And she almost melted into the floor. Her mouth went dry, and all she could do was shake her head. Then he handed her a deck. “Shuffle.”
When they were ready, he lay on his stomach facing her, and she did the same. “And now we begin. So, as you said, when we see a jack, we slap it, and the winner gets a kiss.”
She felt her face heat. What a teenager. But she grinned. “Ok, and the loser?”
“The loser has to tell.”
“Kiss and tell, I like it. Tell what?”
“Anything, something the other person doesn’t know.” His voice dropped, mysterious, “Something no one knows.”
Happy tingles ran up her back. She wiggled a little to get comfortable and held her cards out over their playing area.
“No, place the deck down in front of you. Use one hand to flip cards, the other to slap.”
“Okay. Picky.”
He shrugged. “Ya gotta play by the rules or it isn’t any fun.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s fun.”
He laughed, and she realized how she sounded, but she didn’t care. She was going to enjoy tonight.
They started flipping cards. They moved faster and faster until slam. He pounded his hand down on the Jack winking up at them.
She licked her lips and watched him, anticipation fluttering in her stomach. He scooted closer, over the top of the cards and pressed his lips to hers.
“Mmm.” She smiled. When he pulled away after two quick pecks, all she wanted was more. But he winked. “There are eight Jacks in this stack.”
She nodded. “And now I tell? Anything?”
He rested his cheek on his hand. “Anything, Bonfire. What’ve you got?”
What would she tell? She decided to play it safe. “I don’t really like chocolate.”
He waited. “That’s it?”
She cleared her throat. “Okay, um. I have an irrational fear of jocks?” She wanted to bite her tongue. Where did that come from?
“Now we’re getting somewhere.” He watched her for a minute. “So, are you afraid of me?”
“Not anymore . . . I don’t think. Should I be?”
He scooted around their cards and moved right up next to her. “Does this make you nervous?”
His face, inches from her own, she stared up into his eyes. And then slowly shook her head.
He ran a finger across her forehead, then across her lips. “Good.”
As he moved back to his place to resume their game she quipped, “You must not be a jock, then.” She laughed at his mock horror and placed her hand on her next card to flip.
“Ho ho. No, little darlin’. I’m all athlete. There are plenty of great athletes out there, but maybe you just haven’t met the right guy.” His eyes bored into hers, seeing things inside she had tried to hide. “Until now.”
She didn’t look away, couldn’t lose the moment. But then he said, “One, two, three, flip!” And they started up again, flying through the cards. Where’s the Jack? Where’s the Jack? Her heart raced, and she couldn’t wait to see another one. This time he flipped it from his stack and she slapped it so fast, he had to soften his follow-up so he didn’t smash her fingers. She could tell, and she appreciated it. “Yes!” She raised both hands in the air. Then lowered them, watching his face.
His eyes darkened, and she moved closer, snuggling up close to him until she was lying across his front, his face just above her own. He wrapped an arm around her back and moved his body so that he was on his side, pressed up against her. She reached up and placed her fingers at the back of his neck and watched him for a moment, staring into his eyes, letting her gaze linger down his slightly scruffy face, along his jawline; she studied the curve of his mouth. Then lifted up on her elbow and pulled him closer at the same time. Their lips met, and as his soft mouth moved over hers. She responded, meeting his gentle exploration with an increasing intensity of her own.
When he stopped, she pushed forward as he leaned back but he tipped his head and placed his forehead against hers. “Six more Jacks.” His breath sounded a bit ragged, but he grinned. “I’m catching the next one.”
“Oh no! You still have to tell.”
He pulled her closer again and nodded. “True. I forgot. Let’s see.”
She watched his face, saw a tightness there, and suspected he had secrets. Some he might be willing to tell and others he might hope to hide forever. But he surprised her when he returned her gaze, looked deeply into her eyes and said, “I was adopted.”
Not that abnormal of an announcement, but she could tell there was more.
“Those children, at the centers. That was me until I was four years old. And I met my dad.”
Her heart warmed even more toward him, and she immediately understood his interest in the boys, in helping the children at the center. “I bet he fell in love with you on sight; you melted his heart.”
He grinned, and she saw a glimpse of the four-year-old troublemaker he might have been. “Every day I’ve tried to live up to his great love for me.”
She wanted to cradle him, comfort that tiny flash of insecurity that passed across his eyes. “It was so obvious to me how much he loves you. You two seem to have a wonderful relationship.”
His eyes warmed and the lines in his face relaxed. “We do. He’s the one I call first.” He paused and then he frowned. “Except one time I called you first.”
She nodded. “I called you back.” Then she waited. “You doing okay? They played Joe . . .”
He shrugged. “Not really great right now, but let’s just say I’ve been slammed into a reminder that baseball is not really a game, as we all had previously thought, but a very lucrative business, and I have to do my part on and off the field.”
“I can only imagine. I’m so sorry, Cole.”
He shrugged. “But none of that is gonna stop me from getting that next Jack. One, two, three . . .”
“Hey wait!” She scrambled out of his arms and missed being cradled next to him immediately. She took her place opposite. “Flip!”
