Over the Fence: Lyssa Layne's Baseball Romances (75 page)

“Greggy, man, I’m so sorry,” I say into the phone, bypassing the formal greeting altogether.

“Sorry? What for? Are you okay? What did Isabel say about the picture?” Gregg sounds completely unfazed by the headline I just read hours previously.

“Did you see the same article that I did in the
Times
?”

“Yeah and if I was Isabel, I wouldn’t be too happy. So, did she see it yet?”

I sit up, completely baffled at Gregg’s reaction, or lack thereof. “Turner, the article wasn’t about me. I outed you to the world about your relationship with Clay.”

On the other end of the line, Gregg gives a hearty chuckle. “Benny, it was no secret to the people that mattered most to me. You and Camila were the last two people I wanted to tell in person. Unfortunately, she found out through the paper instead of me, but I was able to calm her down.”

“Oh.” I fall back against the headboard, still amazed at how calm he is. “What’d she say?”

“She was upset that I hadn’t told her yet and hurt because she thought I was using her all those years as a cover. We talked and after I promised to bring Clay to Chicago to meet her and Evan, she was much happier.” Gregg clears his throat. “Now, back to you. Judging from your avoidance of the topic, I’m going to assume that Isabel saw the picture and isn’t very happy.”

I close my eyes, recalling the argument Isa and I had before she dropped the bomb on me that I’m going to be a grandfather. “No, Greggy, she’s not happy at all.” I squeeze my eyes tighter as tears sting my eyes. Choking back my emotions, I mutter, “I don’t think I’m getting her back this time, Greggy.”

“Aw, come on, Benny, don’t talk like that. Did you talk to her after your last disagreement? You were all gung ho about taking things to the next level with Isabel after I last saw you.”

“I was drunk, Greggy!”

“They say you’re the most honest when you’ve been drinking. Think about it, Benny. What would your life be like without Isabel?”

Goosebumps run over my skin, not just from the frigid air, but from Gregg’s words. I know exactly what my life would be like without Isabel—empty. No amount of teammates, pretty girls, or fans could ever replace the spot that Isabel has in my heart. Life with Isabel is no life I want at all but like I told Gregg, it may be too little too late this time.

CHAPTER 9

“Fuck. I need to throw,” Dickey says, sitting beside me. His leg is bouncing like crazy while he punches his hand in his glove. I swear this kid has some kind of ADD because I’ve never seen him sit still.

I glance up at the scoreboard, happy for the distraction to get my mind off Isabel and Marcos. “Well, unless the guy on the mound really screws things up or you want to try your hand at closing, I doubt that’s an option today.”

Dickey stands up, stretching his arms over his head. Immediately, fans see his movement and are calling his name, hoping for some kind of interaction with him.
Ha!
Fat chance Jace Richards will acknowledge anyone. His first time in the big leagues, he only entertained big busted, smokin’ hot females. This time around, Dickey’s trying to fly under the radar and refuses to interact with anyone he doesn’t have to. The media gives him shit for being standoffish, saying he hasn’t changed from his bad boy days of yonder when that’s so completely far from the truth. All Dickey wants to do is provide for his family and not get in trouble.

“I’ve got to do something. I’m about to lose my fuckin’ mind. Laurel’s been having contractions off and on for the past week. If she doesn’t deliver the girls today, I’m going to fuckin’ miss it.” The disappointment in his voice is heartbreaking. The entire bullpen lets out a sad groan for him and that’s saying a lot considering we’re a bunch of hardass ball players.

Today’s our last game in Florida then we’re on the road to California. It being his first year back in the league, it would be a rookie mistake, no pun intended, if he took a family leave just to wait around for Laurel to deliver their twins. Dickey’s definitely been walking the straight and narrow path this year but his devotion to Laurel and their kids will probably win out over league rules if I had to guess.

“Calm down, Dickey. Everything will work out. Laurel’s done this before and doesn’t her best friend have like ten kids?”

Would I give up this game for my family? Is my love as strong as Dickey’s for his woman? His kids? Dickey’s been pretty upfront that he’s only playing again to secure his kids’ futures and once he’s made enough to send all four of them through college, he’s done. The man hates being away from his wife and sons and I’m sure it’ll only get worse once his daughters are born.

“Four. Ashley’s got four kids, not ten.” Dickey takes his cap off and runs his hand over his spiky hair. “Sure, Laurel’s done it before but I never have. I wasn’t around when Grey and Sam were born and this might be the last time. I can’t miss it, Benny.”

I wrinkle my forehead, completely perplexed at the man’s words. Laurel and Dickey aren’t the most conventional family. Grey is Laurel’s biological son who Dickey adopted once they got married. Sam is Laurel’s deceased best friend’s son that Dickey and Laurel adopted. Laurel is now pregnant with said friend’s two frozen embryos. Not that anyone can tell but Jace isn’t blood related to any of these kids and I’m pretty sure the option of him being a biological father to anyone isn’t going to happen.

“Um… Dickey? Haven’t you been snipped?”

The guys on the bench turn their attention to the pitcher beside me, everyone interested in his answer. Dickey stares at me then shakes his head, pulling his hat low over his eyes. “Fuck, Martinez. Tell everyone why don’t ya.” Dickey leans back against the wall, crossing his arms while the guys all look away. He lowers his voice as he speaks again. “I had it reversed.”

