Hot Corner (Baseball Romance) (3 page)

***

"I want to hear more about Hawaii," Audrey said.

It was one thing to read about it in books.  It was another to talk to someone that had actually been there in person.  And there was only person in town Audrey knew that fit that bill--Isabel.  So Audrey brought her curious mind to Isabel's house.

"Uh oh.  I think I've created a monster," Isabel joked.

"Well at least you take credit for it," Audrey joked.

"I guess there are worse things I could be responsible for," Isabel said.

"To be fair, you're not totally responsible.  I just finished reading this book that takes place in Hawaii that was just amazing," Audrey explained.

Isabel smiled.  "Let me guess--it was called 'Luau Love.'"

Audrey furrowed her brow.  "Yeah.  How did you know that?"

"Are you kidding?  You don't forget a book like that," Isabel replied.

"So you've read it too then, huh?" Audrey asked.

"I've practically memorized the thing," Isabel said.

Audrey's curiosity was suddenly off the charts.  "Is Hawaii really like that?"

"If you have the right guy," Isabel replied, nodding slightly.  

"Are you saying I can live the kind of life that's in the book?" Audrey asked.  

"I'll just say that with the right guy, any place can seem like paradise," Isabel answered.  "But when you're in paradise and you also have the right guy by your side, life can't get any better."

"Well my life could definitely be better if I could ever get around to finding that right guy," Audrey said.

"The thing is, there's plenty of fun to be had in Hawaii even without a guy in your life.  Why do you think so many people go there on vacations?" Isabel asked. 

"And honeymoons," Audrey said. 

"And once you're there, you never know what could happen," Isabel hinted.  

"Don't give my mind the room to roam.  My imagination loves nothing more than to run wild," Audrey insisted.  

"Take me for example.  I didn't go to Hawaii looking to find a man.  I just wanted to escape everyday life.  But life had other plans for me," Isabel said. 

"Life has a way of throwing plenty of curveballs I've found," Audrey commented. 

"Tell me about it.  But happiness is never too far out of arms reach.  Sometimes you just have to stretch a little more than you expected is all," Isabel said. 

"After all you've been through, it makes me feel really happy hearing those words come out of your mouth," Audrey replied. 

"It may not be that long before those words come out of your mouth too," Isabel said. 

Audrey was confused.  "What do you mean?"

"Joshua has a single friend back in Hawaii that I think you'd just go crazy for," Isabel revealed. 

"And let me guess, he's a surfer," Audrey said. 

"He sure is.  I think you two would really hit it off.  He's hunky as hell, not to mention sweet as can be.  He's actually looking to join the pro surfer tour next year," Isabel explained. 

"He sounds great," Audrey said. 

"Why don't you find out how great for yourself?  I'll give you info.  You can e-mail him or something," Isabel replied. 

Audrey tensed up.  Her eyes were wide as ever.  It was information overload, and Audrey was having trouble processing it all. 

"What's the matter?  Too much of a curveball for you?" Isabel asked. 

"No, it's just that before now going to Hawaii was just some crazy idea in my head.  But now it's dawning on me that this could actually work.  That my fantasy has a chance of becoming a reality," Audrey explained. 

"The question is, are you ready to take the risk not knowing if there will be a reward waiting for you?" Isabel asked. 

Chapter Six

It was safe to say that Audrey had always been a dreamer.  But as the weeks went by, her head seemed as if her head would never leave the clouds.  Whereas at one time going to Hawaii only seemed like an escapist fantasy, Audrey was now entertaining it as a real possibility.  The faraway look in Audrey's eyes did not go unnoticed however.  So one night Elizabeth visited her sister in her room as Audrey stared out the window.

"What's going on with you?" Elizabeth asked.  "You seem like you're a thousand miles away lately."

Audrey was startled at first.  She hadn't even noticed her sister entering her room.  Audrey tried to deflect.  

"Like you should talk," Audrey replied.

Elizabeth wasn't going to be thrown off the scent though.  "Exactly.  So if I was able to pick up on it, that should tell you something.  Now what's going on?"

Audrey could continue to dance around the issue, but she knew it would do no good.  Instead she decided to let her thoughts out.  But not without one caveat.

"Alright, just promise you won't tell mom," Audrey said.

"Woo, this should be good," Elizabeth replied.

Audrey then took a deep breath before beginning.  

"What do you think of Hawaii?" Audrey asked.

"I don't," Elizabeth initially blurted out.  But then confusion came to her face.  "Wait--Hawaii?  Where did that come from?"

"Did you know that there's a bunch of single hunky surfers there?" Audrey asked.

"I do.  I mean, that's kind of what they're known for--you know, among other things," Elizabeth joked.

"Yeah.  I'm so jealous," Audrey replied, sarcastically.  "I mean the place is truly paradise."

Elizabeth stared into her sister's eyes.  She knew that look. 

"Wait a minute.  Are you thinking of going to Hawaii?" Elizabeth asked.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking about it actually.  The question is, what do you think of the idea?" Audrey asked.

"You know how far it is from Florida right?" Elizabeth joked. 

"Of course I do.  But moving there really worked out well for Isabel, so maybe it could work out well for me too.  What do you think?" Audrey asked. 

"I think mom's head might explode if she hears about this," Elizabeth replied. 

"Oh come on.  You went all the way to New York City for college," Audrey argued.   

"And you saw how that took a toll on her.  Tell me she wasn't pulling her hair out the entire time I was gone," Elizabeth said. 

Audrey got quiet in a hurry.  Her mom sure was.  Audrey had to constantly hear her mother complaining about why Elizabeth couldn't have found a school closer than New York.  Especially since Audrey had gone to school down the street at Gator University. 