They played for at least another hour until their flips were getting lazy, their cards a messy pile, and their kisses longer, until her lips felt chapped and her chin a bit roughed up from his scruff. Until all she wanted was to curl up next to him for the night, or take things where they shouldn’t go. And so they both stood up for a drink. She took a few steps to the kitchen, and he grabbed her around the waist, whirled her around and kissed her soundly again. “Why do you have an irrational fear of jocks?”
She looked down. “I’ve been burned before.”
He lifted her chin, a new sorrow in his eyes. “I’m sorry. You know I have messed around with my fair share of women, but they don’t want anything more from me than I want from them. It’s all an act. This, with you, is different.” His eyes spoke sincerity. His heart pounded next to hers. And she wanted more than anything to believe him. Maybe she could. She’d have to. After tonight, she didn’t know if she could ever let him go, and yet, he had to fly back. “I hope so. Tonight was special for me.”
He pulled her closer, rocking gently back and forth. “For me too.”
They moved to the kitchen, his arms wrapped around her whenever they could; they grabbed something to drink and leaned up against the counter. She had never felt something so natural and thrilling all at the same time. She laughed at herself. She just liked looking at him.
After a soda, he slipped on his jacket. “I’ve got to head back.”
“You gonna be okay? Are you flying tonight?”
“Yeah, I’ll just sleep on the plane, even after it lands. I’ll spend the night in the hangar.”
She felt sick to see him go. Already her heart ached for him. Oh boy. She was falling fast. But a part of her felt secure, hopeful. Maybe, just maybe, he would be all he promised.
Chapter 16
Cole’s phone rang as he ran back out to the limo. A number he didn’t recognize. But it was late at night, so he took the call.
“Mr.
Hunter?”
“Yes.”
“This is Dr. Flanagan at Dallas County Emergency room.”
“Oh no, what’s wrong?”
“Your father was admitted just now. He collapsed earlier today. His friend found him and he’s stable. But they’re running the usual tests, and already two have come back irregular.”
Cole’s lungs clenched so tight he had to force air in through his mouth. “Is my mom there?”
“Yes, she’s with him, but they asked that I call you.”
“Thank you. I’ll get there as soon as I can.”
He raced to the limo, calling for the driver to go as quickly as possible to the airport.
His mom picked up on the first ring. Her weak and wavering hello brought immediate tears to his eyes.
“Mom. You doing okay?”
“Hi, Cole. Honey, it’s Cole. Your father can’t respond right now, but his eyes light right up like they always do when you call.”
The lump in his throat grew. “Mom, I’m coming.”
“Oh, honey. You don’t need to come. Wait, your dad is nodding. Honey, you want Cole to come? Yes, you better come then. Will that be all right with your baseball?”
“Don’t worry about it at all, Mom. I’ll be there in a few hours.”
“Okay, thank you. Bye now.”
He left a message with the team secretary updating her on the situation. He knew this couldn’t be good for his relationship with Stacy, but if the man had no heart, no care at all for family emergencies then that clinched it for Cole. He was done with the Sea Rays. As soon as he could get things moving, the pilot was pulling out and down the runway, and he was in the air.
Not knowing what caused his father’s collapse was a nightmare. Thinking of his parents, having all this worry, made him ill. At least they had each other. His mom sounded older, more frail than he had ever heard her be. They were not the youngest couple, much older than his friends’ parents growing up, but he never minded. His dad still worked out, stayed active. His health had been the last worry on Cole’s mind. Until today. He wished he knew more.
After the longest flight from Massachusetts to Dallas he had ever been on, Cole landed and took off for the hospital.
When he arrived, his parents weren’t in the room, but the doctor walked in. “I’m happy to catch you.”
He stood and shook the man’s hand. “Dr. Flanagan?”
“No, he was the very capable ER doc. I’m the general doctor making rounds today, Dr. Kleman, and we’ve called in specialists. I think, due to the irregularities we are finding, we are going to need an oncologist.
Oncologist. “Cancer?”
He nodded. “It is very likely your father has developed an aggressive form of cancer. But we will know more this afternoon when a specialist can arrive. Is there someone you would like to request as a doctor? For today, I will have the doctor associated with this hospital begin the evaluation, and if there is someone who can receive her reports, that might be good to know soon.”
“But what area are we talking? What kind of cancer?”
“I can’t be sure and don’t want to give the wrong information. We will know once the scans come back.” He reached for Cole’s hand again. “I am sorry to have to tell you this news. But know that with today’s medical knowledge and treatments, there is hope that he can be treated and recover.”
Cole nodded, drinking in the doctor’s words. How could this have happened to his father, his larger-than-life, everything-in-the-world dad, who had always been the strong one? He slumped into the chair that was pushed over as close as possible to the side of the bed. His mother’s spot, he guessed. They were a remarkable couple—supportive, loving to each other, good to him. For the millionth time in his life, he counted his blessings that they had taken him in. And loved him.
The door opened wider, and he jumped to his feet as the top of his father’s head came into sight. They wheeled his bed into the room, and four people transferred him back onto the bed in their room.
Once he was situated and the staff had left them alone, he kissed his mother and his father reached for his hand.
