My Lucky Catch (University Park #6) (11 page)

“No. She’s on vacation with her family. They took a cruise out of Houston to the Caribbean.”

“Nice.” I rolled my eyes, a little peeved that she hadn’t bothered to tell me before she left. Then again, she didn’t owe me any explanations about how she was spending her time.

“Yeah, I mentioned to Collin that we should consider a cruise for our honeymoon.”

“Oh, yeah. What did he say?”

“He said it wouldn’t be a good idea since Mom doesn’t like water, and she’d be worried about us.”

“Figures.” I released a laugh. “Hell, I’d do it in spite of her.”

Lexi shook her head. “That’s so wrong.”

“Yeah, well . . .” I stopped when I heard the garage door open. “They’re back.” I slapped the wall with my hand. “I’ll see you later. I need to talk to Dad.”

“Okay.” Lexi rolled off her bed and grabbed her shoes. “See you later.”

I headed downstairs to the kitchen. My parents were hauling the groceries from the car into the house.

“Hey, Luke. Didn’t know you were coming home,” Mom said, struggling to place the bags on the marble island. “Shouldn’t you be at practice? Doesn’t the tournament start tomorrow?”

I grabbed the bags from her hands. “We practiced early this morning.”

“Thanks, Son.”

She reached for the pantry door and asked, “Is everything okay? I know you were benched for the last two games.” With her back facing me, she continued to stock the shelves.

“Yeah, I’m good. Just need to talk to Dad, that’s all.”

“Oh. Can I help with anything?” She glanced over her shoulder. “If I need to give Coach Summers a call, I will.”

“Nope, not necessary.” I darted to the garage, dodging any more questions from her.

“Oh, okay. Are you sure you . . . ” Her voice trailed off as I walked out of the kitchen.

I wanted to talk to my dad first, without my mom present. My mom could be so overbearing at times, and it drove me nuts. Involving her would just make it harder, and I was already having a hard time dealing with everything. Dad was more level-headed and understanding, but only when my mom wasn’t in the conversation. Add her to it, and she dominated it, telling him what to do.

“Hey, Luke.” Dad looked a little surprised to see me. “Everything okay?”

“Hi, Dad.” I extended my arms. “Need some help?”

“Sure.” He handed me the bags and then returned to the trunk of the car. “Are you ready for the tournament?”

“I guess.”

“That doesn’t sound very convincing.”

I gave a half shrug. “I need to talk to you, alone” I partially blocked the doorway, not wanting my mom to hear.

“Okay. We’ll wait until for Mom and Lexi to leave.” He shifted the weight of the bags in his hands.

“Thanks.” I pushed the door open with my back, and we trudged into the house. We helped Mom unload everything. After they left, we went into the living room to talk.

“So, what’s going on?” Dad handed me a cold beer before sitting across from me in his recliner.

“Thanks.”

He lifted his bottle up in the air, toasting me. “Don’t tell Mom.”

I laughed. He sounded like one of those car or insurance commercials that showed the dad doing things with his kids that the mother wouldn’t like. And drinking a beer would definitely not be something my mom would approve of.

“Does Mom know you have these?” I glanced at the long neck in my hand.

“Nope.” He took a big gulp and said, “Ahh. Damn, that’s good.”

“Where do you keep them?” I lifted the bottle to my lips and took a long sip.

“Out back, in the shed. I kept your mini fridge from your dorm and made a wooden cover for it. Looks like a cabinet and matches perfectly.”

I smiled. “Ingenious.”

“So, what’s going on?”

I rolled the bottle between my palms and thought of how to inform him that the fourteen years of baseball practice and camp were for nothing. Dad had been my biggest champion throughout the years. It was always his dream to play in college, but when my mom got pregnant with my sister Ashley, that dream vanished.

Taking a deep breath, I blew it out steadily.

“It’s alright, you can tell me.”

I nodded and gathered the courage that somehow scattered through my stomach and said, “I’ve decided I don’t want to play baseball professionally.”

Dad’s eyebrows shot up. “When did this happen?”

“Um, I guess during the middle of the season last year. I realized how hard it is and the amount of dedication and persistence that’s necessary.”

