Page 16 of Off the Hook

Chapter Seven

Luke couldn’t believe how nearly perfect the summer had been. He’d worked his ass off for the team and loved every minute of it. He believed and felt that he was a real asset and was proud of his performance so far. The only area that needed improvement was pitching to Pete Myers. That would come, he had to have faith it would.

The bright spot of the summer, of course, had been Abbey. His princess. She’d made it all worthwhile. He’d thrown her into the deep end taking her out on the road, but she’d handled it without complaint, with a smile on her face, even though he knew life on the road wasn’t easy.

Abbey had gotten along well with everyone, team members, their wives and girlfriends, and team management. She’d been shy around the media, but Luke had expected that and wasn’t bothered by it at all.

Their private time together had been amazing, whether they’d had enough energy, time or had been in the right place to have sex or not. He had no doubt they belonged together now.

The only true low point of the summer had been Earl Jepson. He didn’t think Luke had seen or heard him, and Abbey hadn’t said a word about it, but Earl had treated his girl with disrespect and that was unacceptable. He didn’t know it yet, but Earl was history.

As wonderful as the summer had been, it was coming to an end, as he knew it would, and he fucking hated it. Luke sighed as he unpacked Abbey’s groceries and put them away in her galley style kitchen.

He wished she’d let him rent her a two-bedroom unit instead of the one bedroom in the security condo complex located a couple of blocks from campus. But she’d be safe here. And he wouldn’t worry about her—too much. That was the best he could hope for.

Not wanting her to rush around before classes started, the family had decided it was smart to move her in on Sunday so she could settle in for a few days before classes started on Wednesday. He had to catch a flight in the morning to Cleveland. It sucked.

Abbey and her mother were busy putting her clothes away while Darren and her father were assembling her bedframe and headboard. Luke had been allowed to get her a new bedroom set as a housewarming gift, after convincing her parents to let him pre-pay her stay at the security building. When it came to their little girl’s safety, the Jaynes hadn’t put up much of a fight. He was grateful. He liked them so much and already considered them family.

Overwhelmed by sadness, but doing his best to keep it together, Luke wiped down the granite countertops and stood back, admiring his work. Perfect and tidy for his princess. She’d start her time off at U of I on the right foot. He was so proud of her.

He plastered on a smile when Darren and Phil, Abbey’s father, came into the room which overlooked the living room area. Sometime during the past few weeks Luke had transitioned to calling Abbey’s parents by their first names, Phil and Monica. Soon he hoped to call them Mom and Dad. He was there to stay.

“All right. We’re just about finished. Abbey and Monica are finishing up with the bedding and then I think we’ll head out,” Phil said.

Luke was torn. He enjoyed spending time with Abbey’s parents, but he only had these last several hours left with Abbey until he had to catch a plane. He wasn’t sure when he’d see her next.

“I can count on you to catch your flight on time in the morning, can’t I?” Darren asked, suspicion laced in his voice.

Luke rolled his eyes. He hated it when his uncle treated him like a child. He had yet to let him or the team down. He wasn’t about to start now. “Of course you can. You know that.”

Darren clapped him on the back and smiled. “I know. I also know how difficult today is for you.”

Difficult was an understatement. But he needed to man up and do what he needed to do. He and Abbey had already talked about what their lives would be like once she started classes. They would make it work. They had to. Abbey was his, and she always would be.

Phil extended his hand to Darren and to Luke. “Thank you both, for everything. It’s been wonderful. And Luke, don’t worry. Youwillstrike that asshole Pete Myers out. Mark my words.”

Luke winced. Fucking Pete Myers. The last several weeks had been nearly perfect, except for pitching to Pete. He was close though. Just one more strike and he’d strike the motherfucker out.

“You’ve made significant strides these past weeks. You’re an asset to the team. This game is as much mental as it is physical,” Darren reminded him.

Luke knew that. And Pete Myers wasn’t a good man. He was an amazing baller. But personally, he was a piece of shit. He was arrogant, a troublemaker, and although he had the sweetest wife who’d just given birth to twin girls, if the rumors were true, he was cheating on her. He needed to be brought down a peg or two. Luke wanted to be the one to do it.

“I know. I’m impatient, I guess,” he conceded. “I just feel like I’m coming into my own and gelling well with the team now. I’ll feel better once I’m able to strike Pete out.”

All thoughts of Pete and baseball left his mind when Abbey and her mother came into the room. Although they were both smiling, their eyes were red. They must have been crying, saying their goodbyes in private.

“Well, everything’s put away and the bed is made. Phil, Darren, I think that’s our cue to leave,” Monica said before she wrapped her arms around Luke for a motherly hug.

Luke held on tight, relishing the closest thing to a mother’s hug he’d had since his mother passed, ten years ago. Monica’s scent reminded him of vanilla and cream. It was warm and comforting, just how a mom should make you feel.

“Thank you for everything, Luke. I didn’t think you could do it, but you made a baseball fan out of me,” Monica said with a grin on her face after ending their embrace.

Luke chuckled and gave her one last quick hug. “I never doubted it for a second.”

****

Abbey sighed as she locked the door after her parents and Darren left. Torn between feeling relieved they’d finally left so she could spend the last few precious hours she had left with Luke and guilty at the same time, she placed a hand on the door feeling the cold wood against her palm.

---