Hot Corner (Baseball Romance) (5 page)

Chapter Ten

After spending the night crying, Audrey just wanted to put the whole experience behind her.  It was not easily forgotten though.  Suddenly her romance novel series seemed even more appealing.  Things like that didn't happen in the Hawaiian Surfer Romance books.  Now if only her life could live up to the books she read, Audrey would be set. 

Instead Audrey was confronted by another romantic misfire as she headed into the office the next day.  Audrey hadn't seen Peter since he'd criticized her interest in romance novels--at least not in person.  Audrey had found out plenty about Peter as a baseball player.  Peter was a good player.  His nickname was "Mr. Reliable" because he hit for an average instead of hitting for power.  He did the little things, stealing bases, bunting runners over, executing sacrifice fly's to manufacture runs.  But that kind of stuff didn't get much attention.  The baseball world loved power hitters, guys that hit the long ball, and Peter wasn't that.  Still, since arriving in Orlando, Peter had hit for a steady average.  He was no closer to getting called up to the majors though, and that was the goal of every minor leaguer. 

Baseball aside, although Audrey thought Peter was hunky, after their roller coaster of a first talk, she didn't know what to expect on the second go round.

As Peter ran into Audrey in the hall though at the ballpark, he had a smile on his face this time.

"Funny running into you," Peter said.

"That's a good line.  But it sounds a little familiar," Audrey replied. 

"Well, a beautiful woman used it with me once," Peter said. 

"Beautiful, huh?" Audrey asked.

"There's no other word for her," Peter said. 

"And here I thought you were going to insult my taste in books again," Audrey replied.      

"Actually, just the opposite," Peter replied. 

"Oh, so you're going to compliment my taste in books then?" Audrey wondered. 

"No.  You know what?  That came out wrong," Peter said. 

"That seems like it would happen to you a lot," Audrey joked, flashing back to their previous conversation.

"That never used to happen to me," Peter admitted. 

"So much for getting better with age," Audrey cracked.

"So much for getting better at all.  Do you ever feel like your life is spiraling wildly out of control?" Peter asked. 

"Some days I wake up dizzy," Audrey joked. 

"I think they have prescriptions for that," Peter cracked.

"Yeah, but I don't know any doctor that can write a prescription for a new life," Audrey said. 

"Or a pharmacy that could fill that prescription," Peter joked.

"Look at you cracking wise all of a sudden," Audrey said. 

"It's better than putting my foot in my mouth," Peter insisted. 

"True.  Especially since feet don't taste very good," Audrey joked. 

"Wow, that joke was a stinker," Peter said. 

"Guilty as charged.  I was cracking, but that joke wasn't very wise," Audrey admitted. 

"Don't worry about it.  It happens to us all," Peter said. 

"Yeah, but it seems to be happening to me a lot more than I ever expected.  Falling on my face seems to be my new pastime," Audrey replied. 

"It was just a bad joke.  No big deal," Peter said.  

"Forget the joke.  I was talking about life in general.  I thought I'd be wiser by my age," Audrey replied. 

"Are you kidding?  You're still young.  We both are," Peter insisted. 

"My heart feels so old though," Audrey bemoaned. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" Peter asked. 

"With you?" Audrey shook her head.  "That I'm not so sure about."

"Anyway, it's good to see you again," Peter said. 

"Is it?  Because you didn't seem so happy to see me the other day," Audrey insisted. 

"That reminds me," Peter said. 

"Oh what?" Audrey wondered. 

"I just wanted to say I was sorry," Peter admitted. 

"Well, I never expected that," Audrey said.

"You must have been so confused the other day.  But I had a lot going on and unfortunately directed my frustration the wrong way," Peter said. 

"I'm glad you apologized.  I'm guessing I still can't interest you in an Surfer Romance novel though, right?" Audrey joked. 

"Not in the least," Peter said. 

"I had to try," Audrey replied. 

"Anyway, I should get back to the field.  But maybe I'll see you around," Peter said. 

"Yeah. Maybe," Audrey replied. 

Things had gone better this time.  Right up until the point that when Peter left, Audrey found herself wondering when she really would see him again.  That she didn't know.  Although she was eager to find out. 

Chapter Eleven

That night at the family dinner, Audrey's mom came storming back into the kitchen with another big smile on her face. 

"I have good news," Carla said.

Audrey wasn't quite as enthusiastic though.   

"Uh oh.  I don't like the sound of that," Audrey replied. 

"Oh, come on.  Who doesn't like good news?" Carla asked. 

"It's just the last time you said that to me it led to me getting stood up on a blind date," Audrey said. 

"Actually, that's exactly what the news is about," Carla replied.

"I don't need the news.  I've been broken enough already," Audrey insisted. 

"But honey, you didn't get stood up," Carla said.

"Mom, have you lost it?  You act like I wasn't there getting insanely humiliated," Audrey replied. 

"His car broke down," Carla revealed.  "He was on the way over to pick you up when he hit a big pothole that blew his.  It turned into this whole big deal.  But the point is, you weren't stood up."

"You're not just saying that, are you?" Audrey asked. 

"Honey, it's the truth.  But if you don't believe me, you can ask him.  He'll be here tomorrow at six to pick you up," Carla explained. 

"Wait.  What?" Audrey asked. 

"You're going to get to go on the date after all," Carla said. 

"Mom, you rescheduled my date?" Audrey asked. 

"Can't you just focus on the fact that you're going to get a second crack at this date?" Carla replied. 