“Son, it’s no different than when you played the year before.”

“Yeah, it is. The team is doing really well, moving up in the conference, which means Coach is more demanding.” I took another drink and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “I just can’t see myself playing for a living. I love baseball, but it’s starting to wear me out.”

“Nothing in life comes easily, Luke. Greatness isn’t given, it’s earned. You have to give it your all. One-hundred and ten percent of your best efforts. That means getting your ass out of bed every day at 6 a.m. and running or hitting balls.

“I know.” I nodded without looking at him. “I’m not missing any practices.”

“You have to do more than the daily practices. Playing ball can’t be taken lightly. You’re only going to get out of it what you put in it. And if you’re barely doing what’s needed than that explains why Coach has been benching you.”

“He’s benching me because my heart isn’t in it, Dad.”

“Next year is your senior year. If you want scouts pursuing you, you’ve got to get serious, Son.”

“That’s just it, Dad, I don’t want to.”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you hear what I said?” Inhaling, I took a long steady breath, trying to keep calm. Dad was always hard on me when it came to playing ball and telling him this news wasn’t easy for either of us. “Dad, this might be your dream, but it’s not mine. I don’t want to play baseball professionally.”

His chin dipped toward the ground, and he released a heavy sigh. “I understand. It’s just hard for me to accept.”

“I’m sorry. I’m trying, but it’s just not in me anymore.”

“Is that why you’re smoking?” He glanced up at me. “That’s doing you more harm than you realize.” He reclined back in his chair and took a long, slow sip of his beer.

“I know.” I sighed. “I’ve been so stressed this semester, and next year isn’t going to be any better.”

“Doesn’t exercise help you?”

“It does, and I enjoying doing it. In fact, that’s what I really want to do.”

“Exercise?”

“No.” I shook my head. “Not just workout, but train others how to condition their bodies.”

Dad’s eyes widened, and he blinked slowly.

“And you think someone is going to take you seriously when they see you smoking?”

“I know.” My head dropped to my chest. “I need to stop.”

“Luke, I want you to be happy, but changing your major at the ninth hour is kind of too late.”

“I actually changed my major last year.”

“What? I thought you were majoring in business with a minor in marketing?”

“Nope.” I pressed my lips together momentarily and then figured what the hell and said, “I’m majoring in sport exercise with a minor in nutrition.” 

“Wow.” He rubbed his forehead with his hand and then took a big gulp from his bottle. “And you think you’ll be able to get a job doing that and make a decent living?”

“Yeah, Dad, I really do. In fact, I told Coach and he—”

“You told Coach you didn’t want to play?” Dad practically shot off his chair. Red streaks painted his face, and I prepared myself for the worst.

“Relax.” I lifted my hands, telling him to stay calm. “We had a good talk, and he supports my dream. In fact, he encouraged me to talk to you. He said he’d put in a good word with Julian, the team’s athletic trainer. I might be able to work with him once I graduate.”

“Oh.” Dad’s attitude quickly changed. “So, you’re thinking about training the players?”

“Yeah.” A half laugh released. “Why not? I understand baseball and what it takes to succeed. Since PHU was accepted in the South Central Conference, more money will be invested in the team and the facility. That means more jobs.” I smiled and so did Dad.

“I think that’s a great idea, Son.” He lifted his beer. “If that’s what makes you happy, then I support you.”

“Thanks, Dad, that means a lot to me.” I leaned forward and tapped my beer against his. “But do me a favor, and don’t tell Mom, at least not yet.”

We both laughed, and he winked, telling me he completely understood where I was coming from.

***

Delaney

I stared at the flyer I found last night in my backpack. New York summer photography camp sounded right up my ally. At first, I didn’t think much about it, and then it slipped my mind so I forgot to check it out. With the deadline already passed and classes starting in less than a week, I doubted I’d be able to go. Just for the hell of it, though, I emailed the professor coordinating the event. I had him last semester for one of my photography classes, and I hoped he would respond.

As soon as I set the flyer down next to me, I heard a soft knock on the door.

“Delaney, are you awake?” Veronica asked, sticking her head into my room.

“Yeah, come in.” I propped myself up against the pillows, leaning against the headboard. “I was just waking up.”

