The Past, The Present, The Future

by Amanda Kay

  Bryson leaned into his microphone. “Like a dream come true.”

  “Carrie Applegate, MLB TV. Is it true that you would give all this up for your partner?”

  “Baseball is the only thing I’ve wanted to do in my life, but there are things more important. So, yes, if I were forced to make a choice, there isn’t a choice, I’d choose Caiden repeatedly.”

  I heard Trina sigh. “I love Sam, but damn, did you get lucky.”

  I laughed. “I could not agree with you more.”

  BRYSON

  As question after question got thrown our way, I realized that our media representative was purposely ignoring the reporter that Sam had pointed out to me. I leaned into my microphone. “Can we take a question from the gentleman in the gray?”

  I felt Sam snap his gaze my way. I felt every other eye turn to me. Clearly, they too had heard the reports.

  “Yes, hello. What makes you think you belong in the Major League? With so much baggage, clearly, you are a liability.”

  I took a steady breath, “I’m not sure exactly what you mean by baggage, but I’ll take a guess that you are referring to my relationship and my choice in partner.”

  “Exactly,” he clarified, “What can a gay man possibly offer to the league?”

  Sam leaned over. “Dude, let me take this one.” I shook him off.

  “It’s cool,” I whispered. “Well, I’ve asked myself that same question in the past.”

  I looked up toward Caiden and thought I saw a slight nod. “My sophomore year of high school was a rocky one. I had this friend named Corbin, and we had been friends for three years. After we got to high school, I started noticing a change in our relationship, but I ignored it. I knew I couldn’t possibly be gay, and even if I was, I didn’t want to admit it out of fear, I suppose.”

  CAIDEN

  I watched him carefully as he recounted his story. His understanding of who he was. Every single camera was focused solely on him. The lights on the field seemed to surround him, in a swarm of golden angelic light.

  “One night, Corbin participated in a street race, and in a blink of an eye, I lost one of the most important people in my life. As I sat on the floor of the hospital waiting room, praying he’d be okay, I began to realize how foolish my fear had been. After his funeral, things became even more crystal clear, like a fog lifting itself off me, and I confessed to my team, at that time, that I was gay. Many of them were worried about what that meant. The pitcher for the district finals that year was even concerned he wouldn’t be able to pitch if I were behind the plate. It put me at a crossroads. Baseball had been my dream, but I didn’t want to continue if I couldn’t be me. Eventually, things worked out, but it took time. Around the time I was grieving this profound loss, someone new walked into my life, and somehow, everything fell into place. It wasn’t always easy, and like any couple, we have our ups and our downs, but he has made my life better than I could’ve imagined.”

  I sighed but he wasn’t done. “He brings out only my best qualities, and I can assure you that the reason I have the proper temperament to play pro ball is because he grounds me. He reminds me of what is important.”

  “Yeah, but─”

  “No more questions.”

  The guy seemingly in charge of it all tried to shut everything down. Bryson had given a perfect answer, but clearly, the reporter wanted to try again.

  BRYSON

  “It’s okay, he can ask another one.”

  Our media representative sighed but gestured for the reporter to continue. “How do you think being gay will affect the young boys who look up to you?”

  “I hope there is more focus on how I play the game, but if focus shifts to who I am off the field, I hope I send a message that love is love, and being who you are is more important than hiding yourself for an image the world thinks you should have.”

  With that, our media representative quickly began ushering the reporters off the field. Photos were still being snapped, but my gaze had drifted to the stands. To where my heart sat, and I silently prayed that he was proud me.

  Chapter 40

  CAIDEN

  I was already in my seats and Bryson did not disappoint when he got the tickets. Charlotte and Bennett should be here any moment. “These are awesome seats!” Bennett roared as he sat next to me.

  “Nothing but the best,” I smiled.

  “Oh, I’m so nervous,” I heard Charlotte say. I leaned around Bennett to look at her.

  “He’s got this.” She smiled at me. “Bennett, switch seats with me for a moment.” He growled but allowed me to move next to Charlotte.

