“OK,” he said.
“I know you have a plane to catch today, so I won’t keep you any longer,” Ms. Marks said. “Take good care of yourself. And Zella too.”
The line disconnected before Derek could ask why she’d said that. Did Zella tell her about their date? Was she worried about it? Did she think he was going to hurt Zella in some way?
That reminded Derek of a comment Zella had made when he asked her out. She said Ms. Marks had given her the green light to date players. How did that topic even come up between the two women? And when? He started to wonder if Zella had expressed interest in someone. But who?
When he boarded the plane with his teammates that afternoon, he looked around at all of them, trying to figure out which one might have caught Zella’s eye. He hadn’t noticed anyone else talking to her, but that didn’t mean anything. She did mention she was a big Pioneers fan. Maybe she’d had a crush on one of them before she started her job. But which one? Obviously, it wasn’t Reid. While he was single and a likely choice, she was certain Ms. Marks’ history with him wouldn’t allow her to encourage Zella’s interest in him. He skipped over all the married guys. That seemed like an obvious strategy. That still left ten guys. He began studying each one, trying to determine if any of them would appeal to Zella.
“Why are you frowning at Finnegan?” Carson asked, plopping down next to Derek.
They had been in the air for a while, so apparently they’d reached cruising altitude while Derek was distracted in his scrutiny of his teammates.
“I’m not,” Derek said.
“Yes you were. I know you hate that he’s in your spot in the rotation, but he’s a good guy … and you’ll get your spot back when you’re healthy,” Carson said. “Speaking of which, how did this morning go?”
“Really good,” Derek said, smiling.
“Your arm is ready to go again?” Carson asked.
“No. The doctor said it still needs rest. I have another appointment when we get back from our road trip,” Derek said.
“I’m confused. How is that really good?” Carson asked.
“Oh … well, I guess it’s not,” Derek said.
“So … why did you say it was?” Carson asked.
Derek wasn’t ready to tell Carson – or anyone else – about Zella. He scrambled to find an explanation his friend would buy.
“I was just glad he didn’t suggest surgery or more testing,” Derek said.
“Oh … I guess that is pretty great,” Carson said, but he stared at him for a moment.
Derek wasn’t sure Carson would buy it, but he didn’t ask any more questions. Instead, he pulled out his phone to show Derek the latest photos and videos of Camden. Derek was off the hook. For now. And only with Carson.
Reid cornered him later in about as casual manner as he expected from the outfielder. At least he waited until they were out to dinner, away from the other players. Derek would give him credit for that.
“I already heard about your arm. I want to know what happened with Zella,” he said as they were seated in the restaurant.
Derek tried to act nonchalant, but then water dribbled out of his mouth because he started to smile when he took a sip. Nonchalant was out the window. His reaction was no more subtle than Reid’s inquiry, and Reid recognized that right away.
“Well, that gives me a hint, but I need more than that,” Reid said. “Come on, D.”
“I asked her out, OK?” Derek said.
“OK … that’s good, and she obviously said ‘yes,’ but … that can’t be it,” Reid said. “Not with the way you’re grinning.”
He might have been able to skirt Carson’s questioning, but Reid was a different story. He wouldn’t give up until Derek spilled everything. Or at least a little more.
“She kissed me,” Derek said.
“What?!” Reid said. “Before you even go on a date? Was there tongue involved?”
“It was just on the cheek,” Derek said, realizing he probably should have included that detail.
“Oh, well … that’s less exciting, but still a win,” Reid said. “I’m not as worried about your dick anymore.”
“I really wish you wouldn’t think about my dick at all,” Derek said.
“Someone has to look out for him,” Reid said.
Derek rolled his eyes. “Anyway … apparently Ms. Marks told Zella there were no rules about her dating players. Do you have any idea why that would come up in conversation?”
“Not a clue, but that’s interesting,” Reid said. “And good news for you.”
“Are you sure you didn’t say something to her?” Derek asked. “I know you two are friends … or whatever.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t say a word to her about you and Zella, I promise,” Reid said.
“Hmm. So why would she say that?” Derek asked. “Do you think Zella was interested in one of the players?”
“Well, obviously …,” Reid said.
“No, I mean … not me … someone else …,” Derek said.
“OK, now I know you’re really gone,” Reid said.
“What do you mean?” Derek asked.
“You’re paranoid about the other guys on the team, worried she was interested in one of them,” Reid said.
“Well, it is a possibility,” Derek said.
“Except you forget that I’ve had a pretty good seat for all of this,” Reid said. “That girl is only into you. She barely looks at the other guys.”
“Are you sure?” Derek asked.
“OK, you need to get this paranoid insecurity out of your system before we get back to Portland,” Reid said. “You can’t go into your date even entertaining the possibility that she wants anyone but you.”
“I think that’s the most insightful thing you’ve ever said,” Derek said. “What was in that steak?”
“I don’t know, but it was damn good,” Reid said, chuckling. “You want to talk more about Zella? Or are you ready to head back to the hotel?”
