Hotbox

by Delia Delaney

  I headed over to the ball field around eleven to watch the game that would determine third and fourth place. It so happened that we would be playing Garrett Freeman’s team for the championship game. They had battled themselves back from the loser’s bracket to face us one more time, beating both the teams that were now playing. His team was actually at the ballpark too, and we were careful to sit a distance away from them past third base, just so Aaron’s big mouth wasn’t accidentally heard by any of them. However, Garrett made an effort to gossip and point at us like a fifth grade schoolgirl.

  Jayden’s call around eleven-thirty was to see if I missed her.

  “Of course I do. What are you doing?”

  “Well,” she sighed, “Cali was supposed to be done at noon and we were going to go shopping, but now she’s held up and won’t be done until two.”

  “Bummer. Sorry about that. What about your dad? Maybe you two could go to lunch?”

  “He actually got called into work about an hour ago. He never knows how long he’ll be.”

  I would have told her to call Chris (just to be fair) but I knew he was out on the boat with friends for the day.

  “I’d love for you to join me if you want,” I said. “I’m just not sure how much baseball you can take.”

  She laughed. “I could take as much as you offer. Are you inviting me?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Okay. Are you sure I won’t be interrupting ‘team time,’ ” she teased.

  “Nah. Besides, Megan’s here, too. Come join us—at least until Cali is done,” I added.

  “Mmm, okay. See you in a bit.”

  I was excited she was coming, but I wondered why my attempts to separate us for a day had failed. Maybe we were just meant to spend the time together, so I decided to be grateful for all the time I had with her.

  Fifteen minutes later I heard something that made my stomach sink: the sound of vile guys trying to get the attention of a really hot girl, only I knew which really hot girl it involved.

  “Uh, Ty…” I heard Jesse say.

  I was already looking toward the sound and then I saw her, stopped by a couple of guys from Garrett’s team. One of them was blocking her way, and I could tell by the look on her face he was saying something pretty offensive.

  I hopped down the bleachers without a thought. There was sound behind me but I had no idea which of my teammates decided to back me up. Garrett’s team stood up to face me just as Jayden slipped by their barrier.

  “Ty, don’t worry about it,” she said to me, lightly pushing me back. “Come sit down with me, okay?”

  “That’s your pretty little girlfriend, Huntington?” Garrett sneered.

  He knew she was; he saw us together the day before.

  “The hot chick that sang the anthem?” he added. “I must admit… I’m a little jealous.”

  “Ty,” Jayden said firmly. Finally I looked at her. “Don’t bring your team into this, okay? Save it for the game.”

  I then realized my entire team was standing behind me. Had the circumstances been different, and getting into a brawl with another team wouldn’t disqualify us, I would have tossed him off the bleachers right then and there. But Jayden was right, and she was pleading with her eyes for me to let it go.

  I turned around and we headed back to our seats. Of course we heard them call us all kinds of names, but we sat down and didn’t say anything. Even Aaron didn’t say anything, but the look on his face told me he’d love to pound on any one of them. As a team we had been lectured so many times about our conduct toward other teams; our coaches took pride in the fact that we had a good reputation throughout the division.

  “You okay?” I asked Jayden after we sat down.

  “I’m fine,” she almost growled. “Don’t do that again.”

  “Do what?”

  “Start a fight because some guy is a jackass. You could have gotten yourself kicked out of here.”

  I was surprised by how upset she was.

  “Start a fight? I’m sorry, but I’m not gonna let some jackass treat you like that. It’s unacceptable.”

  “Well I’m not going to let you get in trouble for my sake. Nothing would have happened with all these people around. Guys just like to say crap and…just…never mind,” she said softly. “Let’s forget about it, okay?” She sighed and looped her arm through mine, resting her head against my shoulder.

  I wasn’t ready to forget about it.

  Cali did call Jayden around two, just after the game was finished up. She kissed me to leave but I said, “Oh, no way. You’re not walking to your car by yourself.” Garrett and his team were still nearby and I wasn’t taking any chances.