  “You look like you have something on your mind, honey,” she observed.

  “Just a little.”

  “Like you said, he’s got this.” She patted my arm.

  “I know.” I took a steady breath. “I wanted to ask you something.”

  She looked my way, and under her curious eyes, I felt all sorts of nervousness. “What is it, Caiden?”

  “I wanted to know if you’d be okay if I asked Bryson to marry me.” Her eyes widened so I hurried to continue, “I know we are young─”

  She shrieked and cut me off, throwing her arms around me. “Is that a yes, ma’am?”

  She pulled back and cupped my face in her hands, “It is an absolute yes.” She kissed my cheek and I felt Bennett pat my back.

  I looked his way. “Get up, I want my seat back.”

  He laughed. “Plan on checking out anyone in particular in the dugout?” He winked, trading places with me again.

  “Yeah, I hear the starting catcher is cute.”

  Bennett laughed and put his arm around me. “You’ve always been family; it’ll be nice to have it official.” I couldn’t agree with him more.

  BRYSON

  As I jogged in from the outfield where the bullpen was set up, I could see my mom and Bennett had joined Caiden. This was perfect. My starting pitcher was next to me and he stopped me before we got completely out of the outfield. “Call your game.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I trust you; we all trust you, so call your game.”

  “You are saying, you aren’t going to shake off any of my pitch calls?”

  He laughed. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Trevino.”

  I shook my head and laughed before continuing into the dugout for them to announce the opening day roster. The National Anthem would play and then I would get behind the plate.

  I thought back to Mel’s words, “Call my game.”

  “Trevino,” my manager called right before the opening day celebrations began. “You’re in control out there.”

  “Yes, sir.” Everything that happened after that moment was a blur. I tried to soak it all in.

  CAIDEN

  I sat with his mother and brother as he took his spot behind home plate. The umpire yelled, “Play ball!”

  “I’m nervous for him,” I whispered.

  “Well, hopefully, you’ve taken on all the nerves,” Bennett replied.

  “Before we left today, I asked him if he was nervous. He said no, but I could see he was.”

  “Strike one!” The umpire yelled. My focus turned back to the field, and in what seemed like a nanosecond, the top of the first inning was over. Bryson was at the top of the order, so he’d set the tone for his team, and I had all the faith in the world that he would do just that.

  BRYSON

  I stood in the on-deck circle, waiting for the inning to switch over. My first major league at bat was just moments away.

  I was walked toward the batter’s box I did what I had been waiting to do in case this day came. I kissed the spot where my tattoo was. Silently thanking Caiden for his support. Then I pointed to the heavens, silently thanking Corbin for looking out for me, and then I took my spot.

  I watched as the pitcher got ready. The ball started floating toward me in what seemed like slow motion, I swung, and I heard the successful crack of contact. I watched as the ball soared
over the center field wall. As I made my way around the bases, I spotted my family. Screaming their pride. This was how I wanted my life to be.

  CAIDEN

  It was the bottom of the eighth inning. Bryson was on third after he connected with a triple, successfully completing his cycle.

  Bennett leaned over and whispered, “This could be historic.”

  “A cycle in your first game?”

  He shook his head, “Not just the cycle. Look up at the other team’s number of hits.”

  I looked toward the scoreboard. All zeroes. “They don’t have any hits.”

  “Exactly, see the pitcher in the dugout?” I looked that way and nodded, “He’s been alone since the sixth, because everyone has realized it and in baseball, if you are throwing a no-hitter, it’s bad luck to converse with the pitcher.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “Bet Bry will go talk with him, though. Try to gauge where his head is at. He’s only thrown seventy pitches, so he’s likely in a good place.”

  I turned my attention back to the field. Bry was halfway up the line and the player in the batter’s box squared to bunt. I had seen this before when we were in high school, but for the life of me, I did not understand why they were doing this now.

  “Suicide bunt,” Bennett muttered. “Pretty risky, also pretty damn smart.”