“I’ve said as much as I want to about Zella,” Derek said. “But you haven’t said a word about your girl. How’s that going?”
“Still going. She gave me a nice welcome home from spring training. Man, I missed her. This road trip is going to be tough,” Reid said.
“I’m sure,” Derek said, nodding.
“You’ll get it once you … start getting it again,” Reid said.
“You really need to stop thinking about my dick,” Derek said.
The waitress who was dropping off their check couldn’t leave the table fast enough, and the guys both just laughed as they paid the bill and left the restaurant.
Back at the hotel, they stopped into one of the rooms, where some of the younger players were watching a movie, but they didn’t stay long. Reid needed a good night’s sleep before the game the next day. Derek was ready for some quiet solitude. He wanted time to revisit his morning with Zella without smiling like an idiot in front of his teammates.
Derek wondered how he’d get through the road trip without obsessing about getting back to Portland. He couldn’t stop thinking about seeing Zella again and taking her on their first date. The universe apparently heard his wondering and sent him a distraction. On Monday, his attorney called with an update on his visitation case with Brynn.
“The other side isn’t budging. I think we need to take this to a hearing, Derek,” Jennie said.
“OK,” Derek said, after letting out a long breath.
“I think I can get one scheduled for next month,” Jennie said. “You would need to be there.”
“OK, I don’t know if I’ll be pitching again or what my availability will be, but … I’ll make it work,” Derek said. “Brynn is important.”
“I thought you’d say that,” Jennie said. “So I’ve already filed the paperwork. I’ll email you when we have a court date and let you know what you need to do to prepare.”
Derek thanked her and hung up. Brynn smiled back at him from his phone screen. It had been three
weeks since he last saw her and he missed her. No amount of excitement about Zella or disappointment about not pitching could ease that longing. Baseball and Zella had kept him from thinking non-stop about the legal proceedings, but he was still very focused on Brynn and spending more time with her. Once he got that sorted out, he knew he’d face the task of fitting everything in – especially if things with Zella worked out – but he couldn’t worry about that now. He needed to get his arm healthy and prepare to present his case for fatherhood.
In other words, he had plenty of things to think about besides his impending date with Zella. He definitely needed other things to think about so he wouldn’t overthink it. Derek hadn’t been on a first date in more than ten years. His last first date involved his parents dropping him off at a movie theater, where he tried awkwardly to hold Keely’s hand, feeling success even when it lasted just five minutes. He couldn’t be certain, but he was pretty sure first dates were a little different at his current age.
By Thursday, he and Zella had arranged a day and time for their date, but he still needed to figure out where he wanted to take her. Reluctantly, he decided to ask for restaurant suggestions. He waited until he caught Reid alone after Sunday’s game. Surprisingly, Reid rattled off a list of a few great restaurants along with some reasoning for each selection without a hint of ribbing or teasing. He seemed to notice Derek’s surprise.
“I know I’ve given you a hard time, but I’m really proud of you,” Reid said. “I know this is a huge step. I’m happy for you.”
“Me or my dick?” Derek asked.
“Both of you,” Reid said, laughing.
He waited a beat until the laughter subsided.
“But seriously, Derek, I know this is a big deal for you, and even though I tease you, I swear I’m not making light of it,” Reid said. “I hope Zella realizes how lucky she is.”
“You’re not going to hug me now, are you?” Derek asked.
“Nah,” Reid said. “I just showered and you still stink.”
“I do not,” Derek protested.
He lifted his arm and sniffed himself.
“OK, so I don’t smell the best, but it’s not as bad as you made it sound,” Derek said.
“Whatever,” Reid said. “Just make sure you don’t smell like that when you pick Zella up for your date.”
Chapter Nine
Zella knew she was looking forward to seeing Derek again Monday morning for his next doctor’s appointment, but she had no idea how wound up she’d gotten until she spotted him parked at the curb outside the ballpark. By now it was a somewhat familiar scene, but this time her heart leapt more than it had the previous times. She smiled as she climbed in to his vehicle and he handed her a cup of coffee. During the drive, they talked a little about his road trip and what she’d been up to while he was gone – mostly work.
“Are you sure you want to go out tonight too?” she asked him.
“Of course I do,” he said. “Why would you ask that?”
“That’s a lot of time together in one day,” she said. “I don’t want you to get sick of me.”
“I’m really not worried about that happening,” he said.
“Well, I am. Obviously,” she said.
He reached over and took her free hand. He gave it a squeeze and then brought it to his lips, kissing the back of it.
“I promise you have nothing to worry about,” he said. “I haven’t even begun to spend enough time with you.”
Warmth filled Zella, and it wasn’t from the coffee or heated seats. If this was how he acted and talked on a non-date, Zella wondered how she’d keep from completely melting during their actual date that evening. She was already fighting the urge to lean over and kiss him senseless. And all he’d done was hold her hand and say a few nice words. If this was just a taste of what he’d be like on a date, she was likely to be a puddle of herself from the moment he picked her up. And that was not good. Well, it felt good, but she wasn’t sure this should be so easy. They’d gone from barely acquaintances to … whatever this was … in the span of just a few weeks. Was it too fast? Was this what people were referring to when they talked about flames and crashing and burning? Also, why were there so many fire metaphors when it came to love and romance?
