Page 179 of Off Season
I look over to the other side of the bed. Sadness blankets me at its emptiness. I miss her.
The dogs all sniff her pillow. “You guys miss her, don’t you?”
Luke Skywalker barks and I nod. “Yep. Me too, buddy.” I sit up. “Let’s go for your morning walk. I’ve got a long day ahead of me.”
I approach the front door of my building when Evan opens it. I pinch my eyebrows together. “You’re working the early morning shift today?” He’s been working the afternoon and evening shiftslately.
He nods. “I am. I’ve got a big game to watch later this afternoon. I switched shifts so I could watch it.”
I mumble, “I wish I could do the same.”
It’s the gold medal softball game at the Olympics tonight. Per Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement with the Players’ Association, only spouses are permitted to miss games for special circumstances like this. Kam and I are “only partners” as it was worded to us when my request for a leave of absence was denied. Quincy was granted a leave because he and Ripley are married. I wasn’t because we’re not. It’s such bullshit.
I offered to pay any fine they could levy, but Kam was adamantly against it. She said it would tarnish my reputation, and she wouldn’t allow it. I’m devastated to be missing the game.
What’s worse? We play at the same time. Reagan Daulton promised to have the game playing on the big screen at our stadium. It’s not enough.
As I’m walking the dogs, my cell phone rings, and I see that it’s Kam. I accept the call. “Hey, Kam bam.”
She smiles into the screen. “Hey, kitten. Are you walking the kids?”
I nod. “I am. I wish I was with you.”
She gives me a sad smile. “I do too, but I’m in the Olympic village. It’s not like we could spend time together. Bailey hasn’t been allowed to spend time with Tanner and the kids, Arizona hasn’t been allowed to see Layton and Ryan, and Ripley hasn’t been allowed to see Quincy and Kaya.”
“I know, but it still sucks. They get to watch the game in person.”
She sighs. “Just another thing to fight for.”
Kam ended up joining Tanner’s company and built the women’s division into the most successful one in thecountry. She’s a full-fledged badass lawyer now, with every female athlete clamoring for her to represent them.
She and Tanner still go at it from time to time, but I know he appreciates what she’s done for his company. She keeps threatening him that she’ll go out on her own and take all her clients, but she won’t. I think being around Tanner is her way of still keeping a protective eye on her sister.
Speaking of Bailey, it took a lot of time and effort, but she eventually got her game back just in time for the Olympics. Frankly, it wasn’t quite back when the team was selected, but Kam, Arizona, and Ripley all told the committee that they wouldn’t go without Bailey also on the roster. It was risky, but it paid off.
That was months ago. In the time since, Bailey has regained her form and has been playing extremely well. Kam is still the best player in the world and the reason they’re in this game, but Bailey holds her own. Kam hit a grand slam in the semi-final to send them to the gold medal game. She’s my hero.
We chat for a bit until it’s time for us both to go. I make my way to the stadium and sit in the locker room with my head a million miles away.
I’m zoned out so I don’t see Reagan Daulton walk in. She sits next to me. “I’m sorry about this, Cruz. It’s shitty.”
I nod. “I know your hands were tied.”
“They were, but it doesn’t make it okay. At the next owners’ meeting, I’ll be advocating for partners’ rights. In the meantime, I have my jet waiting for you. As soon as this game is over, you can fly out to her. I know you’ll miss the game, but at least you can be there for the celebration. I have no doubt there will be one.”
I suppose I should better express my gratitude, but I only offer a solemn thank you before she leaves.
KAMRYN
We’re in the dugout about to take the field for the gold medal game in the Olympics. All my friends have their husbands there as they warmly greet them in the stands for some pregame affection. I’ve never wished more that I had accepted one of the nearly thousand marriage proposals Cheetah has thrown my way over the past three years. Every single day, he finds some random way to propose. Every single day, I say no.
I make my way over to hug my father and my three nieces, Harper, Lorelei, and Rory. Bailey had twins, and she’s freshly pregnant again. So is Fallon. I was with them when they took pregnancy tests together. I’m excited for them, but the moment confirmed for me that I’m still not ready to be a mother. I might have some marriage jealousy right now, but I don’t have an ounce of pregnancy jealousy.
I told Cheetah how I was feeling about their pregnancies, and he was fine with it. We’re sublimely happy with each other and our growing canine brood. Neither of us has any interest in changing things right now.
I haven’t publicly admitted that I’ll be retiring from softball after the Olympics like my three best friends have, but I’m going to. Why would I want to play without them? And my career is exploding at Montgomery Sports Management. I can hardly keep up with my current list of clients. Retiring would give me a little extra time in my life. It would also mean less time away from Cheetah. Conflicting schedules and weeks away from each other are wearing on me. I can’t live for the off-season anymore. It’s too hard.
After an emotional last-ever pregame huddle with my three besties, we take the field for what will be our final game. It’salmost hard to believe that after all the years of dreaming of this moment, it’s finally here. We’re so close to our gold medal dream that I can taste it.