She sat on the edge of my bed and placed her hand on top of mine. Her long slender fingers were a direct contrast to my short, stubby ones. “Are you doing okay?”

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I nodded. “Yeah, why?”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but as I was looking at the pictures we took on the cruise, and you weren’t smiling in any of them. Did you not have a good time?”

I released a silent sigh. Considering Veronica was not my biological mother, she really could read and sense my feelings very well. “I did, I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Thanks.” I ran my hand through my matted hair. “But I think I need to sort through what I’m feeling on my own.” Talking to her about my feelings for Luke wasn’t something I was ready to do. I had already talked to Jordan, but I didn’t like what she had to say. Luke and I weren’t ready to go public with our friends-with-benefits status, and I wasn’t ready to give up the guys I had on the side, either. Deep down, the torment in my mind was all because I was afraid to love him. And I wanted to love him, but I was terrified, too.

“I understand.” She gripped my hand. “If you don’t feel comfortable talking to me or Martin, you can always go see your therapist.”

“I know.” I squeezed her hand. This wasn’t the first time I’d heard this. I’d had countless sessions with my therapist, and although it helped, I was still messed up inside.

She pressed her lips together, and a comforting smile spread across her face. “Don’t hesitate to go if you need to.”

“Thanks, Veronica, I appreciate it.”

Despite my rebellious behavior over the years, Veronica and Martin never gave up on me. They treated me like their own daughter and did everything and anything to help me. I was grateful for them, and I did my best to treat them like they deserved, but no matter how hard I tried, they still weren’t my Mom and Dad. They were the best adopted parents anyone could wish for, though. I was damn lucky to have them.

“Of course.” Her hand retracted to the flyer on the bed. “What’s this?” She picked it up, her eyes skimming over it.

“Oh, it’s a flyer about a summer photography program in New York City.”

“I see that. It says you get credit for one class and an internship, as well. I think this would be great for you.” Her brows lifted and then dropped. “Oh, but it says the deadline was this past Friday.”

“I know.” I pouted. “I kind of forgot about it.”

“Delaney, you can’t forget about important stuff like this.” She shook the paper at me.

“I know.” I rolled my eyes, peeved that I didn’t have my shit together. “But I did email my professor last night about it. Told him we were on vacation, and I didn’t have access to my email and wasn’t able to apply in time. I’m waiting to hear back from him.”

“You lied to him?” Her eyes widened, and she blinked heavily.

I shrugged. “It was a small lie.”

She shook her head. “Delaney, if you lie about little things, eventually you’ll catch yourself lying about bigger things, and it only gets worse from there. You know better than that.”

My head dropped toward the bed. She was right. I was constantly lying about little things and lying hard to myself about what I really wanted. But the lies were what got me through life. I had to lie to myself that everything was okay because in reality, nothing was okay. My life sucked, and I hated it. But every day, I got up and told myself that I would make it. I would live even though everyone around me had died.

With her hand, she lifted my chin. “You know I love you. You’re the child I never had. Martin and I are fortunate to be able to provide for you and give you every opportunity to succeed in life. We only want what’s best for you Delaney, but if you keep holding on to these past hurts, you’ll never be able to move forward.”

I glanced at her through the strands of my hair. “I know, but it’s not that easy.”

“I can only imagine.” She sniffed. “But nothing in life is easy.”

I huffed. “It’s more than that. What happened to me, my parents, to my . . .” I stopped, not wanting to think about everything that had been ripped away from me. “It’s just not fair.” Tears poured from my eyes, releasing some of the hurt and pain I’d been keeping inside.

“Oh, sweetie.” Her arms embraced me, and she held me close. “It’s going to be okay. You’re going to get through this.”

“Why does God hate me so much?” I wailed. “What did I ever do to Him to deserve this?”

With her hands on either side of my face, she lifted my head and looked at me. “God doesn’t hate you. Things happen for reasons beyond our understanding. But I promise, you can get through this.” She wiped my tears with the tips of her fingers. “You can rise above all this trauma and grief and find a peaceful place. A place where you can be happy and be thankful for the life you do have. God wants that for you, if you can only learn how to forgive and move on.”