AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, of course, but if her stuff isn’t usable I’m not letting her move into a room with a bare bed Max.”
“Fair enough. Thanks Leecey.”
“Of course. How’s she doing?”
I hear Sutton down the hall, in her room, opening and closing drawers, packing up as much as she can to take back with her. A door slams, followed by a long, heavy sigh.
“Not great. But that’s to be expected.”
“Make sure she gets some rest tonight.”
“I will. I’ll let you know when we have travel plans figured out.”
“Good. Now go take care of her, Max.”
Who am I to argue with my little sister? After ending the call, I head down the hall and find Sutton sitting on the edge of her bed, phone pressed to her ear, a small smile on her face as tears roll down her cheeks.
“No, Mandy. You’re not flying out to get me….I don’t care that James has access to a plane…I won’t be alone…I’m not alone now…” Sutton looks up as I sink to the floor in front of her, holding out my hand for the phone, which she passes to me with a soft chuckle.
“Mandy, it’s Maxwell. I’m with Sutton.”
“Maxwell?Maxwell Harrison?”
“Know any other Maxwells?”
“Just the one…” there’s suspicion in Mandy’s voice. Time to get this conversation moving.
“How early can James be here in the morning?” I choose not to make eye contact with Sutton, knowing that she’ll try to fight us all on this.
“As early as you need him,” Mandy immediately answers. “He’s on the phone right now, ready to work on plans and clearances and whatever else he has to do.”
“Seven AM,” Sutton whispers, new tears rolling down her cheeks. “Have him come at seven.”
“Seven,” I relay to Mandy, as I lean in close to Sutton and brush her tears away with my thumb. “Just let me know what airport.”
“I’ll call you back once he has a plan in place. She’s my best friend Maxwell…you better take care of her.”
“I’m trying my best.” We end the call and I plug Sutton’s phone in on the nightstand before standing to my full height and holding out a hand to her. “Come on. Let’s eat. We’ll worry about the rest later.”
After dinner, Sutton and I clean up together. She packs up all the leftovers and sends them home with me, along with all the food left in her fridge. There’s only a week left of spring training and Roger has instructed her to take the rest of the time to get settled in before meeting us in Detroit for the season opener, and I’m not looking forward to saying goodbye to her in the morning.
“I need to return the car,” she sighs, rubbing a hand over her eyes. “Could we do that tonight?”
“Of course. You drive, I’ll follow.”
“Thanks Maxwell.”
The drive back from the airport takes us right past the training complex, and Sutton has me stop so she can pack upher office before she leaves in the morning. As she loads the small box into the back of my car, her eyes drift off to the nearby field.
“One last time?” I ask, the question loaded with so much more than Sutton realizes. Our last time taking spring batting practice together this year, likely my last spring training.
“Would you mind if we went for ice cream instead?” She asks, an uncharacteristically shy smile on her face. “I kind of feel bad for ruining your first date plans and after the last few hours I could really go for some ice cream.”
“Ice cream it is.”
We drive through at the local ice cream shop and take it back to Sutton’s place and eat it on the deck. Before long I’m walking home and slipping into bed only to wake a few hours later to drop Sutton at the airport.
“I’ll see you in Detroit,” I give her a curt nod and she presses a soft kiss to my cheek.
