Spring Training (6 page)

Finally locating Emery’s pickup, she decided to just go ahead and take it instead of moving his stuff to her own car.

She hopped in and checked that, yes, his bags were behind the seat. She leaned over, unzipped the duffle bag and was relieved to spy some clothes and cleats. They might not be clean but whatever. Irritated by the abrupt and frustrating turn to what had started out as a nice day, she bounced into the seat and adjusted it forward until she could reach the pedals. She started the engine, and rolled her eyes. Not only was the oil light on, the fuel gauge rested just above empty. Typical.

Great. Hopefully I won’t run out of gas.

Before she pulled out, she dialed Aaron.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s me. He’s on his way, and so am I since his stuff is all in his truck.”

Aaron blew out a breath. “Thanks, Teri.” Aaron sounded relieved but had a hint of disgust in his voice. “Good thing our group started with conditioning instead of field time today. He might actually get away with it, but this has got to stop.”

“I agree. Believe me, we’ll be having a ‘come to Jesus’ tonight.”

Aaron snorted dismissively. “Well, you already had one yesterday, which didn’t exactly do the trick. Not sure how effective more talking’s going to be.”

Teri prickled as the not-so-subtle dig at her parenting hit home. “Wow, thanks for throwing that back in my face. I’ll see you later. I have to drive now.”

“Teri—”

His voice was cut off satisfyingly as she hung up on him.

* * * *

She was still steaming when she pulled up to the stadium just in time to see Emery unfolding himself from the passenger’s seat of a red Miata. Teri pulled in right behind him and was somewhat mollified to see a relieved and grateful expression on his face as he spotted her. She threw the truck into park, left it running and hopped out.

Emery hurriedly said goodbye to whoever was in the car and hustled over. He reached past her through the driver’s door grab his equipment bag and his duffle out of backseat area of the cab. “Thanks, Ma. I’m so sorry—”

“Don’t thank me—thank Aaron. He’s the one who got the search party going. Now get in there before you’re missed.” She swatted his butt, hard. He jumped but wisely didn’t say anything. “Go!” she prodded.

He headed for the stadium at a run, and she watched him until he’d disappeared from view, then got back into the truck. She sat for a few minutes, letting the adrenaline drain from her, leaving her feeling tired and every year of her age. Her gaze landed on the fuel light. Fuck. She’d better gas up before her day got even worse.

She went toward a gas station she’d spotted on the way there, and while she was waiting to turn left, her phone chimed with a text. By the time she’d pulled up to the pumps, another one hit.

Figuring it was either Em or maybe Aaron, she ignored them, and got out to fill the tank. That was the limit of her restraint, though, and her curiosity got the better of her by the time she’d grabbed the receipt and got back in.

She glanced at her phone, and one was from Aaron.

Thanks for getting him here. Coach noticed. Not happy. Might be late getting home
.

Wonderful. She sighed and since she couldn’t think of a polite reply, and didn’t really want to talk to him anyway after the criticism earlier, she moved on to the next text, this one from Alex.

Were you at the party with Em last night or did he sneak out? LOL. Check FB
.

She had no desire to see whatever was on Facebook, but she did answer this one.

He escaped when we went dancing. I look away for one second
…
Sigh.

Well, it had been more than a second that she’d been distracted. She shifted on the seat as the memory of last night brought back a pleasant residual ache. Her phone rang with Alex’s ringtone.

“Hi, honey.”

“Hey, Ma. What’s wrong? Em giving you a hard time?”

Alex had always been so in tune with her moods. Even as a young boy, he’d seemed to know exactly what she was thinking.

“Yeah, sort of. I really don’t want to talk about your brother right now, though.”

“Okay, but you know I’m here if you need me.”

“Thanks, Alex.” Older than his years. She thought about his schedule. “Don’t you have class right now?”

“It was canceled because the prof is sick, but I didn’t get the message, I guess. I’m walking back to the apartment now, so I thought I’d check in and see how it was going with you, especially after the pics I saw…” He paused. “Sorry, I know you don’t want to talk about Em. Anyway, I might go in and see if I can help out at the office—”

“You should take the extra time and chill out, doing something relaxing or fun.”

