“I really appreciate it. Don’t get a chance to cook as much as I should during the season.”
“Speaking of which,” Coach jumped in. “Let’s grab a beer and go sit on the patio until dinner’s ready.”
“You have fifteen minutes,” Penny said.
“Thanks, babe.” Coach took the two beers she’d magically appeared with and kissed her on the cheek, then handed one to Ty and nodded toward the French double doors at the far end of the family room. “Let’s go watch some barges.”
Ty’s heart rate began to pick up, and he had this weird icy feeling in his chest. Normally if there was a trade, Coach would pull the guy into his office before practice and tell him where he was going. This…this didn’t happen unless they’d already tried shopping someone around and couldn’t find a taker. This was not good. So not good.
“Have a seat.”
Coach sat down in a padded lounge chair and propped his feet up. Okay, so could it be that serious if the man was so relaxed? Ty tried to calm his racing thoughts. Maybe this was just a fact-finding mission. Maybe he just wanted some locker room intel. Ty sat in the chair next to him and took a swig of the beer. Good one out of his home state of Texas. Shiner Bock.
“Ty, I’m gonna start Morgan as catcher tomorrow night.”
Ty choked on his beer. He felt like the bottom had just dropped out of his world. “Wha—? Why?”
“Come on, son.” His coach didn’t look at him, just continued to watch the lights on the barges floating slowly up the river. “You know your body. You telling me it’s not time to take a break?”
Fuck, no! “I’m having a good season, other than those last two games.”
“Yes, you are. But not your best. Far from it. I watch you, Ty. Every time you stand up after a pitch you’re getting slower and slower. Your limp to the dugout is getting more pronounced every single game. What does the doc say?”
Shit. Ty took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “He says it’s time for surgery,” he admitted. “I just don’t happen to agree.”
Coach settled his feet on the ground and stood, walking over to the wrought iron fencing that separated his backyard from the river bluffs and Riverside Drive below. “I’m not going to lie to you, Ty. Front office is looking to make some changes. Trades are being tossed around. They’re not happy we’re not make the playoffs this year, even though I told them back in July it was going to be hard to do with the number of injuries we got and the players they decided to trade. I’m damn lucky I still have my job, to be perfectly honest, and that could change tomorrow.”
“You don’t need to worry,” Ty replied. “You won’t have any problems getting another team to manage.”
Coach glanced toward the house and sighed. “I think it’ll devastate Penny when we leave this house. She doesn’t want to move again, but we gotta go where the job is. The thing I admire about her most is her ability to make the next house a home for us. She’s tired of that life, though. I can’t blame her. I’m tired of it too, if I’m being completely honest. But with two kids in expensive private colleges…”
Ty nodded. “I have a year left on my contract, so…”
“I’m aware, but you must realize they’ve talked to some other teams about you. There’s a bit of interest.” Coach Landon picked at the label on his bottle. “I think I can talk them into buying you out if you’re willing to stay on as a coach. Money’s not that great, but it’s decent. ”
“I’m not finished playing, Jeff. I have a couple more seasons in me.”
Coach’s stare drilled into him. “Okay, maybe not a couple more, but at least one more.”
“Ty, I’m going to say this, and don’t get your drawers in a bunch.” He took a deep breath and continued. “Don’t hang on until you leave your fingernails in the wood. I’ve seen guys who try to keep going, end up screwing their bodies up, end up playing minor league ball until they’re too old to go anymore. Don’t be that guy.
“I know you’re in pain. I see it every day. You’ll feel it when you get up from that chair, knees screaming. Especially the right one. Am I lying?”
Ty shook his head but remained silent. He’d played ball on only two teams in his twelve years in the Show, in Memphis for most of four seasons. Coach Landon knew him better than any other manager he’d ever worked with. He felt a pressure build in his chest at the thought of ending his career. But his brother had told him, his dad had mentioned it a time or two, and Coach…well, he was just being honest about what he saw on a daily basis. Maybe it was time for Ty to admit this chapter of his life was over.
14
Harper had screwed up. Not just the whole losing-her-job thing. For some weird reason, she wasn’t that upset anymore about the fact she wouldn’t be teaching at the university. It had never really been her dream when she’d studied for her English and journalism degrees. She’d wanted to write, whether for a newspaper or online news service, or biographies, or heck, even fiction.
She’d sort of boxed herself into teaching because she’d been approached by her major professor after her master’s to fill a vacant spot, and she’d been pretty good at the teaching part. Good enough to make the tenure track, which was rare anymore. It was a job that paid more than she’d get as a freelancer, and she liked the idea of having a secure profession. A steady way to pay the bills and her student loans. She always figured she’d get around to writing in her spare time.
But that had never really happened, and now tenure wouldn’t either.
Yet, that wasn’t where she’d screwed up. She’d been angry with Ty, unjustly. When he left to get his things, she’d thought he was coming back to stay with her. She’d wanted him to. He’d said he’d be back in a half hour or so. She’d changed the sheets, lit candles, assembled some cheeses and fruit from her limited fridge contents, although the thought of eating at the moment made her a bit nauseated. She was planning on seducing him to show him just how sorry she was and just how much she appreciated him being in her life at this moment, despite what the end result had been.