  When she drove away to meet up with Cali, I rejoined the guys on the bleachers. They were talking about heading somewhere to eat, so we ended up at Time Out.

  “Hey, there!” Howard greeted us as we took our usual tables. “Big game tonight, huh? I think I’ll be able to get outta here and make it. Where’s that beautiful girl of yours?” he asked me.

  “Hopefully causing trouble somewhere else,” I heard Aaron mumble.

  “Uh, she’s with a friend,” I replied.

  “You still seeing her?”

  I smiled and answered, “Yeah.”

  “Good for you, kid. She’s the best. Now, I can’t say her pop is so easy going. I hope you get him on your side,” he chuckled.

  Fat chance. Her dad was my biggest nightmare.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I don’t know, I have a bad feeling about this,” Jesse said, peering at Garrett and his team warming up on the field. “Something’s gonna happen.”

  “Oh, relax,” Jack told him. “Garrett’s a pansy; he just has a big mouth.”

  I sighed and shook my head. “Let’s just play baseball, guys.”

  Aaron had to laugh and say, “Look at him checking out your girlfriend, Ty.”

  I glanced over and unfortunately he was right. Garrett had a sick smile on his face at shortstop as he watched Jayden arrive with Cali to sit above our dugout. He looked over at us and very subtly made a rude gesture.

  “You dumbass,” Devin said. “Why are you trying to get Ty going?”

  Aaron only laughed again.

  I tried to shake it off and just focus on the game. Thankfully Jayden smiled at me and blew a kiss, and I was able to relax after that.

  “Hey, son,” a voice called from the fence. It was my father, and I was completely blown away to see him there. “You have girls blowing you kisses from the stands, huh?”

  I smiled as I made my way over. “Uh, just one.”

  “Your girlfriend?” He returned his eyes to the bleachers and smiled. “Wow, she’s a beauty. What’s her name?”

  “Jayden.”

  “Jayden?” he asked. “Isn’t that a boy’s name?”

  I chuckled. I had no idea and I didn’t care.

  “Will I get to meet her?” he asked eagerly.

  I quickly considered it. He was completely sober, dressed decent, and was presentable. It was a rare occasion.

  “Yeah, sure, Dad.”

  I looked to the stands and Jayden was looking my way. She smiled when I waved her over, so she excused herself past Cali and Megan and made her way down.

  “Wow, she’s even prettier up close,” my dad murmured just before she arrived.

  “Hi,” she said to my dad. “You must be Ty’s father. I’m Jayden.” She shook his hand.

  “Cliff,” he replied with a big smile.

  “It’s very nice to meet you.”

  The game was called to begin, so while she was down there, I made sure I got a kiss from her before I joined my team in the dugout. It put another goofy smile on my dad’s face, and I realized that he had probably never even seen me with a girlfriend before. Growing up, I’d hardly even had any of my friends around him.

  He and Jayden stood there talking for another minute after I left, and finally I could tell she invited him to go sit with her. I was okay wi
th it because my dad was a pretty nice guy when he wasn’t drunk. And I was also comforted by the fact that he would never make her go through anything close to what I went through with her father.

  There was a lot of tension during the game; you could feel it in the air. Coach Tucker heard about what had happened earlier from a parent in the stands. We got a nice chewing out two hours before the game in the batting barn. Not for what had transpired in the stands, but as a warning for the upcoming game: “If I see anyone starting any kind of trouble, even just a word of trash talk, you will sit on the bench the entire game. I don’t care if we lose; I will not have it on my team.”

  Jonah had a great pitching game, and he struck out six of their first eight at-bat. I got out on my first hit, a pop fly to center field. Jesse and Devin both got on base, but we weren’t able to get them all the way around. The game was still scoreless in the fourth inning. I finally got a base hit, and Jack—being the fifth batter that night—got a walk. It put me right next to Garrett Freeman off of second base.