"But you didn't even ask me," Audrey insisted. 

"Fine.  I'll ask you now then.  Do you really want to say no to this second chance?" Carla asked.  

***

Audrey couldn't get over how much of a steamroller her mom was.  But regardless of what Audrey thought of her mom, the fact remained that Audrey was getting another shot at the date, and she didn't want to turn it down.  So once again Audrey found herself getting ready for a date and hoping for the best. 

This time around though, Audrey didn't have to wait long.  Her date showed up completely on time.  But the most unexpected man came to her door.  Audrey's blind date was none other than Peter from the ballpark.  Audrey made no effort in hiding her surprise.

Peter was shocked as well though.  Neither one knew quite what to say.  For once they were speechless.  But despite their loss of words, they were quite happy to be seeing each other again.  Peter finally broke the ice.     

"Howdy stranger.  Funny running into you here," Peter remarked.

"I've been hearing that line a lot lately," Audrey said.  She shook her head in disbelief.  "Wow, you have to be kidding me."

"Sorry.  I'm all out of jokes," Peter replied. 

Audrey laughed.  "Well, that's a shame.  This will be a long date then."

"In that case, I guess I can see what jokes I can dig up," Peter said.  

"That's more like it," Audrey replied.  "So I heard you had car problems."

"Yeah.  I'm sorry about that, but we're all squared away now," Peter said. 

"You know, I'm not sure that I've heard the word sorry come from a man's mouth quite so much in such a short time," Audrey joked. 

"At least before the first date that is," Peter said.  "But look, even though we got off on the wrong foot, there's no reason the future can't be as bright as ever."

"So true.  So let's see what this date has in store for us," Audrey replied. 

***

"You know, I was really nervous about this date," Audrey admitted, on the car ride to the restaurant. 

"Was that before or after you saw me at your front door?" Peter joked.

"No silly.  Because it was a blind date.  I've never been on one before," Audrey said. 

"Yeah, just think.  You could have been matched up with a crazy person," Peter replied. 

"Are you implying that you aren't crazy?" Audrey joked.

"Well, not certifiable at least.  Although I haven't been tested," Peter replied. 

"Neither have I," Audrey admitted.  "So I guess you'll just have to take my word for it."

"Let's just say that if you're not sane then I don't know who is.  Besides, if I had gotten set up on a dud of a date my mom's book club would start losing all their credibility," Peter joked. 

"Of course, and you can't have that.  If you can't believe in your mom's book club, what can you believe in?" Audrey joked. 

Peter chuckled.  "Good words to live by."

"So how about you?" Audrey asked.   

"I try not to live and die by what book clubs says," Peter replied. 

"I meant have you ever been on a blind date before?" Audrey asked. 

"Not even close," Peter said.  "But if they're all this good, then why stop here?"

"Except the date won't be blind if we have a second one," Audrey pointed out. 

"Look at you bringing logic to the conversation," Peter replied. 

"I find that sometimes it comes in handy," Audrey said.

"Go figure.  Maybe I should try it," Peter joked. 

"You know, your wit sure is quick sometimes," Audrey noticed. 

"Yeah.  I find that a slow wit isn't all that useful," Peter said. 

"You're probably right," Audrey replied.

"Anyway, I just have to say that this date has already started better than I imagined," Peter said. 

"We haven't even gotten to the restaurant yet.  What, did you imagine this date being a grease fire or something?" Audrey joked. 

"Honestly, I didn't even know what to expect," Peter admitted. 

"Well, hooray for low standards then, huh?" Audrey said. 

***

"So I just have to know, what's the deal with you hating romance novels?" Audrey asked. 

Peter stopped eating midbite.  This was clearly a topic that Peter wanted to put behind him.  But Audrey's mind was too curious to drop anything without knowing the facts first.  So even though it was a story Peter didn't want to tell, it wasn't clear how long he could avoid it.

"I'm not sure this is first date conversation," Peter said. 

"Uh oh.  Must be a doozy," Audrey replied. 

It was clear that dinner wasn't going anywhere without some kind of explanation. 

"Alright, I'll tell you.  But you've been warned," Peter said. 

"Oh, come on.  It can't be that bad, can it?" Audrey asked. 

"Those romance novels cost me my last relationship," Peter revealed.

Audrey backtracked.  "Ok, so it is that bad.  I'm sorry."

"Tell me about it.  I thought I was going to marry her," Peter said. 

"Wow.  So what does that have to do with romance novels?" Audrey asked. 

"My ex loved them--a little too much.  She read so many of them that she started mistaking fantasy for reality.  She refused to believe that life wasn't a fairy tale.  She wanted everything to be perfect," Peter explained. 

"That's incredible.  I mean, no one's perfect.  We're all human.  We're all flawed--some a lot more than others," Audrey said. 

"Exactly.  I mean, it's not that I don't try my best--I do.  But I can't live up to a romance novel," Peter replied. 

"No one can though," Audrey said. 

"See, you get it.  But the thing is, she didn't.  And one day she just couldn't take reality anymore.  And she decided that she'd try finding a more perfect life with someone else," Peter replied.

"That must have been heartbreaking," Audrey said. 

"Oh, it completely destroyed me for a long time.  I never thought I'd get over it," Peter admitted. 

"I certainly know that feeling," Audrey said.  "But eventually you hit rock bottom.  The good news is though that it can only get better from there. 

"It's starting to get a little better right now actually being here with you," Peter replied.

"Ah, how sweet," Audrey said. 

"It's just the truth," Peter replied.