Page 11 of Batter Up!

“Tyler Stone,” I introduced myself while looking around. “No kitchen?”

“No kitchen,” the blonde guy playing the video game responded. He looked up at me with kind, bright blue eyes. “But you get used to it. I’m Hayden Scott. This is Ivan Cruz. He doesn't speak much English, but we’re working on it.”

“Hola,” I said to Ivan. I didn’t know a lot of Spanish but knew the basics.

“Hablas español?” Ivan asked with a hopeful look on his tanned face. His dark hair was longer on the top and gelled into a faux hawk but cut close on the sides of his head.

I felt bad for getting him excited over nothing, and I shook my head, “Sorry.” I held up my thumb and pointer finger to let him know I knew very little Spanish.

Ivan nodded, “Hi, asshole.”

I had been taking a drink and spit a bunch of it out from the shock of his words. I had to cough a few times and shook my head looking at my two other roommates to see if I had heard that correctly.

Hayden and Cooper burst out laughing. When Cooper was finally able to speak, he said, “Yeah, we’ve been teaching him some important English phrases.”

Ivan looked at me sheepishly and pulled out his phone. I noticed he was using a translator app. He showed me his phone.

I shook my head. I took his phone and typed in the English to Spanish box.

Ivan read what I said and rolled his brown eyes. “Assholes,” he said to Hayden and Cooper, who just laughed. I joined in with the laughter and could see myself getting along just fine with these guys.

“You can put your stuff in that room,” Cooper said, pointing with his spoon to the room on the right. “You’re my new roomie. I hope you don’t snore like Shane did.”

“I don’t,” I said and went to the room. I could hear Cooper say, “Thank God!”

I put my stuff on the empty bed and looked around. Cooper’s suitcase was lying on his bed, and clothes were all over it. Dirty socks and shirts were all over his nightstand and desk. There were also several unwashed cereal bowls stacked on his desk. I was guessing if we didn’t have a kitchen, we probably didn’t have a dishwasher either.

I went back to the main room and sat on an empty milk crate on the other side of the room.

“So, where are you from?” Cooper asked. “No hate, but you look old, friend.”

“I’m from around Nashville, and I’m 25. I feel old for the minors. Two words: knee injury.”

“Fuck. That sucks,” Cooper replied. “That’s not good, especially for a catcher. All good now?”

I nodded, “I sure as fuck hope so.”

Hayden laughed, “So do we. I play 1st base, but these two are both pitchers, so you’ll work a lot with them.”

“Nice,” I replied. “Where are you guys from?”

“I’m from Missouri so not too far,” Hayden answered as he stretched. They must have been at a break in the game. “Cooper is from Maine, so he’s far from home. Cruz is from the Dominican, so he’s really far. You play COD?”

I nodded, “Oh, yeah. My brothers and I play Call of Duty all the time.”

“Good. Cruz calls his wife every day at this time, and Coop sucks ass at COD.”

“Wife? Wow.”

Ivan nodded with a smile and pulled up a picture on his phone, “Camila – mi esposa.” She was beautiful with dark brown skin and long brown hair pulled in a side braid. She had a large smile as she looked up at Ivan in the picture. I also was drawn to her stomach in the picture. She was very obviously pregnant.

“Baby?” I asked, pointing to the picture.

Ivan nodded, “Tres meses mas.” And he held up 3 fingers. I was guessing he meant the baby was due in 3 months.

“Congratulations,” I said, hoping he knew I meant it. I couldn’t imagine being in the minors with a pregnant wife. I knew I wanted a wife and kids someday but not while in the minors.

“Adios,” Ivan said with a wave and went into the other bedroom. I took his spot on the couch and picked up the controller to play Call of Duty with Hayden.

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