I felt like an idiot for putting up with Jared’s behavior, for making excuses and justifying it instead of seeing it for what it was. “I know. It won’t happen again.”
He pulled me into a hard hug and told me he loved me and would kill anyone who talked to me like that.
“Thanks, Dad,” I tried to say, but my face was smooshed against his chest, and I didn’t think he’d heard me.
I got back to California a few hours before Chance’s first preseason game. I’d taken the red-eye, which normally would have been awful, but flying first class had made everything bearable. Sunny picked me up from the airport before she had to head straight back home to her parents’ house.
“I’m sorry I can’t go to the game with you,” she said for the millionth time.
“It’s your mom’s birthday. I’m pretty sure I can manage going to a game by myself.” I was actually excited to be going alone. I needed to talk to Chance after the game, and I knew it would be awkward with an audience even if it was just Sunny. “I’ll see you tomorrow. And thank you so much for picking me up. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to.” She smiled as I closed the passenger door, and she popped the trunk, so I could grab my suitcase. “I can’t wait to hear all the details,” she squealed, and I suddenly got super nervous.
It was one thing to think about being with Chance when it wasn’t a possibility, but it was another thing altogether when it was a real option.
“Wish me luck,” I practically begged.
“You don’t need it, but good luck! Go get your man! And tell Mac I still think he’s hot and that I want to make out again!” She laughed as she pulled away, leaving me alone in our parking lot with a thousand thoughts racing through my head.
What the hell am I going to wear? I need a shower. And what am I even thinking, going to his game, unannounced, alone, and filled with hope when I haven’t talked to him in weeks? Anything could have changed during that time. Heck, everything could have changed.
I convinced myself it would be okay as I unlocked the front door and stepped inside. The air felt stale from being closed up for too long. Walking toward the balcony, I opened the sliding glass door and closed the screen door instead, letting the warm air flow. Inside my bedroom, I tossed my suitcase on top of my bed and started to unpack my clothes and my thoughts. No matter how Chance felt about me, breaking up with Jared had been the right thing to do, and regardless of what happened later today, I knew I’d be okay.
Exhaling, I felt a calmness moving through me as I sent a text to my dad, letting him know I’d gotten home safe. He responded right back with a thumbs-up emoji and a heart, which basically meant he’d gotten my message but he was too busy to talk. I wasn’t offended.
Hopping into the shower, I let the hot water wash over me before I scrubbed my body clean.
The baseball field was close enough that I could walk but far enough that I might be sweating through my shirt by the time I got there. I briefly considered calling for a ride before deciding that the walk would do me good. We walked everywhere in New York, and I could walk here too.
I got to the game a little early, and I made my way to the ticket booth, where I showed my student ID and picked up a free ticket.
“Danika?”
My name being called made me spin around.
“Hi, Mrs. Carter,” I said with a smile as she pulled me into a hug. I didn’t know why I hadn’t even considered the fact that she would be here, too, but it hadn’t even crossed my mind.
“Please call me Cassie. Mrs. Carter is so weird,” she insisted.
I looked around her for Jacey but didn’t see her anywhere. “Are you here alone? Where’s Jacey?”
“She didn’t want to come. Said she’s tired of watching baseball all the time. Can’t say I blame her really. I’d be tired of it, too, if I didn’t love it so much,” she added with a proud smile. “Plus, seeing Jack in uniform is something I’ll never get tired of.”
I chuckled, loving that she still loved her husband that much. “I never thought about that. Jacey, I mean. Did she grow up, going to a lot of games?”
Cassie full-on laughed. “Her life revolved around the ball field. Sit with me, so I’m not alone? I have an extra ticket.” She flashed two tickets in front of my face.
“Are you sure? Will Chance mind?”
Her face narrowed, her green eyes reminding me so much of her son’s. “Why on earth would Chance mind?”
“I don’t know. I just”—I paused for a second—“didn’t tell him I was coming to the game today.”
“So? He won’t care.” She waved off my concerns and looped her arm through mine.
I walked in step with her down, down, down and stopped right behind home plate.
“These are your seats?” I had to force the words out.
“Yep. Right behind home plate, so I can watch Chance catch and see my hot husband.”
“We’re so close,” I said, feeling super uncomfortable as I glanced to my left and noticed the clear view into the dugout. “We can see right in there,” I practically stuttered.
“You’ll get used to it.” She tried to comfort me. “Here, I’ll sit in the seat closest to the dugout, so you aren’t in full view, okay?”
“Thank you,” I breathed out with relief.
Sure, I’d only moved one seat over, but it was one seat farther away from the team, and I could shield myself with Cassie’s body if I needed to.
I could feel her eyes on me, studying me before I turned to look at her.
“I forgot how nerve-racking it can be,” she said, sounding almost sympathetic.
“Being here, you mean?”
She nodded. “Yes, being here. I used to get nervous, watching Jack play.”
“I can’t imagine you ever being nervous about anything,” I said because Cassie handled herself with such confidence that it radiated throughout her very being.
“The girls were pretty mean back then.”
“It’s funny how little we change. As females, I mean. When it comes to other females,” I said, but I wasn’t sure that I’d made any sense.
“Our competitive nature against each other runs deep. Are they mean to you for dating my son?”
“Well”—I laughed—“we’re not dating, so I don’t know.”
“That’s right. You have a boyfriend.” She closed her mouth and stared out at the field, where the other team was taking infield.
“Not anymore,” I said.
She faced me with a giant smile. “Does Chance know that?”
“Not yet.”
“Oh, this is going to be fun.” She clapped her hands together right as her husband stepped onto the field, and I swore I heard her gasp. “That is one fine specimen of a man,” she said as Jack walked up to the fence separating the field from the stands.
“Hey, beautiful. Can I take you out after the game?” he said, looking directly at Cassie.
“Depends,” she said in response.
He grinned, looking confident and cocky, and I wondered if this was how he had been when he was Chance’s age.