“Another kid, Archie Esposito. He’s been lights out at every level.”
“What’s the catch?”
“We kept him down at Double A last year. Player development thought he needed more time. He’s a little bit off center. You know, typical lefty, but they wanted him to have a couple more starts down there. He didn’t get any time at Triple A let alone with us at the big club, but I think he’s ready and I think he’ll start the season as our five and be our two or three by the September.”
His eyes widen. “Really?”
“Really. He’s got great stuff. Fastball tops out at 103, but he’s more effective at 98 or 99. He can spot his changeup and he’s got a knuckler.”
“You mean a knuckle curve?”
“No, I mean a knuckleball. He’ll throw it in any count, totally unafraid. But he confuses people.”
“Why would you throw a knuckleball if you can throw 103?”
“Exactly, but I think he’s special.”
“When we get down to Florida, I’ll catch some of his sessions myself. I’d like to see that.”
“I think you’ll like him, once you get used to him.”
“An acquired taste?”
“For sure. Harmless, sweet, even, but like I said, a little bit odd.”
Our drinks and food come out at the same time, a testament to the bar’s service given the absolute crush of a rivalry football crowd. And I didn’t realize just how hungry I was until I took a massive bite of my cheeseburger.
I close my eyes and groan a little bit around the first bite. “God, that’s good,” I mumble, as I swallow down some perfectly cooked greasy, cheesy mess.
When I open my eyes he’s staring at me from across the table a little slack jawed, his own burger only halfway to his mouth.
“What?”
“Nothing, I just . . .”
“What?”
“I can’t remember the last time I sat down with a woman and had a meal.”
“Seriously?”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“I mean kind of. I guess I always assumed you’d retire and get remarried, have a couple of kids. That’s usually what guys who skipped out on that during their careers do.”
“Nah, I think I always knew I’d be back. Unfinished business, plus I never really thought you could have both and do both right.”
“You don’t wish you had a kid who’d remember you playing?”
“No sense in wishing for things that can’t happen.”
It must be nice to really feel that way, to look back and trulyfeel content with the choices you made. I don’t have regrets per se, but I do wonder what my life would look like now if I hadn’t wasted so much time with Shane. If instead I’d walked away before he had a chance to hurt me as much as he did.
But then I wouldn’t be here right now and, at this moment, there’s no place I’d rather be.
“No regrets,” I say, with a grin. “That’s rare.”
“We don’t have time for regrets. We have a championship to win, right?” Charlie says, and then refocuses. “Okay, last but not least: centerfield.”