“I already went for a run this morning.”

“I meant besides running. Maybe go to a movie? Go shopping? Have lunch?”

“Seriously, Ma. By myself, at ten-thirty in the morning?”

“Oh.” That was true. “I was just thinking you spend enough time working, studying and working out. I worry that you’re not enjoying the rest of what college is about.”

“I’m fine, you don’t need to worry. It’s not like I’m a hermit or anything. I go out.”

“Hmm.”

“I do! Hey, save your mental energy for the other one. My life is under control. Okay?” Alex reassured her.

Under a bit too much control, actually. She sighed, not really sure she should be complaining about that. “Okay, hon.” She glanced up as someone pulled in behind her at the pump. “I’d better move—just gassed up Em’s truck and I’m blocking the pumps.”

“Typical,” he echoed her thought from earlier and she laughed. He joined in, and her tension eased. She couldn’t be
that
bad of a mom if Alex had turned out so well. Em was a good kid, too, just…well…a bit too much of a kid for his age and this opportunity.

“Talk soon,” she promised.

“Love you. Say hey to the brat for me.”

“Will do. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Despite the pleasant conversation with Alex, Teri’s frustration returned when she got back to the apartment and took another look at the boxes and garbage sacks of clothes in his room.
What am I going to do with Em?
He had an opportunity here that thousands of guys would kill for and he was happy to just fuck around. She went over scenario after scenario in her head as she put herself into work mode, trying to come up with something to motivate him.

Chapter Six

By the time late afternoon rolled around, she had settled dozens of recriminations on herself for failing as his mom. In the meantime, she had, ironically enough, been a mom in overdrive. She’d done a quick inventory then had gone back out to get a few more things at the store, and while she was out she’d gotten an oil change and washed his truck. She’d unpacked all of his clothes and most of the boxes and arranged his room, then fixed his favorite pea and cheese salad to go with the steaks she had marinating.

Pissed off or not, she didn’t want to be spiteful about it, and she always felt better when she was getting things done. Standing with her hands on her hips, she took a last look around Emery’s room. Part of her was cynically wondering whether she’d just be packing it all back up again soon, but maybe having a more settled space would somehow make him work to stay.

Teri had racked her brain trying to come up with the perfect combination of words to convince Emery to take this once-in-a-lifetime shot seriously. She was at a loss, though, so she’d soon given up and tried to clear her mind. It kept drifting back to the unexpected, sexy evening she’d spent with Aaron the night before.

It would bubble up in her brain now and then who he really was, and it was odd trying to reconcile the famous ballplayer with the man whose touch had brought out a side of her she’d never really known before. As much as she loved ball, she’d never been a groupie—and really, she hadn’t exactly had a chance to be young and focused on anything so carefree as hooking up, at least not after that first time. So to her, he was just Aaron. And last night had been beyond hot, though his crack about her ineffective lecture this morning had stung.

Maybe she should cut him some slack. He’d never been a parent, so he probably had no idea how personal it felt when someone criticized how she treated her kids. If the topic even came up, perhaps she’d liken it to someone hacking on his ball playing or training regime.

Actually, she should just let it drop. A few days from now, she’d be back home. And while she’d continue to make the trips up to see Emery play, they’d be sporadic and short. The team would be on the road, she’d have work and eventually Aaron would be rejoining his own team…if Emery didn’t get cut before then.

She heaved a sigh and sat down on the bed. Basically she just had to get along with him on the surface of things until their ways parted for good. No one was forcing them to spend time with one another, and two people certainly didn’t have to have every little thing in agreement in order to have sex. Good sex. Really amazing…

Stop it
.

Teri’s gaze landed on the boxes, and she jumped up, glad to have one more task to distract her from her mental spiral. She could finish that then clean herself up and maybe check email or something until the guys got back.

She was just hauling a stack of broken down and folded up boxes out to her car, thinking longingly of a nice, hot shower, when Aaron and Emery pulled up into Aaron’s parking space.

