Hector (Season One: The Ninth Inning #3)

by Lindsay Paige

  I pause for a moment letting his words sink in. “We’ve rushed into this. You can’t deny it, Hector. I think a break is good for us. Just to make sure this is what we both want. Family is too important to you and to me, too. I can’t bear thinking I broke you away from your mother. Don’t get me wrong, the things she said were horrible and I’m not sorry for what I said to her, but she’s your mother. I’m replaceable, she’s not.”

  “Bullshit! You are not replaceable!” He takes a deep breath and I know he’s trying to calm down. “Are you listening to me? A break isn’t going to fix things with her. I’m still not going to talk to her until she realizes she’s wrong, even if you aren’t standing next to me anymore. A break isn’t going to make me change my mind, not about her, not about you, and not about us.”

  “Then if you feel that strongly about it, a break won’t hurt. You’re gone for the next four days. When you get back into town, call me and we’ll see if it’ll help or not. You don’t know until you try. Think of it as if you’re jumping out of the plane again. You tried that, right? So, let’s try this.” My voice is shaking and the tears are about to fall.

  “The plane is a bad analogy. I don’t consider that an overall positive experience and this doesn’t sound like one either. Do you want a break for me or for you? I don’t want or need one. However, if you want one because you want to reconsider what you’ve stepped into with me or whatever, then I guess I can’t stop you from wanting that.”

  “I’ll talk to you when you get back into town, Hector. I hope you do well on your away games.” I end the call and do the unthinkable. I kick the easel, knocking over the canvas and my supplies. Watching them scatter on the floor, I break down.

  THESE ROAD GAMES are the last of our regular season, which is what I should be focusing on. I watch as the ball soars way over my head. Roman catches it after a bounce and throws it to me. The ball hits my glove hard, but it doesn’t matter that I’ve caught it. The hitter is already comfortably on base. I throw it to Felix, so he can pitch again.

  At least baseball is making sense. I have my job here on first, my duties as a member of this team when the ball is in play and when I’m up at bat. Not much is going to surprise me here. If the ball goes to center field, as it is now, Tanner is going to be there to get it. He catches the ball easily, and the batter returns to the dugout.

  It’s our second out, so we only need one more before we switch places. The batter misses Felix’s first pitch, but gets a crack at the second one. It practically goes straight to Jordan with a few bounces. He secures it in his glove before reaching out to tag the runner coming toward his base.

  Out number three.

  Baseball is relatively simple.

  Zoey? Not so much.

  I could understand where she’s coming from a little better if she was the actual problem. She’s not though. Mom is. I’m starting to wonder if there’s something else going on, something I’m missing. That doesn’t sound right either. Zoey didn’t sound as if she really wanted this break. Four days isn’t truly a break anyway. Maybe she just wants a little time to herself.

  “Rodriguez!” Coach’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “You’re up.”

  After I grab my helmet and bat, I step out. I think the thing that drives me the craziest is how she claimed we weren’t serious. As if we haven’t been seeing each other for as long as we have, plus the two months it took to get her name. I’ve met her family; she’s met mine. What about us isn’t serious?

  Blake hits a homerun, bringing in Colby. Both are grinning as they walk past me and into the dugout. I tighten my hands on the bat as I wait for my pitch. The first ball goes high. The second hits me in the thigh. I grimace, but make my way to first base. It’ll leave a nice little bruise, for sure. Maybe I’ll go see Sofia and try to annoy Blake because of it.

  For the rest of the game, my mind goes back and forth between the actual game and Zoey. We walk away with a win. That’s the best I could ask for anyway. On the bus back to the hotel, Blake takes the seat next to me, which is kind of surprising. Then again, ever since his father has been out of his and his mother’s lives, he’s been more Blake and less Grumpy.

  I glance down at my phone. I’m tempted to text Zoey, but I don’t. Instead, I say, “What do you want, Grumpy?”

  “You seemed distracted on the field,” he states simply, leaning back in the seat and causing it to creak in protest.

  “I was.” No sense in lying about it. The weight of my phone feels heavy in my hand. I put it in my back pocket to push temptation further away.

  Blake doesn’t say anything for a moment. “So, what’s going on with you and Zoey then? Sofia wants some double date dinner thing when we get back to Memphis.”

  “I’ll have to see.”

  “There’s trouble in paradise, huh?”

  I look over at him with narrowed eyes. “What makes you say that?”

  “If there weren’t, you would have said yes to my fake invite. Who messed up? You or her?”

  Blake has never come across as a sneaky person before, but I’m starting to see it. For a moment, I think about pulling a Blake and giving him the finger before I ignore him. But my surprise at Blake’s behavior makes me talk anyway.

  “Neither.” I sigh as I think about our conversation again. “My mother is a strict, judgmental Catholic who wants me to be with like-minded people who share the same viewpoints.”

