Page 28 of Grand Slam

“Every single day, at least twice,” she replies without even blinking. “And I don’t give a shit because I am who I am and I’m not changing for anyone.”

A smile tugs at the corner of his lips.

“And now for the part where you take us to my brother,” she adds.

“Might be better if we let him burn off some steam.”

Liz smiles, actually she laughs. “Well, big guy, I didn’t ask you for your opinion. You can drive us or we can take an Uber. I’m guessing Kelton would be pretty pissed off if you let us take option two.”

Jerry takes a deep breath, his shoulders vibrating and he chuckles low. Then he steps aside, holding his hand out for us to pass. When I do he leans in so only I can hear him. “He couldn’t take watching you leave.” I glance at him. “He’s stubborn, just like her. I was with him when he left Chicago. He may not have said it aloud, but walking away wasn’t as easy as it seemed. Just don’t be too mad at the guy for doing what he thought he needed to do in order to protect his heart.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Kelton

Somehow I thoughtthe field would make me feel better, but the longer I hit, the more anxious I become. I refrain from looking at my watch knowing that they are probably already on their way to the airport or worse, in the air flying back to Chicago.

I never expected this to be so hard.

I had no idea what it would do to me seeing her again.

I’ve thought of her often, learning about her from my sister, without ever having to ask her how Em is doing. My sister tends to talk and excessively, there is little I can’t find out by just letting her carry on.

I expected this trip would be nothing more than us catching up.

I figure we’d smile, laugh, and share a few memories. Yes, I knew the attraction would be there but this was more than an attraction.

What I feel is uncontrollable, it’s a need so strong it is hard for me to process. A connection that seems to have only strengthened with the time that’s passed since the last time we were together.

I thought Emerson felt the pull too. The hardest part now is knowing that it may all be one-sided. I knew staying at my place would have triggered an argument in the end, and that isn’t how I wanted to send them off.

My sister, I knew the two of us would get over it, we always do. But with Emerson, she seems to bring out the brutally honest part of me that doesn’t always get the chance to think before he speaks.

It gets messy.

Messy isn’t the best way to say goodbye.

Truth is, I don’t want to say goodbye.

I hit the last round of balls, missing a couple due to my focus being anywhere but here. Then when the machine powers down and I’m left with silence, it all hits me. Dropping the bat I turn around, my hands on my hips and my focus at my feet.

Disappointment hits me, and hard. My chest aches, my stomach twists in knots. Lifting my chin, my hands fall from my hips and I take a step only to halt.

There standing on the opposite side of the batching cages are Emerson and Alizabeth both staring at me, with Jerry a few feet behind. He mouths sorry, and his shoulders sag in defeat.

I should have known sending him to face my sister, expecting she’d be pissed, was unfair. Liz can be brutal, stubborn, and notso pleasant when she’s angry. It’s like walking into a lion’s den with steaks hanging from your belt.

“Trying to hide out in an area that has things I can easily use as weapons is not your smartest choice.” So it begins. Liz purses her lips, arches her brow, as if to say, test me.

On most occasions I’d take that option because firing her up is always fun. Yet today I didn’t have it in me.

So instead, I make my way to the gate, push it open and step outside.

“You sent your goffer to ship us off like a UPS package.” Liz throws her hands up in the air and I do my best not to laugh at the displeased look on Jerry’s face.

“Woman, who you calling goffer?”

“Oh shh.” She waves her hand at him and his scowl deepens. “Did you seriously just shush me?”

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