Page 94 of Fake Love

“Let me go back to school first and get a degree and then we can talk about moving to a different side of LA county.”

Aaron hits a ball out to left field that gets him to first base. The whole stadium boos.

“You’re going back to school?” I ask, a smile forming on my face.

Lucas is a smart guy, got A’s all through high school, so when he graduated and decided not to go to school for anything, not even a trade I was a little shocked.

He works as a mechanic and he’s great at it but I always thought he could do more than oil changes. Like maybe starting a business to restore old cars. He would be great at that.

Lucas gives me a nod. “I start in the spring. At USC for business.”

“That’s awesome, Lucas. I’m proud of you.”

“Yeah well let’s hope it works out. If not I can see the dream of opening my own shop down the drain.”

I give his forearm a reassuring squeeze. “It will happen and when it does I will be there to promote the shit out of it on social media. We can even get Hunter and Maddox to show up at your grand opening.”

Lucas just shakes his head at my comment. He may think I’m crazy but if it ever happens I will be pulling all the stops for him. Mark my words.

For the remainder of the game, we watch as the Miners beat Los Angeles three to two. The other team played a good game but the Miners played a better one.

It’s as we wait for Maddox by the net for our routine kiss that Lucas says something that I wasn’t expecting.

“You look really happy, Jen.”

I take in his words and for the first time I take a survey of what I’m feeling.

Happiness may radiate off me, on the outside but on the inside I’m beyond happy.

I’m excited and I’m jumping up with glee every single change I get, and it’s all because of Maddox.

Every single smile, every single laugh, every butterfly soaring through my body, every single inch of happiness is because of him.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

28

AUGUST 18, 2022

Maddox

At times I have a love hate relationship with the baseball season.

One hundred and sixty two games in a span of twenty seven weeks is a lot. I’m that type of schedule that can take a toll on a person. More so when they have a full day off every two weeks or so.

It’s a lot, especially for someone that has a family, or a significant other that they want to see more than just a few hours a day.

Add in traveling and it can be grueling.

But at the same time, I’m getting paid to play the game I love for one hundred and sixty two games.

Right now though, my relationship with the schedule is at a hate.

My game is at an all time high, even after my suspension in Chicago, and the team is only a few weeks away from possibly clenching a spot in the playoffs.

But all of that means less time with my girlfriend. Which is why I’m currently pacing Jens’ living room waiting for her to finish up getting ready.

During the season, time with someone is fucking precious and no matter how many times she travels with me to away games, time with her isn’t enough. Something that I learned in the last month.

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