  Blake laughs. I don’t see what’s funny until he says, “And Zoey is the furthest thing from what she pictures.”

  “Yeah, there was a big confrontation and I chose Zoey; since I’m not talking to my mother, Zoey thinks she doesn’t need to talk to me for a while. She doesn’t want to come between my mother and me. Makes total sense, right?”

  He shrugs. “Family issues aren’t my strong suit. I mean, I had plenty of them, but what goes through a woman’s mind is beyond me.”

  “Yet, if you keep on, I won’t be able to call you Grumpy anymore. Should I ask for the advice of the ole’ wise one instead?”

  Blake looks to the front of the bus, and I’d bet all the money in my wallet that he’s looking at whichever seat Sofia’s sitting in. “Knowing you, my advice is probably what you’re going to do anyway. Do whatever it takes to keep the girl.” He glances at me. “Be sure to let Sofia know about our girl talk; it’ll earn me some points.” The grin on his face is ridiculous.

  I shake my head at him. “Why would I do that? When I needed to earn some points, you and Felix did the opposite for me.”

  He laughs. “Maybe I’ll do better next time.”

  Blake gets pulled into a conversation with Roman and Spencer in the row next to us, so I use that moment to officially shut everyone out. It’s going to be a long road trip, that’s for sure.

  ZOEY DID SAY to talk to her once I got back, right? Am I crazy for thinking so? I texted her before we boarded the plane to let her know when I would be landing and asked if I could come over. I’ve since landed in Memphis with no response from her.

  I try calling, but she doesn’t answer.

  “Damn it, Zoey,” I mutter under my breath. Sitting in my car, I debate going home to drop off my things and change or to go straight to her apartment. “Screw it,” I say to myself, backing up and pulling onto the highway. The drive to her apartment seems to take forever. I take the stairs two at a time before I reach her door. I knock and knock and knock.

  No answer.

  If she isn’t here, then where would she be?

  My next stop is Minnie’s gallery, but there’s no one there either. It’s too early for her to be at the bar. The only place left would be Minnie and Lanny’s house. Hopefully, they’re home too because I might need some backup and I’m certain they would be on Team Hector.

  If the drive to Zoey’s took forever, the drive to her aunts’ house definitely feels like it takes all freaking day. My muscles are tense the entire drive. I don’t really know what to expect. Zoey’s ignoring me, which doesn’t
look like a good sign.

  The moment I see her car in their driveway, I relax. I jog to the door and knock.

  “Hector,” Lanny smiles. “I wondered how long it would be before you made your way here.”

  I return her smile. “It could have been sooner, but I didn’t realize I was playing hide-and-go-seek with Zoey.”

  She gives me a soft, understanding smile. “I shouldn’t stick my nose into y’alls relationship, however, I’m going to.” We step inside, but don’t make it far. “I don’t know what she’s thinking. Well, maybe it’s because she never knew her mother and doesn’t want you to have the same hole in your heart as she does. You need to talk to her, calmly and firmly. People look at her with all the tattoos, bright makeup, and the dark hair and think they have her pegged, but they don’t.”

  “I know. Can I see her now?” I ask, eager to see her.

  “She has been hiding in Minnie’s art room, but hasn’t been able to come up with anything. She needs her muse.” Lanny winks at me, and I can’t help but grin.

  Lanny shows me the way and I get the same smile and wink from Minnie when we walk past her. The door to Minnie’s art room is closed and Lanny leaves me standing outside it. I take a deep breath. Then, I knock and walk inside. Zoey is sitting on a stool in front of a blank canvas. She doesn’t turn around to see who it is.

  “And here I thought this break would give you plenty of time to complete a batch of masterpieces,” I say.

  “I think I’m messing up my whole life, and I don’t know how to fix it,” she responds quietly.

  “What have you messed up? I’m a good fixer, you know.”

  She swivels to face me. “I don’t think you can. I messed up royally.” A few tears glide down her face, and I take a step closer to her.

  I want to close the distance completely, but I hold myself back. “What did you mess up, Zoey?”

  “Us. My art career. Well, what might have been one. I have no job. What do I have to show for my life? An okay apartment? A cheap used car? The only stability in my life is you and my aunts. But I pushed you away because I was scared.”

  “You haven’t messed us up,” I quickly say. “Your attempt to push me away was an epic failure because I’m standing right here. Your art career is amazing, even if it’s at the very beginning. If you want more stability, get your job back. Problem solved. No royal messes.”

  “It’s not really the job, Hector.” She sighs. “It’s me. I’m the mess. I’m not a flake, but sometimes I let myself root around my thoughts and then, bam, I’m making rash decisions.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with rash decisions. Zoey, are you letting stuff my mom said get to you? You aren’t a mess. You’re perfect,” I tell her honestly.