When he didn’t arrive back in thirty minutes like he’d said, she’d figured he’d gotten hung up on something at his house. After an hour, she texted. No response. She’d called, but it went straight to voicemail as if his phone was turned off. She’d texted again. God, she must have seemed like a needy, whiny child. That must have sent him running, because it had now been over a couple, no, make it three hours, and there had been no sign of Ty. No texts, no calls, no knock on the door.
After an hour, she’d blown out the candles. No use in wasting the wax. She’d just relight them when he returned. The Chinese food she’d ordered after eating all the leftover cheese in her fridge had gone cold, so when it turned two and a half hours with no word, she’d nuked some Szechuan beef until it was semi-edible and had a late dinner.
Harper was pissed. He’d promised he’d come back “as soon as I can.” Well, if this was as soon as he could, they were indeed going to have a long talk about telling time. At this point, he’d better be seriously injured or at least bleeding!
Now, why had she thought that? Harper didn’t want him harmed. She just wanted him here. She took off the makeup she’d applied, changed out of the sexy undies she’d worn in favor of her cotton whites, and now sat in front of the TV in an oversized T-shirt watching Supernatural on Netflix while stuffing her face with Turkey Hill Triopolitan Caramel Macchiato ice cream.
The more she watched the boys slice and dice demons, the madder she got at Ty. He could have at least texted, let her know he was running late, or he’d changed his mind about staying over. Especially when he’d promised he’d come back. Maybe he was just giving her a little of what she’d dished out to him before? Letting her see how being ignored felt.
Of course, her being sloppy drunk and belligerent didn’t do her any favors, but that happened to everyone at some time or another, right? Did he maybe think it was something she did regularly? Which couldn’t be further from the truth.
He could have asked if she had a problem. Then again, she had told him her father liked to drink…
He said he was coming back, dammit.
She would not cry, she swore to herself. Damn tears. She was pissed off, not sad. Angry, not upset. Of course he wasn’t lying on a slab in the hospital morgue. She was just being melodramatic. There was probably a perfectly good explanation for him being a jerk. Sniffling once, she blinked away any moisture and watched on as Dean staked a would-be vampire demon out to get Sam. Always protecting his brother. Doing what was right. She should have done the right thing and stayed away from her student. Why hadn’t she done the right thing?
Because she wanted him. She didn’t care about the consequences, so she should just shut up about it and deal. She’d never really liked that fucking job anyway.
Harper rinsed her bowl and left it in the sink for tomorrow. Turning off the TV just as Sam was getting beaten up yet again, she started toward the bedroom, flipping lights off as she went. She was stopped midstep as she reached her bedroom by a knock on the front door. Seriously? He was going to show up at eleven thirty? After not calling or texting to let her know he was coming?
Her first instinct was to ignore the summons and go to bed anyway, but her brain wouldn’t allow her to do that. She’d wonder who was there and what it was about, like one of those stupid anonymous robocalls she got three times a day. So, turning on her heel, she headed for the front door and practiced what she’d say to him before she slammed it back in his face and told him to call her tomorrow.
When she opened the door, though, the look on Ty’s face swept all the annoyance and anger and pissed-offedness away. He looked so broken up, and she couldn’t stop herself from asking, “What happened?”
“I just came by to let you know I didn’t forget you, and I didn’t ditch you.” He stepped inside, just enough for her to close the door behind him. “Well, I did, but I had a really good reason, and…I just wanted you to know that.” He didn’t try to come any farther into the room, but Harper took his hand and led him to the sofa.
“You didn’t answer my question,” she said. “What’s happened? You look terrible, and… Why didn’t you call me? Text? Something?”
“I can explain that,” he said, holding a finger in the air. “I threw my phone into the Mississippi.”
“What?” Harper couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Why?”
Ty ran his hands over his head and took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. Then another. Finally: “When I left here today, I really intended to grab some clothes and come straight back.”
“I know.” Harper scooted closer and put a reassuring hand on his thigh. “So why didn’t you?”
“When I got home, I got a call from Coach Landon. He wanted to see me right away.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I should have texted or called you to let you know I’d be running late, but I just wanted to get it over with. I’m sorry.”
That meeting couldn’t have been good news. She could vaguely remember her father talking about last-minute meetings, and it usually ended with them moving again in a couple of weeks to meet him in whatever city he’d been traded to. Her heart hammered. Was Ty going away? Just when they’d gotten started? “And what was the meeting about?”
Ty paused, closed his eyes and nodded. “He basically told me I’m done. With the Blues, anyway. They’re starting the new catcher they just brought up at tomorrow night’s game. I’m benched.”
“Oh, Ty. I’m so sorry.” She knelt on the floor in front of him and cupped a hand on each side of his face. “For what it’s worth, I think that’s a mistake on their part.”
He opened his eyes, the look in their depths sincere as he said, “I should have called you afterward. I’m so sorry I didn’t, but I wasn’t thinking straight. I… I was upset and got in the car and just started driving.”
