Page 57 of Curveball
Nope, nobody dating here. We managed to shoot straight past that. I drop the bar to my chest again. Maybe these guys can actually help.
“No, I am. The one who wants to date her, I mean.” I immediately get responses ofoh, shitandno fucking way, and then two fists appear for me to pound. Their reactions are enough to scare me away from mentioning my marriage proposal and our alternate arrangement. Besides, how do I bring that up without explaining about her dick of an ex who’s currently a guest of the state all the way on the West Coast? No, better to build this up slowly with them.
I’ve had since yesterday to toss around the idea of a relationship with Palmer, and the notion doesn’t make me wish our series this week was out of town so I could avoid the subject. Maybe the idea of a marriage came from somewhere deep in my subconscious, but when she suggested Plan B after our pros versus cons debate, I realized I was actually disappointed. As it turns out, I like my Palmer Girl for more than her lush curves.
Or maybe it’s my dick that’s disappointed. It’s been too long since he’s seen any action, and then he got shut down just when prospects were looking good. Either way, I can think of worse ideas than exploring whatever this is between us. Is it just sex, or is there something deeper to build on? Whichever it is, when am I supposed to squeeze her into my crazy life? I rarely see my daughter as it is, and Palmer? Even less than that. Something will need to change.
Gunnar switches to squats and I rack my bar to move on to free weights. I’ve been laying here distracted by the conundrum of my love life, but now I’ll grab dumbbells and get some lat work in. I wipe down my bench and Tripp takes my place, now that I don’t need a spotter. It’s a good thing I’m not in the rotation tonight. I might be making a show of getting the work done, but as distracted as I am, these ten-pound barbells is the lamest workout I’ve had in years.Women weaken legs.Ain’t that the truth.
“How do you guys even do it, though—fit a relationship into our crazy-ass schedule?” I send out the request to both of them, then focus on our shortstop, who might actually have advice I can use. “Gunnar, you have a kid. How do you even make time for a personal life?”
It’s a serious concern, and something I haven’t even considered until recently. I haven’t worried about a relationship lasting longer than a weekend in I don’t even know how long.Years. But lots of guys in the league have girlfriends, or even get married during the season. There has to be some kind of way.
“Bro, you just go for it. It’s not going to be easy, ever, so if it’s what you want, you just have to dive in. Face first, is my recommendation.” He snickers. My dick sends up a tingle of supplication, reminding me he’s still sulking. Diving face first into Palmer’s sweet pussy might work for me, but he’s gotneeds. This morning’s soapy tug in the shower was not the satisfaction he craves. Yesterday showed real promise. That is, until Palmer’s mom radar went off.
“Get creative,” Tripp adds. “That works too.”
“Get creative,” I echo with a thoughtful nod. “Just do the damn thing.”
“Hey, why don’t you bring her and her kid over to Gavin’s on Monday, after we get back from Michigan?” Gunnar suggests. “You too, Tripp.”
“Cool. Thanks,” Tripp says.
“Your brother?” I ask, and Gunnar nods with a negligent shrug.
“Yeah, he’s throwing me awelcome to T-Nparty out at his house,andtossing inanain’t it cool I knocked up my wife againkind of thing.”
I’ve met his brother, and his beautiful and clever wife who he’s genuinely devoted to, and Gunnar is full of shit. When I chuckle knowingly, he laughingly comes clean.
“All right, all right. I’m just dicking around. They’re both so damn excited about this new baby, and they’re sharing the love. The day will be dope. He has a sick pool, and there’ll be plenty of beer.” Like any of us are getting wasted before the end of the season.
But I can already imagine Dylan’s reaction when he hears he’s invited to a pool party with players from more than one team, as well as an honest to God rock star.
I stick around a little while longer to get the details of the party, then it’s time to take off.
“Gotta jet,” I say with a chin nod. “Eddie and Randy requested the honor of my presence to review film.”
When your position coaches call a meetup, it’s not recommended you blow them off.
“Have fun with that,” Tripp jokes as he grunts through his reps.
I flip him off, because really, he wouldn’t expect anything less. I pull out my phone on my trek through the clubhouse. It’ll be late by the time our game is finished and I’m out of the locker room, and I want to get the invitation to Palmer before I’m distracted. Once I have her contact pulled up, I shoot off a text. Phase One of my somewhat nebulous plan to actually date a woman—to date Palmer—my fake fiancée—is in play.
Chapter 20
Palmer
Natalie appears at my classroom door after I dismiss my students for the day and I’m tidying my desk to go home. It’s only the first day of summer classes, so the mess is still pretty well contained.
“Hey, kiddo,” I say to her as she crosses the threshold and moves closer to my desk. “Everything okay?”
“Um, yeah. I wanted to say hello, and um, remind you I’ll be leaving soon.”
That’s sweet of her, but it’s not information I need. She’s not in any of my classes till fall term.
“You’re going somewhere?”
“Well, on Thursday, but yeah. Dilly and I are going to the beach.”
