Felix (The Ninth Inning #1) (15 page)

“And see, I couldn’t even get you a present. I feel duped.” Oh, he’s mad. He didn’t even try to change the subject.

“Felix, it’s not like that. I promise you. Warren knows because of Facebook, no other reason. I don’t make a big deal out of it. Here,” I walk over to the coffee table and pick up his book. “I hope you don’t dog-ear the pages.”

“I don’t. I have one bookmark that I always use if it makes you feel better.”

“It does. Thank you, Felix. I will see you tomorrow at the game. I’ll be in the same seats.” I wink trying to turn his mood around.

He glances over my shoulder and I know he can see the flowers Warren sent me. I’ve never had flowers in my house before. I don’t usually anyway. He flicks his eyes back to me and I can see him thinking hard about it, but doesn’t say anything.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Felix leans in and I’m expecting an intense kiss like he always give me, but instead he pecks my lips and walks away.

Shit. He is mad.

THE GAME WAS fantastic. It was probably our second best of the season so far. Back at my apartment, I leave my family for a moment and walk up to Abigail’s apartment. I do my usual knock. It hits me when she doesn’t answer right away that she’s out on a date. With
Warren
. I wasn’t lying when I told her I felt duped.

I didn’t know about her birthday. I couldn’t find out on Facebook because I don’t have a Facebook page. But
Warren
does and
he
gets to take her out on her birthday and I’d bet money that
he
is the person who sent her the roses, which were so clearly displayed in her apartment. And all I got was a coincidence of a day with her and my family.

I was duped and Warren gets to reap the benefits. Coming to her apartment after a game is part of my routine. Another thing messed up. She’ll probably decide he’s so great and a better guy for her. That’s what it felt like last night and it still feels that way today.

With a sigh, I return to my apartment. Everyone’s sitting in the living room, so I take the empty seat next to my mom on the couch.

“We’ve had a great time, Felix. You should’ve told Abigail to come over. I really like her,” Mom tells me.

“Oh, she wasn’t home.”

“We all like her, though,” Kevin says.

“Good.”

“Everything okay, Felix?” Mom asks.

Everyone’s watching me, waiting for an answer. “If you don’t make a big deal out of your birthday, would you want someone to take you out on a date for it? Having dinner with her sisters, I get. But he gets to do something for her birthday with her. That’s why Abigail wasn’t home. She’s on a date, which is fine, you know. She’s not in a serious relationship, she can date whomever. She wouldn’t even mention it was her birthday to me, but he gets to send her roses and take her on a date because he saw it on Facebook? I don’t know. It’s just bugging me. When does your flight leave tomorrow?”

“Felix,” Mom begins, “what are you going on about? Are you okay? Why don’t you calm down and talk?”

Kevin jumps in to explain. “Abigail has been dating another guy as well as Felix because he told her they would see what happens and that it wasn’t anything serious.”

“And now, she’s on a birthday date with him. That’s all I got out of it,” Lewis adds.

“She told me she didn’t make a big deal out of her birthday. However, that guy knew because she said he saw it on Facebook, and he’s sent her roses and gets to take her on a date. I didn’t know, couldn’t do anything for her, but she’s letting him. I shouldn’t let it bother me, I guess.”

“It bothers you because you like her more than your stubbornness will let on. Why did you tell her you didn’t want anything serious when I can see that you do? Plus, you introduced her to us and that shows me that you want more than...well...a fly by night kind of girl. Am I right?” Mom asks.

“I don’t know. I told her that because I didn’t know what I wanted and I introduced her to you guys because she knows this place better than I do. And because she’s a great person.”

“Felix,” Dad begins, “you have only introduced us to one other girl besides Abby, but I know you’ve dated much more than that. You can’t honestly tell me it’s because we needed a tour guide.”

“Okay, you’re right. What am I supposed to do now? I almost wish I could crash her date.”

“No, don’t do that. That’s not what you need to do right now,” Mom interjects. “You need to talk to her. You’re home for the next couple of days. Take her out or maybe have a quiet dinner here and tell her you want to be more serious. If that’s what you really want.”

“Yeah, maybe.” I pause. “I’m going to run for a bit, but I’ll be back in time for us to go eat before you leave for your hotel.”

I change my clothes, grab my headphones, start some music, and take off running the moment my feet hit the sidewalk. My father’s words run in my mind on a loop about how I’ve only introduced them to one other girl. I lost her for one reason and one reason only: once my career really took off, she fell down a few slots on my list of important things. I forgot dates, I forgot an anniversary, I forgot about her parents coming to visit. I let baseball take over to the point where she talked to my family more than I did. At some point, I stopped caring about letting her down and missing those things.

And now, here’s Abigail.

After seeing her with my family yesterday, I nearly forgot I wasn’t the only guy she’s seeing. Then, I saw those roses and heard she’s going out with him for her birthday. It didn’t bother me that she was seeing him before. We aren’t serious, so of course she can. Last night, it started to bother me. I don’t want her to be with him, to kiss him, to laugh when he says something funny.