  “If you─” I started to say, right as the batter did what he was supposed to do. The ball went up the first base line. The only play they had was at first. Bryson scored.

  BRYSON

  I shouldered up next to my pitcher after grabbing my gear. I sat there and put on my shin guards. I didn’t say one word to him, I didn’t dare, but I wanted to gauge his mood.

  “Call them like you see them, Trevino,” he laughed.

  “We are breaking all sorts of traditions here,” I said.

  “Don’t give a damn. If I give up a hit, I give up a hit. This game isn’t mine. It’s yours, one hundred percent. No one cares that I’m throwing a no-hitter. They aren’t watching me. They are watching you, Trevino. Hope you planned on being huge.” He winked, laughed, and then left me alone. Suddenly, I was the one nervous.

  “You got this, Bry,” I said to myself. “You aren’t pitching.” I finished putting on my gear and made my way to the field for final warmups.

  I looked back toward Caiden, and he blew me a kiss. I put my face guard on and took my spot after shifting my third baseman over. Mel’s first pitch was popped up, and easily landed in the glove of Kory at third. He tossed the ball back, and Mel nodded at me. The next batter had struck out twice already, but I knew we’d be in trouble if we went back to the same sequence, so I called for his changeup instead. He shook me off, but I wasn’t backing down.

  Finally, I called time, and jogged out to the mound. “Trust me.”

  “We’ve struck him out twice already.”

  I nodded, “And he’s sitting on those pitches. Change up, slider, fastball.”

  “You’re crazy, but you haven’t steered me wrong all game.”

  I got back behind the plate and called the pitch. Right on target, Mel found my glove. The batter never even flinched. The next pitches were the same, and he went down looking.

  I took a steady breath; of all their hitters, the one coming to the plate had been the closest to a hit all game. Both times, our outfield saved us. I signaled for Mel to throw the fastball, and he did. The batter connected and I held my breath as I watched my center fielder travel further and further back. Finally, at the wall, he leaped up and came down with the ball.

  The stadium erupted. I trotted toward the mound for the celebration. “Pretty risky call there, Trevino.”

  I glanced at Mel. “I had to trust the defense.” He nodded and the team lifted both of us.

  CAIDEN

  I waited until it was my time to interrupt the interview. I listened as Bry’s pitcher praised him endlessly.

  “Pretty damn impressive if you ask me. Never seen anything like it.”

  Bryson shook his head, “Pretty damn sure I got really lucky today.”

  “Call it what you will, I saw pure talent out there. I’ve never seen anything like it,” the announcer said.

  “Pure luck,” Bryson repeated with a laugh.

  “How much luck do you think you still have in you?” That question was my cue. I slowly walked out onto the field where the interview was being conducted as I listened to his answer.

  “Well, considering that game was pretty unrealistic by even the biggest stars in the game, I’m going to say I’m going to need to refuel my luck over the next few games.”

  I smiled, “You sure you don’t have any more in there?” His eyes instantly shot toward my voice.

  He smiled, but questioned, “What’s going on?”

  I walked until I was in front of him. “I feel like my luck is bound to run out sooner or later, but then, I wake up next to you and I’m reminded of just how lucky I am. I know I don’t want that feeling to ever stop.” I picked up his right hand and ran my finger along his ring.

  “Caiden,” he choked.

  “When you presented these rings to me as a sign of our promise to each other, we both agreed that we couldn’t wait for the day that these got to change hands.” He swallowed hard and I hit my knee. “I know where my future is and it’s right there with you for the rest of our lives. Marry me, Bryson Trevino?”

  He stared down at me for the longest time, and I started to get nervous. Then he tugged me up and cupped my face in his hands.

  “Every day I get with you is a lucky one. I will absolutely marry you.”

  With that, I kissed the person who was literally everything to me. The person who saved me from my past. Helped me fight the demons of my present, and then, gave me a future that is only meant for fairy tales. Bryson Trevino was everything.

  About the Author

  Amanda Kay is a wife, mother, and high school intensive reading teacher who has always used writing as a creative outlet.

  www.amandakeybooks.com