  “I met up with your girlfriend earlier,” he said, just loud enough so I could hear. “She was a pretty good score behind the bleachers. You gettin’ any of that action, Huntington?”

  I concentrated on Alex at bat.

  “Don’t be surprised if she screams out my name from now on. Sorry about that.”

  Strike one. I walked back to my base. I glanced at Jack at first base and I could tell he knew Garrett was talking crap. He was plotting his slide into second base if it came to that, and Garrett would have to watch his legs.

  “She’s pretty kinky. You know what she likes me to do?”

  The ball was hit so I took off running. It was foul. With one out, I saw coach signal for a bunt. It was time to get around these bases.

  Garrett ended up saying something more vulgar than I was used to even hearing from Aaron. I was so glad that ball was bunted perfectly as I took off for third base, and Alex took the sacrifice out at first. I took a deep breath, glad for the break from Garrett’s filthy mouth.

  I looked down the line to home plate and almost wished Jesse or Jack was in my place instead. They were quicker than I was. I wasn’t slow—I fourth on our team for speed—but either of them would have made this next play look a lot easier. I glanced at Jayden in the stands. She had her hands clasped together against her mouth, nervously waiting to see how the inning played out.

  Paul was up to bat next. He had to get a hit, any kind of hit, for us to even have a chance at scoring. On the 3-2 pitch, he blazed a grounder past the pitcher. I’d already taken off on contact, watching the catcher’s reaction to the incoming ball. He was just about to receive it, so I dove for the plate to the outside of him, and stretched my hand for the base as I slid. It hurt like hell when he came right down on me a second late, but all I wanted was to hear that four-letter word…

  “Safe!”

  I peeled myself off the ground and spit the dirt out of my mouth. It’s always nice to hear the crowd cheer for a great play, but it was especially nice to see Jayden standing up like she always did. And my dad was standing there clapping with her. It was an odd scene because I was suddenly thinking about the rest of my life with her. Married.

  I was in somewhat of a stupor when I brushed myself off and returned to the dugout. Maybe I’d had the wind knocked out of me. Probably. I was hallucinating if I thought Jayden would marry me. I hadn’t even told her that I loved her; how would I ever have the courage to hand her a ring?

  What was I even thinking, anyway? I’d known her for about four weeks and I already wanted to marry her? I was losing it. There were never any girls that I even wanted to date for four weeks. I would probably scare Jayden away if she knew what was in my head. Besides, her father would probably have me dead before that ever happened.

  “You okay, Ty?” Coach asked. “You look a little…distressed.”

  “No, I’m fine. Just a bit sore.”

  “You okay to catch?” he asked with concern.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” I assured him.

  He paused for a moment before patting me on the shoulder. “Nice play, Ty.”

  I put on my catcher’s gear and was ready to go just as we received our third out.

  By the final inning we were up 2-1. Every play became a battle and the game was very intense. I had been walked twice—once because the pitcher pegged me with the ball. Their relief pitcher was Todd Whitman, one of the guys that had stopped Jayden on the bleachers the day before. His smugness was unmistakable; he wanted me to know he did it intentionally. I had to listen to more of Garrett’s comments both times around the bases.

  When Jesse was up to bat, I could see it in his eyes that he meant business. It was no surprise that he cracked one past the center fielder. It hit the fence and bounced back in, but Jesse was already heading to second base. The ball came into second as Jesse slid under the baseman and the umpire called him safe.

  After Aaron struck out, I stepped up to the plate, prepared for another walk. I was surprised that I was actually going to be pitched to instead. I guess Todd thought I would be so worried about being pegged again, so he was hoping for a strikeout. That first throw was an inside curve ball, and it came right at me before it curved over the plate for a strike—as I knew it would. But I wanted the inside fastball that he would be throwing next, and sure enough, it came right to my liking. All it took was perfect timing, and the ball sent itself out of the park.

  Garrett didn’t say a single word on my way past him.