There he was again, thinking of her when his entire world was ending. Without pause, he explained everything right down to the minute he arrived at her front door.
“Oh, Ty.” She took his hand and held it to her lips, and said words she really didn’t want to say. “It’s going to be okay. You have so much to offer, and you’re still a great player. Someone will pick up your contract for sure.”
He sighed. “I don’t know. I’m trying to be realistic. It’s pretty clear to anyone who watches I’ve slowed down, and I’m not going to get any better.”
“You can train in the off-season. I’ll even work with you.” She grinned. “It’s not like I have much to do at the moment.”
Ty shook his head. “Add that to my list of dumb-ass things. I’m sorry again. I can’t say it enough to make up for you losing that job.”
“You know,” she started. She needed to be honest with him. He had enough on his mind without worrying about her. “I think I’m… I think I’m happy about the whole thing.”
“What?” He looked incredulous. “You’re not serious.”
Harper nodded. “I am. I didn’t love that job. It wasn’t my life’s goal. I’ve had some time to think this evening—don’t take that the wrong way, it was a good thing—and I made a few decisions for myself.”
He gave her a rueful smile. “Again—”
“Don’t apologize again. Seriously, you’re going to piss me off. Like I said, I had some time to think. My lease is up at the end of the month. I was planning to stay here another year, then buy something of my own, but I think I’m going to move back in with my mom for a while. Think about what it is I really want.”
“Wow. Okay.” He pulled her to him and sat back, snuggling her under his arm. “Tell me more about this plan.”
“That’s as far as I’ve gotten,” she admitted. “I may look into freelance writing, or maybe editing. I love to write, though. It’s always been a dream of mine, but after I started teaching, I just never made the time.”
“You could do a blog about movies,” he offered. “You know a lot about old movies, which people like me might find really interesting.”
“That’s a thought,” she admitted. A blog would be fun but probably wouldn’t bring in much income. “I’m just going to research it for a bit and see what’s out there, what’s going on. I stopped really writing years ago, so I don’t even know what’s trending.”
“Forget trending.” He waved his hand. “I remember a certain professor telling me to write what you know, what you love.”
“Wow, that was a smart professor, huh.” She laughed. “I just need to figure out what that is. During that time you were driving around, did you think about what you might want to do?”
“After I threw my phone in the Mississippi?” He grimaced. “That was stupid. It was a $900 iPhone X. I just upgraded.”
“Ouch.”
“But I did think about it a little,” he said. “I’ve been talking to my brother. He’s been encouraging me to think about life after baseball for a while now.”
“The football player?”
“Yeah, former football player,” he confirmed. “He knew when to give it up.”
“Just…don’t be like my dad.” She couldn’t believe she wasn’t trying harder to convince him to quit when he might end up in another city. “Find something you’d like to do. Finish your degree. Maybe that’ll give you some direction.”
“Yeah, I just need to figure out which direction, all right?”
Harper’s heart went out to him. They were basically in the same place, and they both needed someone to lean on. Ty squeezed her to him and rubbed a hand up and down her arm, leaving tingles in its wake.
“We make quite a pair, don’t we?” he murmured.
“Yes, we do.” She nodded. “Ty?”
“Mmm?”
“Will you still stay with me tonight?”
“Sure, baby, I’ll stay with you.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I promised, didn’t I?”
She nodded. Yes, and he did keep his promises…eventually. “I’m tired. Can we just maybe lie down and g
o to sleep?”
“Of course. Just give me a sec.”
Leaving her on the sofa, he grabbed his bag from the front porch. “Wasn’t sure you’d want me here after…you know.”
Harper stood and headed to her bedroom, clasping his hand and leading him behind her. “You know where the guest bathroom is,” she said. “I’m going to brush my teeth.”
“Okay, thanks.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“What? Oh, no, mister. You’re staying in here with me.” She leaned in and gave him another, lingering kiss. “But I warn you now, I’m in no shape to do the happy dance, so…”
Ty held up his hands. “The thought didn’t even cross my mind.” An obvious lie, she could tell, but one she appreciated.
When he came back to her, she had already climbed beneath the covers and only had the lamp on his side of the bed lit. He scooted under the sheets beside her before flicking off the light. Turning on his side, head propped on his fist, he said, “Good night, Teach.”
He leaned over her, pressed his lips to hers once, twice, then turned his back to her and pulled the covers up to his shoulders. Harper tucked her body next to his warmth and wrapped her arm around his middle, her cheek to his back. He smelled like soap and woods and man, and she’d never felt so comfortable in her adult life. She’d even call it content and secure, though that was a stupid thing to do when both of their futures were so unpredictable at the moment.
“You know,” he said in the darkened room. “I don’t think I’ve ever slept at a woman’s house before. I mean, just slept. This is…nice.”
He turned back around to face her and smiled, and she could barely make out that dimple in his left cheek made her panties damp. Every. Time. What the heck? She didn’t even want kids. But she could almost, almost, see herself making babies with Ty. Babies with his dark hair and sparkly blue eyes. Or her blonde hair and hazel eyes. Or even a combination of the two. She could actually see a little girl in her mind’s eye. Weird.
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