AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, that’s not it.” I run my hand down the leg of my jeans. “I’m dyslexic.”
I’m not sure how I expect her to react, but an immediate look in her eyes that reminds me of respect more than anything else hits me in the middle of the chest and my remaining defenses evaporate with nothing more than the release of a deep breath.
“I didn’t know that.”
“Not many people do.” I sit on a barstool, my thigh muscles screaming to give them a rest.
Eyes locked on one another, the thrum of energy that is always there between Chloe and me intensifies. She knows my secret, knows my weak spot.
“Finn.” Reverence mingles with gratitude, her voice a comfort I’m growing addicted to. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, you know. God, if anything you should feel incredibly proud of your accomplishments.”
“I do.”
“But?”
I don’t want to have a full-on discussion with her. This is my least favorite topic of conversation and yeah, I’m not sweating at the moment, but I could be soon. I come from a family of accomplished men and women who graduated from top universities with masters and MBAs, and because I’m the only one not working for the family business in some way, it’s often difficult to consider myself worthy.
“You know,” she says, filling the silence. “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.”
We grin at each other. I’d venture it’s the biggest smile I’ve worn in a long time. That Chloe has tossed out a Yogi-ism to shred the remaining unease in the pit of my stomach cements her place on my shortlist of people I can trust.
“Seriously,” she says, “most people don’t realize how clever and shrewd baseball players have to be in order to be successful.”
“We are an intelligent bunch,” I agree.
“And millions of people have difficulties with learning. You’re not the only one.”
“I know that, too.” I run a hand through my damp hair. “But I am in the minority when it comes to my family tree. I’ve been under a microscope since the day I was born and while my family never made me feel ashamed or unintelligent, I didn’t want any more unwanted attention. So much of my life has been public; certain things I needed to keep private. Growing up wasn’t easy. I struggled in school and was made fun of. People I thought I could trust turned out to be two-faced. No one cared about me. They cared about my status, off the field and then on it.
“When I was drafted right out of high school, that was my ticket to freedom. From a girlfriend who used me and said cruel things, friends who didn’t understand me, and my own doubts about my intelligence. I couldn’t read well, but I could hit a baseball and field better than any other eighteen-year-old in the country.”
“So you put your dyslexia in a box and sealed it away.”
“Basically, yeah. When I can take my time and my body is well fed and strong, my threshold for confusion is pretty high, so I do okay. When I’m stressed or overly tired the scale tips away from my favor.”
“I’m a stressor for you,” she says with sweet concern.
“Sometimes. But that’s okay.”Because you also drain all the tension from my body.
“That’s good since you’re stuck with me. I won’t, however, ambush you again like I did this morning.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“I appreciate you telling me more about yourself. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You didn’t read the nasty tweet, or my response, did you?” she asks without judgment.
“I caught a word or two. The upside to all this is very little of what is printed about me, bothers me.”
“I don’t want you kept out of the loop, though, Finn. Let me know how I can keep you informed of things without bothering you.”
“You’re doing fine. Best social media manager I’ve ever had.” I wink at her. “You eat breakfast this morning?” I ask, ready to move on. I pull a pan out, put it on the stove.
“You cook?”
“Don’t sound so surprised.” I look over my shoulder at her. “But don’t get your hopes up too high either.”