Audrey deflected.  "Forget about mom for a minute and think about what an opportunity this could be for me." 

"I know you've thought about the potential rewards, but have you really thought of the risks involved with this?  I mean what if you went all the way there and it wasn't what you expected it to be?" Elizabeth asked.   

"I can always come back.  A lot of people vacation there.  I could just think of it as an extended vacation," Audrey said. 

"Could you really?  Because Hawaii is a long way to go to come back with your tail between your legs.  Especially if you've picked up your whole life to move there," Elizabeth reasoned.   

"Look, you don't know that this will fail," Audrey said. 

"True, but you don't know that this will succeed either," Elizabeth replied.  "What's your heart telling you?

"That it's tired of hurting," Audrey said.   

"Desperation can be a dangerous thing," Elizabeth cautioned.  

"This isn't just a shot in the dark though.  Isabel told me she knows a single surfer dude that could be perfect for me," Audrey explained. 

"Why don't you e-mail him with a picture of yourself then and see if he even responds?  That way you'll know where you stand," Elizabeth said. 

"With him at least.  But even if this guy isn't right for me, there's no telling that there wouldn't be another man that could be just as good," Audrey replied. 

"You could say the same thing about a mystery guy here though," Elizabeth said.   

"True, but at least in Hawaii I could be at the beach waiting for fate to find me," Audrey replied. 

"Look, in the end it's your decision.  But it sounds like you have a lot more thinking to do before you make it," Elizabeth insisted. 

***

Audrey had plenty of strong opinions in casual conversation.  But when it came to putting her heart on the line, she was far more timid.  Despite her optimism, her heart had been through too much to do something as brash as just pick up her whole life and go to Hawaii without agonizing over every detail first.  And apparently there were still details to wrestle with.  Not to mention Elizabeth had dampened Audrey's enthusiasm. 

So to hedge her bets, Audrey decided to take baby steps in her fascination with Hawaiian life.  Audrey sat down and typed out an e-mail to the single man that Isabel knew in Hawaii.  She wrote a nice little introduction, then attached a photo of herself and hoped for the best.  After hitting send though, all Audrey could do was wait. 

***

A month went by with no response.  Audrey couldn't believe it.  So much for Mr. Right wearing board shorts.  Suddenly Audrey felt better that she didn't let herself get too worked up, only to be let down.  Still, not hearing even a peep back was added insult to the injury of her lack of love life.

Audrey could feel the wind being sucked out of her sails.  Sure she could still pick up and move to Hawaii.  She could still bask in the sun on the beach looking to come across a hunky surfer that was into her.  But there was also a big question mark associated with making such a bold move too.  The fairy tale fantasy in Audrey's mind was having to go through some serious revisions. 

Chapter Seven

While Audrey continued to tread water with no land in sight, luck had decided to smile on her sister again.  Elizabeth entered Audrey's room looking like she was walking on air.  And she had an absolute bombshell to drop. 

"I'm engaged," Elizabeth revealed. 

Audrey was taken completely by surprise.  "What?"

"I know, right?  It's hard to believe, but it's true," Elizabeth said. 

Audrey's eyes opened wide.  "Wow.  Well, congratulations."

"I can't believe it.  I'm actually going to be married.  It's finally going to happen," Elizabeth explained. 

"How did he propose?" Audrey asked. 

Elizabeth looked off with a sparkle in her eyes.  "He took me on a sunset walk on the beach.  There was this amazing view of the sunset glistening on the water.   Almost as if the universe knew John was going to propose ahead of time and decided to give him the perfect backdrop."

"It sounds beautiful," Audrey said. 

"Oh, we're just getting started.  So as I'm completely transfixed by this jaw dropping scenery in front of me, John meanwhile can't take his eyes off of me.  So I ask him what's on his mind.  He says, the future.  How he wants it to be with me.  How he wants to build a life together.  How he couldn't imagine a better person to give his heart to.  How he wants me to not just be his other half, but his better half," Elizabeth explained. 

"It's a shame he doesn't know how to sweep a woman off of her feet," Audrey joked. 

"I know, right?  But he's not done.  Just as I'm turning into putty in his hands, he smiles wide and pops the question," Elizabeth replied.

"It's like something out of a fairy tale," Audrey said. 

"Only better," Elizabeth replied. 

"I didn't know there was anything better than a fairy tale," Audrey said.

"Wait until one comes true on you and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about," Elizabeth insisted. 

"I don't know if that will ever happen.  The problem with some girls having all the luck is there's none left around for the rest of us," Audrey joked. 

Elizabeth stared into her sisters eyes.  "Your time will come."

"Well your time is here now.  Let's not spoil it by talking about me," Audrey urged.  "I'm so happy for you."

"It's still so hard to believe," Elizabeth said.  "But one thing is for sure.  This is a day I'll never forget."

Chapter Eight

While other people were living fairy tale lives, all Audrey had were the fantasies in her mind to comfort her.  But upon finding out that the Luau Love Surfer Romance series would soon have a new book out, her imagination caught fire.  At least she'd have her fictional romance to fawn over until the real romance came to her life.  If--it came to her life.  Audrey didn't want to think about that anymore.  She'd already spent too many nights entertaining that thought. 

Instead Audrey focused her attention squarely on book two of her favorite Hawaiian Romance series.  When the book arrived at the store, Audrey was desperate to start digging into the story.  The first few pages certainly didn't disappoint.  The sand, sun, and surfers were all back from the first book, as was the heart stopping leading man of the series.  Audrey was enthralled all over again and could have read the whole thing while standing in the bookstore.  But Audrey had to get back to the ballpark.  Her lunch break was almost over.