Page 9 of The Yips

“That’s an oddly specific time. It’s a home game, so I’d try to work here. I usually make good money on game nights.”

“I’m a starting pitcher for Boston, my number is 19, and I have had a slew of shitty luck for the last two weeks until tonight. I’m superstitious as hell, and I’d like to see if my luck will change if you are in the stands behind home plate.”

She assessed me cautiously, trying to figure out if I was serious. “What are you doing here if you’re a player?” she asked, looking around, “This isn’t really a place the team comes to hand out.”

“I was walking home from the stadium after a meeting.”

“I can ask for the night off. The Keno winnings will cover more than what I’ll lose working. But I know nothing about baseball.”

“You don’t need to. Just leave me your full name, and I’ll have two tickets for you at the box office on game day. I’ll also leave you my number, and you can call or text me if you change your mind.”

“Okay. Wait, are you the guy everyone was complaining about last week?” She asked, eyes wide. She really didn’t know much about baseball.

“That would be me.” I hung my head a bit in shame. She now knew me as the prick in the Uber and the pitcher who sucked—one hell of a first impression.

CHAPTER 9

Kelsey

Crew was sleeping when I got home, he’d been good for Kylie. Because this was her first time watching him, I had worried that he would give her a hard time.

“He doesn’t like the bottle, does he?” She asked as I took in the bottles and the leftover milk on the counter. I cringed to myself, knowing the wasted milk would be difficult to replace.

“You should ask Dad; he’s much better now than a couple of weeks ago. My first night back to work, he screamed for an hour and refused to eat until I got home.” Between his refusal to take a bottle and my battle to produce enough milk, it had been a harrowing return to work.

“How was work?”

“It was a crazy shift! I had a customer come in who played Keno. I picked his numbers, and he shared his winnings, which were $750. And then it turns out that he was in my Uber the other night; he was such a dick that he tipped me $500. He’s a Major League pitcher, and now he’sconvinced I’m his good luck charm. He wants me to go to the game the next time he starts.”

“Wait, what?” Kylie’s eyes bugged out of her head.

“Exactly what I said.”

“What’s his name?” Kylie asked, ready to Google him.

“Sam Drummond.”

“Are you fucking serious? I know you don’t know baseball, but you seriously don’t know who he is? When he signed with Boston, he got a huge contract. He’s really fucking good!”

“Well, he’s going to leave two tickets to Saturday night’s game at the box office for me. Do you want to come with me?”

“Who’s going to watch Crew?”

“I thought I would bring him with me. He’s usually good in the carrier. Do you think he needs a ticket?” Should I bring a baby to the game? I typically only went places I could bring him.

Kylie reviewed the stadium rules: “Under two and on a parent's lap, he’s good to go. Are you sure this is just about superstition? What if he wants to date you? Were there any sparks?”

“I don’t think a single mother who drives Uber and bartends is his type. And I’m too busy to think about dating; the last thing I want is to get involved with an athlete. Aren’t baseball players the biggest cheaters?” I’d be lying if I claimed I hadn’t noticed Sam when he sat down at the bar, or when they had shown clips on television after his last start. He was almost a foot taller than me, had a lean, athletic build, and gorgeous green eyes. I had always had a thing for tall men, that’s a large part of how Crew came into existance.

“Compared to who? Men are dogs. That’s why you’re scrambling to care for an infant alone.”

“To be fair, Tom from California knew me for an hour before we had a life-altering experience. I never thought I’d need his phone number or even his last name.”

“Please tell me it was good.” Kylie sighed with annoyance, though her reaction was so much better than Kendra’s.

I shook my head. “It was sloppy and over surprisingly fast. There was way too much alcohol involved.” I thought that going back to his room would help me get over my ex, the whole getting under one man to get over another. Crew was an amazing prize for a night that would have been better spent with a vibrator or even my hand.

“I’d be a lot more pissed at you for settling, but I love that little guy.”

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