked around the car so I could take his hand.
“I don’t know what I can do for her, but I do know I don’t want to give her any more money. Not if this is what she’s doing.”
“Okay, that’s settled. No money. That choice is yours and yours alone. I support you.”
“I wish there was a simple solution.”
I laughed, “I think we’ve both learned by now that there is rarely a simple solution to anything.”
He shrugged, “I don’t know; I found a pretty simple solution this afternoon.”
I couldn’t help my amusement. “Did you now?”
“Yeah, Bry, loving you like that was the most natural thing in my life so far.”
“Bennett must have made quite an impression when he called.” I kissed his cheek, still laughing. “Remind me to call and thank him later.”
Caiden laughed a deep laugh that stopped me in my tracks. Hearing him so happy was more than I could’ve ever hoped for. I knew he’d get there one day, and now, despite the turmoil in his life, he was in that place, and it felt good to think I had just a little to do with that.
“Probably not a good idea to have sex on the beach, is it?” I laughed and shook my head before grabbing him for a kiss.
CAIDEN
The way he was kissing me right now was putting me in a spot I did not want to return from. I wanted to haul him up from the beach, back to our car, and go home. Hell, I’d have him here, but he said no. I was pretty sure he wanted the same thing, but just like everything else, it wasn’t going to be that simple.
I broke our kiss on a groan and dug my phone from my jeans. “It’s Coach.”
“Answer it and we’ll walk back to the car for some privacy.”
I nodded and did what he said. “Hey, Coach.” He had taken my hand and I let him lead while I tried to brace myself for this conversation.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I didn’t know or maybe I didn’t want to believe it. The lie was easier to swallow.”
“I get it, son.”
I sighed as he used that phrase; it wasn’t the first time, but it was the first time it made me uncomfortable. “Did you talk with her?” Bryson opened my door and waited until I was inside before closing it.
“I did.”
“She loves you. Please don’t leave her,” I begged. Bryson found my hand.
“I’m not, son. We’re going to get her h
elp. I’ve done what I could to help her fully recover, but the damage was done.”
“Yeah.”
“I love your mom, Caiden. I’m here. For the long haul. I’ll take care of her, but I need a favor. Well, two, actually.”
“She’s my mom … anything.”
“No more money.”
“I can do that. In fact, Bryson and I were just talking about that. The second favor?”
“Don’t shut her out. She’s been crying off and on since she spoke to you. She’s afraid of losing you.”
I sighed, “Can I talk to her?”
“Sure.” Bryson hadn’t made a move to drive away, he was giving me this time and I needed it.
“Mom.”
“Caiden, I’m sorry. Please, please, forgive me.”
“I forgive you, Mom, but you got to get help, okay? Let Coach help you, please. I need you better.”
“I promise. I shouldn’t be this much of a mess. You took so much more from Mark and you did that because you wanted to protect me. I was wrong, Caiden, so wrong.”
“Yes, you were, but I love you.”
“Did you get help, Caiden? I know it wasn’t easy dealing with everything.”
“No, Mom, but I had Bryson.”
“That’s true. He was good for you.”
I smiled his way. “He was indeed.”
“I love you, Caiden.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
My call ended and Bryson sat staring at me. “Can we go home now, Bry?”
“With pleasure.”
“Yeah, we will handle that part at home.” Bryson burst into a fit of laughter and I did as well. Mom was okay. Coach would take care of her. I needed to take care of me for a change, and that started by getting Bryson and me home.
Chapter 39
BRYSON
The season started next week. It was hard to believe Spring Training was over. I would be starting on the minor league team. Maybe I’d get called up this season, maybe I wouldn’t.
“Oh, good, you’re still here, Trevino.”
I turned to see my manager walk in; well, not mine. He was the one hired to manage the major league team. “Was just about to head out.”
“Well, I need you back here at seven for the presser.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Well, our starting catcher should be here for questions, don’t you think?”
“Starting catcher?”
He handed me a piece of paper. A lineup card. “Submitted today to upper management and all the sports journalists. ESPN has been running your story all day.”
“Starting catcher?” I stared at my name in disbelief.
“Yes, now, get out of here. Go home, get ready, and be back here, with your boyfriend in tow.”
“Yes, sir.” I jumped up but had to sit again.
“You all right, Trevino?” he smirked.
“Yeah, blood rush from the shock.”
“Don’t fool yourself; this was all you. You earned this, kid.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, and he walked away. Starting catcher. Not for a minor league team. For the majors.
I got to my car, finally, and drove home. It took all my strength to stay focused on the road. When I finally walked into the condo, I instantly sunk to the floor. I trembled with joy. The excitement overtook me, and I just needed that moment to myself.
CAIDEN
I was pretty sure I’d heard the door shut, but then, I heard nothing else. “Bry?” I called, leaving the office, and making my way into the living room. When I saw him, my heart stopped? Was he okay? I raced to him and fell to my knees in front of him. “Bry, are you okay?”
He nodded but didn’t lift his head to look at me. “Talk to me,” I whispered.
Again, he didn’t make a move to lift his head, he just handed me a piece of paper. I took that as a sign, so I sat down completely and read it over.
