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I can’t believe how pathetic I am. I told myself I’d be careful. I said I wouldn’t get my hopes up. But here I am, hopes high in the sky that he and I can overcome this hiccup in our relationship. I just don’t know how. I refuse to be the girl who slides things under the rug. I tried doing that with Victor, and all that got me was years of feeling stifled and not like myself. I won’t do it again.
“Carlee?”
I turn around and see Joshua jogging up to me.
“Hey,” I greet the friendly player with a genuine smile. “What’s up?”
“I was wondering if you could take a photo of me posted over the plate like I’m in an actual game?”
“Sure.” I take the phone he holds out to me. “Any reason why?”
“Dating profile picture. I want a candid photo,” he tells me as we walk towards first base.
“You’re on a dating app?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
He laughs, putting on his glove and adjusting his baseball cap. “Why do you think? To meet women.”
“But you’re…you.” I have nothing against dating apps. I think they’re great for people who are too busy or too timid or too… I don’t know…whatever… to meet someone organically, but a professional baseball player should have no trouble finding women to date. I’ve seen how women hang around the team’s hotel when we stay in different cities. Joshua’s also objectively attractive. He doesn’t strike me as someone who can’t charm a woman into going out with him.
“What does that mean?”
“You good looking and sweet,” I don’t hold back on the compliments. Something tells me he needs to hear them. “And you’re a professional baseball player, for goodness sake. Who wouldn’t want to date you?”
He flashes me a bright white smile. “I appreciate it, Carlee, but that’s the problem. A lot of women say they want to date me, but I have no idea if they’re interested in me for my personality, or what they think I can provide after my rookie contract ends four years from now.”
I never thought of that.
“So… what? You don’t tell women on the app who you are?”
“I share real things about me, like that I play baseball. Hence, the photo I want you to take. But I don’t straight out say who I am. Or that I’m a professional player.”
“Huh.” That’s an interesting strategy.
“Don’t worry, Carlee. I don’t lie to any of them. If they ask if I’mtheJoshua Chen who plays for the Lonestars, I’m honest. But that usually makes a legitimate connection dead in the water. Most women only care about my career at that point. None have ever shown an interest in me, personally, once finding out what I do for a living.”
“Wow… that sucks.”
He huffs a laugh. “Yeah, a little bit. Now, are we going to take this picture, or what?”
“Waiting on you, rookie.” I hold up his phone. I take pictures from different angles before suggesting, “You know, if you want to delay women finding out about your career while they’re getting to know you, you might not want a baseball photo as your profile picture.”
It seems like an obvious thought, but Joshua straightens and purses his lips. “Hm. I guess you’re right. It’s just that it’s usually a good conversation starter.”
“For cleat chasers, I’m sure.”
“Fair enough.” He nods. “What do you suggest?”
“Do you have any other hobbies you can showcase in a picture?”
“Not really.”
“Hm.” I think for a moment. “What about traveling?”
“I mostly travel just to see my family.”
