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I take the long way back to my house. By the time I arrive home, the sun is long gone, and the stars are just beginning to peek through. Opening my door used to bring me peace and comfort, but today, walking through, all I feel is vast emptiness. The solitude I’ve grown so used to just doesn’t seem right anymore.
Fuck, what am I supposed to do?
Twelve
Three months later
My knees bounce as the plane wheels hit the tarmac. We just wrapped up our season yesterday, and I boarded a flight first thing this morning. The team played well this year, not playoff-worthy, but decent, nonetheless. But my stats aren’t what I'm obsessing over. No, what I'm going to say when I see Quinn is at the forefront of my mind.
This conversation has been coming for a long time now. The need to tell her how I feel is overwhelming me, especially after my conversation with Sloan. Deep down, I fear if I don’t do it soon, I will never get the chance to. I held off on telling her sooner because I was still in the depths of baseball season, and I would never want to dump all my thoughts and feelings on her and then fly hundreds of miles away to play ball. I couldn’t do that to her… she deserves better.
The families are all up at the Turner’s lake house for Labor Day weekend. Another tradition that’s been in place since we were young kids. No one knows I'm coming… it's supposed to be a surprise. One I'm hoping will have a big payoff.
While ordering an Uber, I notice several of my teammates have texted, asking if I'm in town this weekend. Apparently, The Dugout is throwing us an end-of-the-season party.
Lance Perry
Hey man, hope you’re ready to get lit tonight… we deserve it!
Me
Sorry Perry. Not going to make it. Hopefully next time.
Lance Perry
Well, you know where I’ll be if you change your mind.
Knowing I'm only an hour away from seeing Quinn has my nerves picking up again, my words on repeat in my head. Nothing is calming my racing thoughts as the car moves closer to our destination.
Fuck me, why does this feel like the hardest yet most exciting thing I’ve ever done.
My most recent chat with Sloan cemented my plan. She said that Quinn didn’t seem very happy in her relationship anymore. She said the summer sort of put things into perspective for her, or some shit like that. Sloan didn’t go into much detail about the rest of their conversation, but she basically gave me the green light.
Pulling up to the house, I grab my bag and head up the front steps. Dropping my stuff off in the hallway, I peek around the house and realize everyone must be outside already. It’s after twelve, prime time for fun in the sun.
When I step out of the sliding doors, I see my mom, Maddie, Vanessa, and Lydia, all lounging on the deck while the guys play an intense game of volleyball down by the water. I can hear Brayden and my dad’s taunts from up here. My heart drops a bit when I don’t see Quinn’s smiling face anywhere, but I know she’s here. She told me she would be, and apparently without Luke. He was going to be away on business.
“Why, hello, ladies,” I say, scaring them all half to death.
The screeches and cheers I get in return make my surprise visit worth it…so far.
“What are you doing here? I mean, I'm happy you're here, but why didn’t you say anything?” my mom chastises me before pulling me in for a big hug.
“Decided to surprise you all… besides, how could I miss out on a Labor Day weekend?”
“Would you look at that, two surprise visitors in one day,” Maddie says, her eyes set on mine with an expression that I don’t want to believe.
“Where’s Wes?” I ask Lydia, knowing her son was supposed to be here. That is because Sloan wasn’t on this side of the country at the moment. That’s their usual MO and has been for a while now. If one of the two is already planning on coming to an event, the other magically comes up with a lame excuse not to show face.
“Ahh, he had to stay and wait for the contractor to come and assess one of the bathrooms at the bar.”
“Oh, man, he didn’t get that fixed yet?” I reply. Poor bastard. Somehow, someone broke one of the toilets in King’s Hideaway and flooded the main bathroom, ruining the floors and everything.
“He said he’ll try to make it up at some point.”
“I hope so,” I say, grabbing a beer as I take a seat and try to wash away the thoughts racing through my mind from Maddie’s look earlier.
Taking out my phone, I shoot him a text.