Dr. Harrison seemed less surprised to see Zella with Derek this time around. Small talk was kept to a minimum, and he got right down to business examining Derek’s arm. He asked the same questions as he had during the last appointment, and Derek’s answers were slightly different this time. The dull ache was gone and he didn’t have any soreness after completing the prescribed daily exercises.
“Sounds good,” the doctor said. “I feel confident enough in releasing you from rest. Your pitching coach and training staff can decide how to ease you back in.”
Derek grinned. “Great. Thanks, Dr. Harrison.”
“You’re welcome, Derek,” Dr. Harrison said. “I’ll try to get to one of your starts this year to see that arm in action.”
“Hopefully that’ll be soon,” Derek said.
The men shook hands, and Derek and Zella headed out. He suggested breakfast again, but she insisted she should get back to the office.
“Plus, you’ll see me tonight,” she said.
“True,” Derek said. “Alright.”
She smiled at the slight disappointment in his expression and voice.
“I promise the wait will be worth it,” she said.
He perked up at her words and drove her back to the ballpark without further objection. Just like last time, she kissed his cheek before getting out of the car, and he watched her until she disappeared inside the brick building.
He called Ms. Marks to update her on his arm condition. After congratulating him, she said she would relay the message to the coaching staff and trainers so they could start a rehab plan for him.
Next, he called his parents and brother and filled all of them in on the situation. They expressed happiness for him and promised they would be at one of his first starts as soon as he was back in the majors. He knew they felt bad about missing Opening Day, and he’d been a little bummed, but he’d rather have them there for his return. Even if it was delayed by a month or so.
The positive news about his arm only added fuel to Derek’s already good mood. By the time he headed out to pick up Zella for their date, he was surprised his cheeks didn’t hurt from the hours and hours of smiling. He walked up to the apartment building dressed in black slacks and a button-down shirt. He’d gone back and forth between grey and deep purple. The latter was a callback to his college days, so he knew he looked good in the color. But he ended up going with the grey. It seemed more formal and practical.
He was second-guessing his choice while he waited for Zella to answer the door, but as soon as the door opened, he didn’t care what color he was wearing. He could only focus on her. He’d seen her in everything from business skirt suits to jeans to gym clothes, but nothing could have prepared him for the sight of her in a little black dress. It had straps thin enough to show off her incredible shoulders without looking flimsy and a neckline that showed enough cleavage without being indecent. The waistline accentuated the swell of her hips while high-heeled shoes and a mid-thigh hem worked in tandem to show off her toned and muscular legs. He’d previously admired them in gym shorts, but this was exponentially better.
“Is this OK?” she asked.
He looked up and realized he’d just been staring at her for several moments. He wondered how much time had passed.
“Better than OK,” he said. “You look amazing.”
“You clean up pretty nice yourself,” she said. “Let me grab my purse and a jacket, and we can go.”
As she retreated into the apartment, Derek was treated to the spectacular view of her legs, the curve of her lower back, and the sway of her hips. If Reid had any lingering worries about a particular part of Derek’s anatomy, it could be erased in that moment. He had to reluctantly look away from her and take a few deep
breaths to keep this date from being awkward before it even started.
Soon, she was at his side again, and he waited while she locked her apartment door. In these moments, he noticed her perfume. She smelled as good as she looked, which didn’t help much with his problem. He again worked to calm his body down. When her door was secure, she took his arm and they walked out of the building, where he opened the door for her and then held her hand to help her into the car.
Conversation was a little more strained on the way to the restaurant than it had been that morning. He asked her about the rest of her day at work and told her about the rehab schedule the pitching coach had sent him earlier that day. They were talking, but the comfort level was off. He supposed that was due to the added expectations of a date scenario, but he hoped the tension would ease at the evening went on.
The restaurant he’d chosen was “upscale but not snobby.” Reid’s words, not his. As they were seated, Derek held out her chair until she sat down and let her order first. It seemed to be going well, but he still felt nervous and on edge.
“Why are you so fidgety?” she asked him after he struggled to pick up his fork when dinner arrived.
“I need to confess something to you,” he said.
“OK,” she said.
“I haven’t been on a first date since I was fifteen. I’m not entirely sure how this is supposed to work,” he said.
She smiled and reached over, putting her hand over his shaky one.
“There’s no perfect formula for first dates or dating in general,” she said. “All that matters is that we have a good time.”
“And are you having a good time?” he asked.
“I am, but I’d like to see you relax a little more,” she said. “I like the Derek who argued with me over bullpen management. I like the Derek who sang along softly with Hanson on the 90s XM station – even though he didn’t think I could hear him.”
Derek smiled a little. He really didn’t realize she had heard him.
“This food is great, and you look terrific, but I would have been just as happy with something less fancy,” she continued. “You don’t have to try so hard to impress me. You already do.”
Behind in the Count: A Portland Pioneers Novel Page 15