All I could think about was how she might like him more, especially after today because who knows what they’re doing. I could end up being only her friend who begs her to show up to my games because I’m convinced she’s good luck. And I do
not
want to be only her friend.

I’ve run my route and made it back to the complex, but I keep running. For Abigail to make such a big deal about how she thinks I’m on a higher league than she is, it’s funny how I could end up on the losing end of this anyway. Maybe it’s better that she likes Warren. I mean, I already forgot about the reading on Friday. She would have dumped me by now if we were in a relationship.

You know what? No. I could still have a chance with her and if we were to get serious, I’d make sure I never let anything else slip my mind. I could add it to my calendar on my phone or put sticky notes all over the place as a reminder or both. There would be baseball time and Abigail time. If I want her bad enough, then there will be no forgetting.

And I do want her. A lot.

When I make it back to the complex, my shirt is soaked with sweat and my legs ache from having run twice as much as I do in one day all at one time. I stop short when I see Abigail and Warren walking toward me, not yet noticing me. Their date must be over. We meet at the bottom of the stairs at the same time. My mouth wants to spill everything I’ve been thinking about while running, but I don’t. Instead, I give Abigail a small smile and jog up the stairs, leaving them behind. I’m thankful I hadn’t turned off my music yet and can’t hear anything they said.

I apologize to my family for taking so long before going to take a shower. I need to focus on spending time with them before they leave tomorrow. Then, I’ll figure out what Abigail is thinking and go from there.

I DIDN’T TAKE Abigail to school this morning since I was seeing my family off at the airport, but I did tell her I would pick her up. We have the day off and I spend most of it grocery shopping and cleaning up my apartment. I’ve decided to take my mother’s advice and have a quiet dinner here for when I tell her how I feel about things.

Thankfully, she’s standing alone when I arrive to pick her up. Abigail smiles as I get out of the car and walk up to her. I cup her face and kiss her softly.

I pull away and say, “That was because I didn’t get the chance to yesterday.” Before she can reply, I open the car door for her to get in and then walk around to the other side. “Do you have any plans tonight?” I ask as we pull onto the road.

“No. I was going to read for a little bit, but I’m all caught up on everything else, so no big plans. What are you thinking?”

“Dinner in my apartment?”

“Oh, how fancy. Am I getting a specially-cooked Felix meal?”

“Yep. I figured it was about time I cooked for you.”

“I’m impressed. A baseball star and a cook, is that a double threat?”

“I’m really a triple threat because I have the good looks, too.” I grin.

“That is true. You do have the looks.”

“Glad you agree. Did you have a good day?”

“I did. I’m completely done with my finals. I’m beyond good at this point.”

We have chit-chat until we get back to the complex. I tell her to meet me in my apartment at six for dinner.

WE’VE BEEN TALKING about small things so far, enjoying our meal. It’s driving me crazy to sit here and talk about regular stuff when all I want to do is blurt out that I want her to be my girlfriend. Reaching over, I take her hand.

“So, how do you think things are going with the whole let’s see what happens thing?”

She looks confused for a second. “Um...fine. Why?”

“Well, I was wondering what your thoughts were on changing that?” I pause and add, “To just you and me.”

“Wait, are you saying you want to be in a relationship with me? Like a real one?”

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying.” I nod.

“Why? I mean, I thought you were too busy for such things.”

“I’m not too busy for you and because I like you.”

“I don’t understand where this is coming from. I thought you liked the way things were between us. Sure, we’re not having sex or anything, but what’s changed?”

“I did like the way things were, but I’m ready for more. I just knew after Saturday.” I shrug.

“Is this because I didn’t tell you about my birthday? Felix, you’re busy, and I don’t celebrate it. Therefore,” she shrugs, “there was no point in telling you.”

I decide not to answer her. That’s part of it, yes, but not completely why. “Abigail, just tell me if you want this, too.”

“I do,
but
I’m worried at the same time.”

“About what?” I ask quietly.

“Us. I mean, you’re gone all the time, well at lot of the time. Your life is baseball and I understand that. I need to focus on me, too, and I’m afraid you won’t be there for me when I need you the most. This isn’t going to be an easy road for me. Are you willing to put in the time? It’s okay if you’re not.”

“Of course I am. That’s why I’m bringing this up. If I wasn’t, then I would have left things as they were. I’m willing if you are, unless you think we shouldn’t.” I take a quick breath and say, “Or if you would rather date Warren instead.”

It scares me that she doesn’t reply right away. She thinks for a few seconds before speaking. “I realized Sunday that I don’t want Warren. The entire night was...bad.” She almost looks nervous. “I think I went into the date with the intentions of setting things straight with him and us just being friends. I’ve wanted you, but didn’t know if you wanted the same things that I did. I mean, you
did
forget our first official date.”