Page 2 of Grand Slam

Kelton

In the lastthree days I’ve had two realtors call me and one drop their card off at the front gate of the field. Apparently my sister has found me three houses and set up walk throughs.

I’m not sure she understands my schedule. It’s not like I can just reschedule games.

Alizabeth: Will you please look at this place?

Me: I have a better idea, you look at it.

I should have known that response would trigger a call.

“Can you explain how I’m supposed to house shop for you when I am more than seven hours away?” I may not be able to see her, but I know her nose is all scrunched up in the annoyed way she gets. She also has a hand on her hip and a scowl on her face.

“Get on a plane,” I say with a shrug as I lean back against the counter.

“It’s that easy?”

I chuckle at her tone, she seems so dumbfounded and confused. “Yeah.” I spin around and flip open my laptop. “I can have a ticket waiting for you, you pack for a few days, come look at some houses, and then tell me my new address.”

“You’re insane.” She knows how I am. I hate the busy work. “Are you serious?”

“I’ll be gone from the fifth through the eleventh. Got a stretch in Texas, but I’ll be back for the twelfth. It’s a day off.”

“One day off, yay!” she says sarcastically.

“Zach Bryan concert at the stadium.” I’m met with silence and I know it’s because she’s holding her breath and trying to determine if she heard me correctly. “Opening acts are the Front Bottoms and Kings of Leon.” Again silence. “I could get us in, we could make a day of it. Then you could stick around for a week or so. I’ve got games but you know I got you there.”

I hear some shuffling around.

“Liz?”

“I’m emailing my professors.” Instantly I smile. Being so far away from family is hard. I miss them all.

“Maybe Dad and Gran can come out for a game or two?”

“Yeah, yeah,” she shushes me making me laugh. “So I can be there on the eleventh, you’ll need to leave me a key and I’ll stay through the sixteenth, will that work?”

“Whatever you can make happen.”

“I’ll let Gran and Dad decide what game they want to catch and they can work that out with you. But I will need an extra ticket booked on the plane and to all shows and games too.”

“You got a boyfriend I don’t know about?” Not sure I’m ready to see that shit. My little sis all cozied up with some guy I’ll have to pretend to like for a week.

“No.” A sense of relief washes over me. “Emerson will be with me.”

It feels like my stomach drops to my feet.

“Does she know this?” I doubt she’ll be so open to spending a week at my place. The last time we talked she was left standing in the driveway in tears and I was climbing into the passenger seat of my dad’s truck as he drove me to the airport. It hurt more than I put on, but a clean break was easiest. Emerson was never just a girl, but I knew a relationship wasn’t possible.

“She doesn’t have a choice.” My sister isn’t completely aware of everything that took place between her lifelong best friend and me. It was brief, and one incredible fucking night, but then it was over. “I sent her the dates, I will tackle her and tie her up if I have to. We will be there, we will find you the perfect house and you will supply us with more fun than either one of us can take.”

It’s me this time that can’t seem to form the words. My heart is racing at the idea of seeing Emerson again. I won’t deny I haven’t checked out her social media a time or two. My sister always is sharing pictures where Em is at her side, stories of their time. The two have always been inseparable and as they grew older that hasn’t changed.

“Besides she lives in the room next to me, so it won’t be hard to pack her up and ship her out.” I smile, my sister can be very pushy.

“I’m also emailing the realtor. I’m going with Joey because he is so cute and I’d rather he show us houses than Noel. I think Noel has nose hair, it’s disturbing.”

“How do you know he has nose hair?”

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