I lift an eyebrow, surprised. “Yeah?”

Dickey sighs. “Yeah… but Laurel doesn’t know. The doctors didn’t guarantee anything. I mean, I had the vasectomy done over ten years ago so I don’t want to get her hopes up.”

Chuckling, I shake my head. “So, let me get this right. You took it upon yourself to have your vasectomy reversed and didn’t tell your wife, the soon to be mother of four children?” I pat his leg, still laughing. “Sounds like a great idea, Dickey.”

“Fuck you, Benny,” Dickey mutters, punching me in the leg.

I can’t stop laughing because if I did anything like that, Isabel would kill me with her bare hands. I never got snipped like Dickey but I strongly believe in practicing safe sex to ensure Isa and I don’t have any more surprises like Marcos. Too bad I never passed that idea onto my son, who is now in the same situation.
Cabron
... I really screwed up my life, hell my entire family’s life. Maybe I should’ve—

“Richards!” Every player in the pen turns to the catcher who’s holding the wall phone receiver in his hand. “It’s your wife.”

Like a tennis match, we all turn the opposite direction to look at Dickey. His fidgety movements still as the color drains from his face. Almost speechless, Jace Richards says the only word that he would find appropriate in this moment.

“Fuck…”

CHAPTER 10

“You’re what?!... Are you sure?... Yeah, babe, I’m on it! I’m on my way!” Dickey slams the phone back in its cradle and spins around to face the bench. “Fuck! Laurel’s in labor!” A collective cheer erupts from the bench, catching the attention of the fans who join in our mini-celebration.

I walk over to Dickey, slapping him on the back. “Well, looks like you got what you wanted.”

Dickey looks up at me, his face pale as a ghost. “Wh-what do I do, Benny?”

Laughing, I take his glove from him and toss it on the bench. “You get your ass to the hospital and become a father again.”

In a daze, Dickey nods. “Right… hospital… father… again.” He starts to sway, his face almost an ash color now.

I grab him by the elbow and lead us back to the locker room. “Geez, Dickey, I didn’t know you were such a lightweight.”

Dickey takes a seat beside his locker, dropping his head between his knees. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, Benny. I want this. I want this more than anything. The boys are my life and it won’t be any different with our daughters so I don’t know why I’m freaking out.”

Standing beside him, I squeeze his shoulder firmly. “You’re freaking out because your experience with your daughters is going to be completely different than with your sons. You didn’t come into Grey and Sam’s lives until they were in the double digits. This time, you’ve got babies… teeny, tiny babies… girls.”

I smile as I recall how small Marcos was versus the man he’s grown into today. On the day he was born, I was reacting the exact same way Dickey is… except it was Isabel and my first time around, with no money, and no clue what the hell we were doing. If we were to have a baby today, I’d like to think things would be a little different this time around.

Dickey looks up, the color slowly coming back to his cheeks. “Right… baby girls.” He pauses and looks up at me. “What the fuck have I gotten myself into?”

Laughing, I reach in his locker and grab his wallet. “Fatherhood… and two weddings to pay for.” I grab the front of his jersey, pulling him up. “Guess you’d better stick around a few more seasons to cover that tab, too.”

Still in a stupor, I place my hands on Dickey’s back, forcing him to walk out of the clubhouse. I tell the attendant to let the coaches know I’m taking Dickey to the hospital then guide us to the parking lot. I climb in Dickey’s shitty, ancient Explorer after placing him in the passenger’s seat. His leg gets to bouncing as I pull onto the highway and he fiddles with the radio but nothing except static plays through the one speaker that works.

“Talk to me, Benny. It’s too fuckin’ quiet in here.”

I nod at the dashboard. “It’s too quiet because your radio’s broken… much like the rest of this car. Why don’t you buy something new?”

Dickey leans his head back against the seat. “Can’t afford it.”

I scoff and glance over at him for a second. “Dickey, I know for a fact that you have a multi-million dollar contract. After the season you’ve already had, and we’re barely halfway through, you should expect that to double next year. You can afford a car made in this century.”

He laughs nervously. “I appreciate your confidence but the goal isn’t for me to keep playing. We just want to put enough away to get the kids through college and now that you’ve brought it up, pay for two weddings. I don’t want to miss out on any of their lives. Not to mention, Laurel’s going to need help with two babies.”

“That’s respectable, man, and I get where you’re coming from but work now while you can, make the easy money. You don’t want some job where you’re bored silly, do something you love.”

Dickey nods. “Yeah, I get that, Ben, but I don’t want to miss their first steps, their first words, all that shit. Plus, the boys are dating and if that isn’t scary enough, they’ll be driving soon, too.” He waves his hand around his vehicle. “Fuck, this thing will probably be their shaggin’ wagon.”

I shrug. “You never know. I walked in on my son and his girlfriend about to get busy a couple months ago. You might consider yourself lucky if they keep their sexual activities limited to someplace you won’t catch them.”

His head goes back and forth quickly. “No. Laurel’s already freakin’ out that she’s going to be a grandma before the girls are in kindergarten. I can’t let that happen.”

My heart drops to my stomach. I’m going to be a grandpa. As if it isn’t bad enough that I failed my own son, I’ve already failed my future grandchild. How the hell am I ever going to earn back their trust? Glancing over at Dickey, I see what I’m missing, maybe it’s time I do a little bit of soul searching before I agree to another season.