Official Opening Day Roster for The Florida Boomerangs
I glanced down to start reading over the names but at number one, my heart stopped. Batting first, Catcher, Bryson Trevino He had done it. He made the major league roster. We had talked about this day, but Bryson was insistent that he likely would start in the minor leagues. He told me he had to pay his dues first.
BRYSON
I couldn’t speak. Hell, I could barely breathe. I could hear the worry in his voice, but I didn’t want him to think anything was wrong. Finally, I lifted my head and found him sitting in front of me. A look of pride on his face.
“I did it.” His smile got bigger and he leaned in to kiss me, but before he could deepen it, I pulled back.
“You okay?”
I nodded and glanced at my watch. “We have to be at the stadium in an hour.”
He sighed dramatically. “What do you mean, we?”
“I have a presser. The manager told me to bring you. I didn’t ask questions. Hell, I could barely breathe.”
“I’m proud of you, Bry.”
My phone buzzed and I saw that it was Bennett. I answered it on speaker in case I needed Caiden to speak for me.
“Bro!” he shrieked. “Why didn’t you call?”
“Just found out.”
“It’s been all over ESPN.”
“So I’ve heard,” I swallowed.
“Is Caiden there?”
“I’m here, Ben.”
“Dude, why didn’t you call me? I had to find out about this over the TV.”
“Sorry, Ben, I had a full load of classes today. I finished right when Bryson got home.”
“Oh my God! You are both losers. How could you not have seen this?”
I laughed. “Well, for most of the day, I was on the field. We had our final spring game today.”
“I’m proud of you.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Ben.” When he hung up, I exhaled. “Help me up?”
Caiden stood and reached down for me. I took his hands and allowed him to pull me up and into his arms.
“I’m really proud of you, Bry,” he whispered in my ear, and I squeezed him tighter. I still couldn’t believe this was happening.
CAIDEN
I was sitting in the stands alone, watching as they set up the table for the twenty-five-man roster. I could barely see the name plates, but Bryson’s seemed to glow for me. Words could not express how proud of him I was.
“Hi there.” I looked up, finding a blonde woman standing beside me. “This seat taken?”
I shook my head. “No, go ahead.” I gestured toward the seat and she sat next to me.
“Trina Hoskins,” she said, staring out at the field.
“Caiden Kamry.”
She looked over at me and assessed me, which made me uncomfortable. “You belong to Bryson?”
Her question made me laugh. “Yeah.”
They had started to take the field and their seats. She grabbed my wrist and pointed to the man sitting Bryson’s left. “That’s my husband, Sam. He’s the backup catcher.” I swallowed hard. “He’s been in the majors for three seasons now.”
I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to say. If he was the backup catcher, that meant Bryson had out played him, or at least the powers that be thought so. “Sam said he’s never seen anyone quite as talented as Bryson.”
“Thank you.” I guessed that was the right thing to say, but it wasn’t like she had just told me I was talented.
She laughed and it was sweet. “I came with a warning.” My eyes snapped her way. “Did you watch any of the coverage today?”
“Only a little while Bry was getting ready for tonight,” I admitted.
She nodded and pointed toward the reporters gathering, “See the guy in the gray?”
“Yeah, what about him?”
“He’s going to have some tough questions for Bryson. I think he wants to make him mad. Why? I can only guess, but I think he wants to prove Bryson doesn’t have the temperament for pro ball.”
“Why would he think that?”
“From comments I
’ve seen today, he wants to paint the fact that Bryson is gay as some sort of deficiency.”
I slumped in my chair. “Well, he’ll be disappointed. Bryson’s the most even keel person I’ve ever met.”
“Unless he’s fighting for something more important.”
I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer that Bryson would remain levelheaded. He fought for us when he needed to. And no Trevino ever backed down when they felt they were right.
BRYSON
I could see a blonde woman next to Caiden and I wondered who she was.
“Oh good, I see my wife found Caiden.” I glanced Sam’s way.
“The conversation looks serious.”
He nodded and then leaned in a bit. “See the reporter in the gray sweater vest?” I moved my eyes ever so slightly and nodded. “Let’s just say, according to my wife, Trina, he’s got it out for you tonight.”
“Why?”
“Trina said it sounded like he was going to purposely try and make you mad, prove you don’t have the temperament for pro ball.”
“And I’m guessing he wasn’t discussing my age in these comments?”
“Nope.”
I sighed; I knew this would come up. I was surprised I hadn’t heard more of it while Spring Training was going on.
“Well, he’ll be disappointed. I don’t get mad easily.”
“Unless, maybe, you’re trying to protect someone important to you.” His eyes flicked toward where Caiden and his wife were sitting.
“Damn it,” I muttered. It had been roughly a month and half since we learned of Mark’s conviction. He only got two years, though. The jury felt that Caiden was old enough to call the cops sooner. However, it became a bigger story when it got linked back to me. I positively did not want someone dragging Caiden’s name through the mud. I stood by what I had said to him the night I learned the truth, and what I had repeated to him the day before his testimony. He hadn’t done anything wrong. Not in my eyes, and even though he got a light sentence, the jury at least found him guilty of a crime.
CAIDEN
I watched as everything began, and it seemed to move in slow motion. “First question,” the announcer on the field said, and cameras began to flash as the reporters jostled to be called on first.
“Marco Williams, ESPN. Bryson, how did it feel to be named starting catcher, especially given your age?”