  We held the game at 4-1. It was great that we took first place, but it was even more gratifying that it was them that we beat. We closed up the tournament and gathered our things. Coach Tucker let us skip an after game meeting and even told us to take Tuesday off. Our next regular game was scheduled for Saturday.

  Jayden was waiting for me at the railing, and even my father was still around.

  “Wow! Great game, kid!” he said to me.

  Jayden smiled, waiting for me to kiss her. I tried not to get too close because I was so filthy, but she gave me a big hug anyways.

  We talked about the game for a little while until my dad said he needed to go so he could get up for work in the morning. He gave me a hug and whispered, “She’s amazing; don’t let her go.” He turned to Jayden and told her he enjoyed getting to know her.

  “You, too,” she replied. “I hope to see you soon.”

  “Dad,” I called, just as he was leaving. He turned to face me and I said, “I’m glad you could make it.”

  He knew what I was really saying, and he paused for a moment before he left with a nod.

  I looked at Jayden and smiled. “Did you get the inside scoop on me?”

  “Oh, you have no idea,” she smiled back, wrapping her arms around my neck.

  “I’m really dirty, babe. You might want to—”

  She shut me up by kissing me, so I put my hands on her waist and enjoyed every second of it. Most of the stands were empty except for a few people here and there, but I didn’t care. Earlier thoughts flooded my mind and I knew I could easily spend the rest of my life with her.

  Finally she slowly pulled back and put her hands on my chest. “You taste like Gatorade,” she smiled.

  “You’re lucky I rinsed my mouth out. It was the only way to stop tasting dirt.”

  We walked toward the nearly empty parking lot hand in hand. Most of my team was gone, but I did see Jesse and Aaron nearby, and a few others that I knew. I also saw Garrett Freeman and two of his buddies, and I knew he was waiting for me. I wasn’t sure if he just planned on spouting off more trash, or if he would go even further, but I couldn’t avoid him before he saw us.

  “You still have nothing to say, Ty? Has the gag order been lifted?” He was walking toward us.

  “Go to the truck,” I told Jayden.

  She didn’t move as Garrett stopped in front of us.

  “What’s a girl like you cost, sweetheart? I bet you’re pretty high maintenance. What are you doin
g with trailer trash like him?”

  Aaron and Jesse were now at my side, but Garrett looked at them smugly. He knew the odds were in his favor; not in numbers, but because the guys he brought with him were bigger than my friends.

  “Any of you boys throw a punch, you’ll be sorry,” Coach Tucker said, arriving cautiously.

  Garrett’s expression changed slightly, debating what to say. Finally he looked at Jayden and quietly said, “You’re not even worth my time.”

  Before I knew it, Jayden took a step toward him and decked him right in the face! I couldn’t believe it. Apparently neither could anyone else because everyone just stood there and stared at him while he cursed and covered his eye.

  “You did say ‘boys,’ right Coach?” Jayden asked with a sweet smile.

  Aaron and Jesse started laughing, and I even saw Tucker trying to hide a smile.

  “You bitch!” Garrett growled at her. His friends were already walking away. “You have to have your girlfriend fight your battles, Huntington?”

  “No,” I chuckled. “I think she just finished her own battle.”

  “It’s time for you to leave,” Coach told him. “Get outta here, Freeman. And this doesn’t happen again,” he warned.

  Garrett threw one more disgusted look and turned to leave, and Coach Tucker looked sternly at the four of us that remained.

  “I’m sorry,” Jayden told him. “I’m just really tired of all the trouble he’s caused.”

  “Well,” he replied, trying to hide another smile, “I suppose I could let it slide this time. Now, you kids should get going. Goodnight.”

  When the coach was out of earshot Jesse said, “That was rad!” He and Aaron began laughing again and talking about it as they walked away.

  I couldn’t help but laugh a little when I gently pulled Jayden to me. “Come here, slugger.”

  “Since you don’t have classes tomorrow, is tonight still a weekend curfew?”

  I hadn’t thought about it. I was automatically taking her home since it was ten o’clock. And she was right; I was done with my Tuesday classes.