  “Maybe I am letting it get to me. I don’t know anymore. This is what I know.” She glances down at her lap. “I know what it’s like to grow up without parents. I know what it’s like for people not to be in your life because of other’s perceptions. I know what it’s like for parents to pull their kids away from you because you’re tatted up. Is this what you want, Hector? Could you even take me to some formal event?” Right then and there, I know she’s let my mother’s words go to her head and never have I resented my mother more than I do right now. “I’ve told you from the beginning we’re not compatible, but now you’ve made me fall in love with you. And now…now I can’t do anything because you’re not in my life.”

  “I’m right here, Zoey,” I say, my words coming out as a plea. “I haven’t gone anywhere. Yes, of course, I want you and any stupid trouble that brings. There’s nothing wrong with you or your aunts, and you know that. Stop letting all the naysayers get inside your head. You’re the best thing to ever happen to me, baseball career included. That leaves me with one question. Is the love of my life going to come home with me or stare at a blank canvas for a few more days?”

  She doesn’t hesitate jumping off the stool and running over to me. She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me. Oh, it’s so good to have her in my arms again. “This means it might only be you and me for a long time because your mother might never talk to you again. Are you really up for that?”

  “I got off a plane, searched all of Memphis for you, and then came here. Do you really need an answer?” I ask her.

  She smiles and kisses me again.

  “HOW DID YOU make this possible?” I’m laying on my back in the middle of centerfield, looking up at the bright, clear blue sky. All of my colored pencils are next to me as the sketch pad rests on my knees and Hector is lying next to me.

  “I didn’t. Technically, we’re not here. Also,” he turns on his side to face me. “If the sprinklers come on…run.” He winks and I laugh.

  “I’m serious.” I push on his chest.

  “So am I.”

  “Jerk,” I tease him and focus on my sketch. It isn’t anything more than simple doodling, but it helps me relax. I never pictured I would be in the middle of the Memphis Angels baseball diamond chilling out with my boyfriend. I turn my head and see Hector facing the sky with his eyes closed. He looks peaceful, happy, and content.

  When I told Hector we needed a break, I thought my world had fallen apart. I never want to feel that again. I don’t know what the future truly holds for us, but I’m ready for it. Do I see babies, weddings, or anything thing of that sort in our future? I’m not sure. I can’t imagine myself walking down a long aisle in a big church or even in a white gown. I can see us in my aunts’ backyard, or even something small in the gallery. Shit, am I really thinking about this? Right now?

  “I think I’m done.” I sit up quickly and grab my pencils and bag.

  “I’m only kidding about the sprinklers, Zoey.”

  “I know, but I need to get to my aunts’ house and you have to rest because tomorrow is a big day. Or did you forget about the playoffs?”

  “No, I didn’t forget, but are you sure you’re ready?”

  “Yep.” I needed to run away from those insane thoughts and his gorgeous eyes.

  Hector helps me up and we walk hand-in-hand out of the stadium and to my car. He gives me quick kiss and I head off to see my aunts. The entire drive I keep the music loud to drown out my thoughts of Hector and our future. I’m on the verge of losing my mind.

  “Dammit.” I look in my rearview mirror and see the red, blue flashing lights in my rearview mirror. “Shit,” I curse again and pull over to the side of the road. I put my car in park and the watch the female officer come toward my driver’s side.

  “Ma’am, do you know why I pulled you over?” Officer Craft, as her name tag displays, is all business when she speaks to me.

  “I’m not sure, but I’m guessing I was speeding.”

  “You were. Fifty-seven in a forty-five. Now, I need your license, registration, and insurance please.”

  I nod, and without argument, I hand her the correct documents and wait for my ticket to be written.

  “Is there a reason you’re speeding?”

  “I’m trying to get to my aunts’ house so I can have a nervous breakdown because this guy who first stalked me is now my boyfriend. And now I’m thinking of weddings, buying a house, and everything in between. I love him, but I’m scared because I’ve never been in love. I feel like I need to be around him all the time and when he isn’t there, I miss him. Like, a lot. But he has a crazy mother who thinks I’m some Satan worshiper who is going to sacrifice her son or worse make him get a tattoo. Plus, I’m trying to live my dream job, but I’m not sure I’m good enough to do it, even though everyone says I am. Now, look at me. I’m sitting in my car, rambling to a police officer.” I gasp for air because I didn’t take one throughout the entire speech.

  Officer Craft is staring at me with her mouth open and looks like she’s about to throw me into a padded cell.

  “Sorry. I’m sorry.” I shake my head. “I’m sorry. I’ll take the ticket now and promise not to speed again.”

  “I’ll be right back.” Officer Craft wal
ks back to her patrol car and I take several deep breaths. After two minutes, she comes back and hands me my items back. She stares at me for a second before handing me a ticket. “I’m giving you a written warning.”

  “Really?” I’m in shock because I thought I was headed for that padded cell.

  “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.