Crap.
And here she looked like shit, and frankly didn’t feel like talking to either one of them.

Briefly considering ignoring them both, she nodded toward them as they got out and approached, and continued without pausing toward her car.

“There’s a recycling bin over there.” There was a subdued note to Aaron’s voice as he gestured to the enclosed dumpster area.

“I’ll just take them home for now. You never know when you might suddenly need moving boxes.” She stared pointedly at Emery. He apparently got the reference since he swallowed hard, but he held his tongue and simply took the boxes from her. He walked silently next to her, placed them in the trunk of her car then headed upstairs without a word, leaving Teri and Aaron alone.

Teri chanced a look at Aaron. The chastened look on his face hit home. Whether it was the sudden exhaustion from working all day, or her mental struggle over what to do with her son, she stupidly needed reassurance. She took a slow step toward him, then another. Suddenly they were moving into each other’s arms.

“I’m sorry, babe.” Aaron held her tight. He ran his hand over her hair then toyed with her ponytail. “That was a really shitty thing to say, especially right then. Not exactly supportive. I shouldn’t have taken my frustration with Emery out on you. I felt horrible all day.”

“No, you were actually right. Talking doesn’t seem to work with him,” Teri conceded. She sighed into his chest, enjoying the feeling of giving up her cares for the moment. “I just don’t know what to do.”

“Well, Coach McCauley and Ron, one of the assistant coaches, had Emery in their office for a long time after practice today, that’s why we’re back so late.”

She pulled back, though his arms remained lightly around her waist. “Oh no! What did they say?”

Aaron grimaced and moved so they were strolling slowly toward the stairs, his hand riding lightly on her lower back. “He wouldn’t tell me, but Ron said Coach ripped him a new one. Said talent only goes so far and they didn’t have time to waste on prima donnas who disrespect their coaches and teammates like he has been.”

Teri winced. “Ouch. No wonder he was so quiet.” Her heart ached for her baby boy. A dressing down like that from a respected authority figure, well-earned or not, had to have hurt.

“I caught hell too, for not rounding him up earlier.”

What?
Teri stopped moving and stared at him. “That’s not fair. He’s an adult, he’s responsible for himself.” She thought about what she’d just said, gave a wry laugh and qualified, “Well, technically.” And she would do well to remember that he was a grown up. She wouldn’t do either one of them any favors by bailing him out of situations. He had to stand on his own two feet, even if that meant she sometimes had to watch him fall.

It was still hard, though. Occasionally she thought that the hardest part of parenting was knowing when to stop.

She was relieved when Aaron winked. “Don’t worry about it. Both my job here and my babysitting gig are voluntary on my part.” He turned them back toward the stairs, throwing an arm around her shoulders.

“Ick, I’m all sweaty,” she protested, trying to pull away. The feel of his arm across her damp T-shirt forcibly brought back to her how disgusting she was. He refused to let go, and she acquiesced without a struggle, remembering his shoulder.

“So am I,” he reminded her. “I showered up after my rehab session and weights, but didn’t take a second one after helping run outfield practice. I’d just as soon clean up at home.” He let her go as they entered the apartment door Emery had left ajar. The sounds of a shower running came down the hall.

“Sounds like Emery beat you to it.”

A warm shaft of desire shot through her as he suddenly cupped her ass in both hands and pulled her flush against him.

“Wanna shower with me?”

Teri’s eyes widened as the wet and wonderful possibilities flashed like an X-rated movie trailer in her head. She nibbled her lower lip as she found herself hard-pressed to say no.

Looking like he’d just won the lottery, Aaron grinned wide. “Seriously? You’re considering it?” He abruptly let go of her ass then encircled one wrist as he turned away. She stumbled to keep up as he pulled her down the hall to his room, leading her inside and closing the door before she could protest.

He yanked his damp shirt over his head, then tossed it toward a hamper by a door she assumed led to the en suite bathroom. When he hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his now-tented pants, she held up a hand.

“Whoa. We can’t do this,” Teri whispered urgently, dying to see more of him in the light of day, but very conscious of her son just down the hall.