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“You don’t,” he responds, dropping to sit next to me. “But the wife and kids know it’s part of the job.”
“A part that I never gave much thought to until I had someone to leave behind.”
He gives a knowing nod. News of Avery and me hasn’t exactly been kept quiet around the clubhouse, so Dundee knows damn well what I’m talking about.
With an encouraging pat on the shoulder, he says, “But that someone who makes leaving hard, makes coming home even better. So, get your head in the game, Lowe.”
“Will do.”
Eventually.
Hopefully.
Me: Plan on watching the game tomorrow?
Avery: Yes.
Me: Reading-watching or watching-watching?
Avery: The latter. Probably.
A smile stretches across my face. It helps get my head in the game knowing she’ll be watching.
Grabbing my bag, I head out to board the bus that will take us to the airport. Even if my head is in the game, I already can’t wait to step off this bus next week, knowing she’ll be waiting for me.
25
AVERY
There’s no chance any book could pull my attention away from watching Carter on TV right now.
“Yourregular guyis looking pretty nervous right now.”
I slap Bodie’s shoulder but keep my eyes glued on Carter. Ugh—he’s right though. There’s hesitation in Carter that I haven’t seen from him before. I squint, watching as he removes his hat and looks at something inside. He uses the sleeve of his jersey to wipe his brow before putting his hat back on, then settles into his stance before the windup.
“What’s in his hat?” I wonder aloud.
“Cheat sheet kind of, but totally allowed,” Bodie responds as Carter sends another pitch directly over the plate, untouched. Bodie clenches his fist in unison with the umpire’s gesture, calling the strike. Seconds later, Carter’s old teammate is out of the batter’s box, walking away from the plate back to the dugout. “Another inning down.”
We sit and watch the remainder of the game, my attention fully focused until Carter’s last out in the sixth inning. When the Coyotes take the field in the seventh, another guy is on the mound, so my investment in the game wanes. The Coyotes take home the win, and I know that has to be a good feeling for him. It must be satisfying to go there and prove what he needed to himself more so than anyone else.
“Your boy delivered.” Bodie slaps my leg, rising from the couch before stretching. “I’m gonna head home. Early morning.”
“Same.” Never could have predicted I’d be up late watching a baseball game of all things on a school night.
“You know, if anything, I’m grateful Carter has you watching the games without complaint.”
“I’ll remember that next time.” And I’ll be sure to find something to complain about just because.
Lying in my empty bed, I’m having a hard time falling asleep when my phone lights up with a message I’m way too happy to see.
Carter: So was it a watching-watching night?
Me: Yes. The first two-thirds of the game definitely captured my attention.
Carter: Awesome. Are you gonna be up for a while?
I shouldn’t be.
