1. All characters are 18+
2. No characters resemble real people
3. Enjoy the fiction
*
Baseball Ch. 5 - Double Play
After Casey had stormed out, I had tried to call her, but she wasn't answering. I left her a message, "Baby, I'm sorry. That was over the line. Please call me back, we need to talk so we can figure this out together. I love you."
I waited that night for her to call me back, but she didn't. I finally drifted off to sleep on my couch around 2 AM. When I awoke around 8, I checked my phone. No missed calls, no texts. I tried to call her again, but again, she didn't answer.
I couldn't sit and stew too long. I had a game this evening. What if she was there? There was no way we could talk privately at the stadium. If I saw her, I'd have to pretend it wasn't killing me inside.
I skipped my normal afternoon workout there, instead opting to do some exercises and stretches in my apartment. Then I finally went to the stadium in time for the 5:00 call. I didn't see Casey in the hallways.
As usual, I was not starting, so Garcia could get the start at catcher. I had to suit up anyway and hit the bench. The weather was nice, at least. I looked around for Casey, but couldn't see her. She wasn't in her usual spots in the owner's box, or her first base side seats, or anywhere else I looked. I supposed she could be in the inside part of the box, hidden from view, if she was there at all. It was an additional punch in the stomach for me, knowing that Casey might not be watching the game at all.
----
I decided I needed to go to her apartment that night. It couldn't wait. When I knocked on the door at 11 that night, I heard what sounded like two female voices conversing on the other side. Finally, the door opened to reveal Lani. "Hi Johnny. Casey's not here."
"I don't believe you."
"Neither do I, but that's what she wanted me to say."
I looked in and saw Casey's bedroom door shut. "I'm guessing she doesn't want to talk to me. But I want to leave a message. I love her, and I want to work this out. But I hate having to share her with someone else. It's eating at me."
"I get it," Lani said. "I'll deliver the message."
"Thanks."
"And for what it's worth, I'm on your side."
That was a little bit surprising. I guess I had assumed Lani would side with her best friend. "Thanks. I really hope she'll call me."
"I'll try to convince her."
----
I played in the game Wednesday night, but did poorly. I went hitless in four at-bats. Worse, there was still no sign of Casey.
I finally got a text from Lani on Thursday morning. "No luck yet."
"Has she been going to the games? I know it's her favorite thing, and I'd hate to think she's missing out because of me."
"She's been working in the upper offices, but leaving before the game starts."
That explained that. Thursday's game, I sat on the bench again. I finally saw Casey but she was up in the box, with her father. She never once looked down at the dugout. Maybe she was embracing the life of living in the ivory tower. But at least she was back. She loved baseball, and I didn't want to stand in the way of that.
I sat out Friday night too, and would have played Saturday, but it got rained out. I played Sunday instead. My performance at the plate was awful again. After I struck out with bases loaded, I came back to the dugout and saw Chuck frowning and shaking his head.
Later, he came and found me. "Something's bugging you, isn't it?"
"Yeah, some personal stuff going on."
"Anything you want to talk about?"
No way could I talk about this with Chuck. "Not really, but I appreciate the offer."
"Okay. Well, figure it out soon."
We went on the road and I tried to snap out of my funk. I did get a lucky grounder past the third baseman, snapping my hitless streak. It seemed to be good enough for Chuck. But I didn't get any calls or messages from Casey.
I finally got a call on Sunday after the game, but it was from Lani. "Hey, I have a plan..." she started.
----
The IronPigs gave a charity luncheon every year, to earn money for local women's shelters. Every player was 'highly encouraged' to dress up and attend, showing solidarity for the cause, and rub elbows with the local elites. Players attended for free, but many brought dates and paid for their tickets out of their own pockets.
This year, the luncheon was on Saturday. I spotted Casey as soon as I walked in. She was up at the front of the banquet hall, Landon's arm hooked around her. She was stunning in a fancy blue gown, and matching heels.
She was glad-handing some wealthy donor when she saw me come in, dressed in my tuxedo, with Lani on my arm. Casey's eyes went wide, seeing me with her best friend, who was a knockout in a dark green dress.
Lani was accompanying me as a friend, of course. It had been her idea. Casey had told her about how jealous she'd been when she saw me in a bar, kissing a woman named Lola I had just met. Lani's instinct was dead on: as soon as Casey saw me with another woman, especially with a woman she knew, she'd flip her lid. Even from across the room, I could tell she was visibly irritated.