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“Shit, bro.” I put my head in my hands. “When did we turn into these guys?”
“It’s all Shane’s fault. He started this looking all in love and happy.” I chuckle. “I need a beer,” he says, moving to the fridge. “You’re going to call her tonight and figure this shit out so that at least one of us can have hope.”
I laugh. “You’ve got weeks. You might think about doing something with it. I can’t stand spending any more time with you like this.” I point at him. “You all pouty and pissy is just…gross and annoying as hell.”
“Whatever, you’re getting a home-cooked meal out of it. It might taste like ass, but it was made with love, and you’re going to think of me when you heat up leftovers.”
Chapter 35
ANDIE
I kiss Ax’s head, carefully laying him down in his crib. I watch him breathe and run my finger over his soft, chubby cheek. His dark hair is barely long enough to show some curl, and it makes me so happy.
My phone rings in the other room, and I quickly move to pull the door almost closed. I reach for my phone on my bed, hoping it’s Sean. It’s time to be a big girl and get this conversation over with. I don’t know what that conversation is precisely, but I know it involves talking.
Like I conjured him up with my thoughts, it’s him.
“What are you doing?” I have no idea where to start, so I jump right in.
“Calling you.” His voice is soft and unsure, and I don’t like that’s where we are, and I know it’s my fault.
“Whhhhhyyyyy?” I draw it out in tease.
“Beeeeecaaaauuuuse I don’t know why I’m not supposed to call you.”
I can almost see that pretty boy face brightening with that response. “Ummmm, maybe because I could jeopardize your career.”
“I’m not accepting that. I don’t care what other people want or what they say, and that includes Doug. We’re the ‘not giving ashit’ team, remember?” He’s right. We are that team. “Listening to what other people think and want got me into trouble. When I’m on the job, that’s one thing. Off the field, that’s not happening anymore.”
“Sean, this is everything you’ve worked for.” I hear him push out a breath. “You have your life, and I have mine with Ax.”
“We’re friends, Andie. They can’t tell me who I can be friends with.”
“We’re not friends. We worked together, and now it’s done.” I try to say it with conviction, but I’m pretty sure I failed.
“I know we’re not friends, and you don’t like me all that much, but Andie, you’re one of the few real things in my life. You are real with me.”
“At all.”
“What?”
“I don’t like you at all.” I clarify, teasing him.
“I know, but I like you, and you are my friend. Not Doug or anyone else is going to tell me otherwise.”
“Sean, I don’t give two diddly dos about what that jerk says. This isn’t about him. It’s about you. It’s about what you’ve worked for and everything you’ve overcome to get where you are. That shouldn’t be taken away over a bunch of lies. You can’t just throw that away for something silly like this. You’re doing the thing you love with a team that depends on you. It’s not just about you and me.”
“Andie–”
I cut him off. “Pretty Boy, you really want to be friends with someone who doesn’t like you so bad that you’re willing to get traded because of it? To start over with a new team in a new city? To possibly lose the thing you fought tooth and nail for when you had nothing else?”
“Andie, if they trade me, it’s not because of you, and even if it was…I’d pick you.”
Oh bugger. He had to go there. “I don’t want you to lose anything because of me.”
“First of all, none of this has anything to do with you. I’m pretty sure whatever is going to happen with the Tigers is probably already decided. My agent is meeting with them tomorrow. He’s also making it clear that my personal choices outside of my contract are off-limits to them. If they don’t like it, it’s too damn bad. They can ship me off to another team.”
“Will you promise me something?” No matter what Sean and I ever end up being, I can’t be the reason everything he’s worked for falls apart.