“Son, thank you for coming.”
“This is the worst, Dad. Did you even know anything was wrong?”
“No, silent bugger took me by surprise.” He reached for his wife’s hand too. “Now, we don’t know what we’re gonna hear. We don’t know how bad, but no matter what they say, I want you two to promise me that you’ll be strong, that you’ll take care of each other, and that you’ll not be too sad about any of it.” His dad reached for a cup and sipped some water.
Cole had never heard him talk like this and he recognized a man’s last words. A knot tightened in his gut.
His dad’s eyes twinkled. “I’ve lived an exceptional life. Cole, your mom and I couldn’t have children of our own, as you know, and what we had together was special, amazing even before you came. But when we found you, when we added you to our duo, we at last felt complete. We’re a family. You were meant to be ours, and we’ve been grateful every day since. If I go now, or soon, I’ll be a happy man with the life I’ve lived.” His head fell back against the pillows, and for the first time, Cole recognized the new fatigue.
His mother nodded and stared up at him with shining eyes. “I love you two men more than I could love anyone. Now, stop with this nonsense talk. You’re too tough to go walking out of here without a fight. This world needs more Mr. Hunter, and that’s for sure.”
Cole chuckled. He loved his parents. “Dad, you’re not going anywhere. We’ll do whatever it takes.”
“Now, son, let’s hear what the man has to say, and then you need to hightail it out of here. Let’s not give that Mr. Stacy any more reason to think your backside needs to be keeping the bench warm.”
“I can stay, Dad. It’s finally a good reason to have Joe around.”
He shook his head. “No. I’ll be fine. All that’s gonna happen is we’ll get some kind of news. Then there’s nothing more to be done until we come up with our plan of attack.”
Cole’s face must have shown his resistance because his father held up a hand. “I’ll hear nothing more about it. Come on back day after tomorrow when you have a break.”
“All right, Dad. I’ll head back, probably. Let’s just hear what the doctor has to say first.”
They waited for what felt like hours on end, played some gin rummy, laughed about old times, joked about all the crazy stuff he did as a kid.
“You know, being here in the hospital brings back all sorts of memories. I swear when we walked into the ER today I had flashbacks of your eighth grade year.” His Dad placed a card down on the discard pile.
Cole’s eighth grade year had been a year of injuries. He’d played football in the fall and baseball the rest of the year; it seemed like one thing after the other. If it wasn’t on the field, he was messing around with his buddies, doing something dumb and getting hurt that way. “You guys really put up with a lot in me.”
His mom put her hand on his, just like he knew she would. “You were worth every second. I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
“I’d have you without a few of those injuries and fewer broken bones, but we’re stuck with what we got, aren’t we?” His dad chuckled and then laid down the winning hand.
“Gah! Do you practice this when we’re not around? Uncanny luck.”
The radiologist and the oncologist entered. They shook hands, got straight to the point. His dad had pancreatic cancer. The prognosis wasn’t good. But there were treatment options available.
With head reeling and heart pounding sporadically, Cole tried to comprehend what his dad was up against. And he wouldn’t admit it was unconquerable. “We will work through this, Dad. We’ll kick cancer’s butt out the window.”
“Watch your mouth. Your mother’s listening.” His father’s mouth lifted on one side and Cole knew this was tough on him.
The doctors left, and the three made calls and arrangements
to be treated in the best cancer center in the country. And then sat quietly, son and wife on either side of the giant hero in their lives, each holding a hand while he slept.
Cole caught his mother’s eye. “Mom,” he whispered.
Her eyes smiled back at him.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, son. It’s going to be okay.”
Her frail words of comfort filled him with strength. The irony of her small hand reaching for his and barely wrapping around a part of his palm was not lost on him. “You are a giant, Mama.”
She nodded, but her eyes welled.
He reached across and placed a hand over top of hers and his dad’s. “Mom. We’ll fix this.”
She nodded again, and he returned to his seat and their silent vigil.
His phone scrolled through streams of missed texts on the other side of the room. He saw it light and the movement every time he looked in that direction. But he refused to take a look, refused to interrupt this time with what was probably a stream of diatribe from Skip or Mr. Stacy, or maybe it was well wishes. But even those felt secondary to this moment, to the strength he felt and offered here in the room. The only person who could have made the scene complete would have been Harlow. But even for her, he hesitated. This moment was about his parents who had given him everything. He committed right then and there, whatever it took, he would do it to help his dad, to live up to his dreams for Cole and baseball, to be there for his mom. His very life was dedicated to his father, even if that meant meeting Mr. Stacy’s ridiculous expectations.
Chapter 17
Harlow checked her phone for the twentieth time during the last sixty seconds. Why wouldn’t Cole answer? When she saw in the press that he wasn’t at practice again, she began to worry, and the guilt grew. She had tried to reach him more times than a normal person would have called another. She couldn’t do it again, but she was desperate to talk to him, and she felt like a horrible clingy girlfriend from high school. But what if she had ruined his career? What if he was getting kicked off the team? What if last night had been too much and he wanted out? And the worst question, what if he was with his other girls and last night meant nothing at all?
Falling for Centerfield Page 11