Page 61 of Walk Off

Well, the whole story up until a week ago.

This wasn't the place to talk about everything that happened in the last week. “I have a lot to tell you. Dinner tonight?”

“Only if you’re buying,” Shawn said.

“As if I would expect anything different. Your cheap ass never pays the tab.”

“Some of us don’t make as much money as you and have to budget what we have.”

Kyle stood up, Shawn following suit. “Says the man who has the second largest contract on the team and just bought a winter house on an island in the middle of nowhere.” This was what they did. Poke at each other.

“Which is why I have to save my money. That house cost me a fortune.” They started walking out of the locker room. “Seriously, man, you look happy, but at the same time stressed.”

“It’s a long story that I’ll tell you tonight. Until then, let's play a little ball.” Baseball had always been the one constant in his life, and he was hoping it would be just the thing to take his mind off missing his girls.

First days were always about shaking the rust off. Passing the ball, running plays, and batting practice. After several hours on the field, they hit the weight room where trainers put them through the paces. It felt good to be back, and not once during the six hours with his team, had he thought about anything but baseball.

That was a win in his book.

After a long, hot shower, he and Shawn walked across the street to a local hole in the wall that they’d been eating at since their first spring training together. The place was nothing special but had the most amazing fish tacos he’d ever tasted.

Once they were seated and each had a beer, Kyle started speaking. “Remember how I was going to Valley Falls for Benji Melton’s wedding? Turns out, Celia was there.”

Shawn narrowed his eyes. “Not this again.”

For years, Shawn had been on him to forget about Celia. He felt like Kyle was holding onto something that wasn't there. “I talked to her.”

“Oh, I’m guessing you did more than that.” He raised an eyebrow.

“Fine, yes, we did more than talk, but that’s not all.”

“You’re telling me you slept with the woman who dumped you in the worst possible way and there's more? Jesus, will you never learn?”

“Man, just hear me out.” He knew how much Shawn hated Celia, but he’d never met her. He didn’t know her the way he did. This next part was going to be the part that Shawn really wouldn't like. “She has a kid.”

Shawn stopped moving, his beer halfway to his mouth. “A kid?”

Kyle nodded. “Jasmine.” Here went nothing. “She’s mine.” The rush that it gave him to say those words out loud was better than hitting the game-winning home run.

“What the fuck? What do you mean she’s yours?”

“Celia was pregnant when she broke up with me.”

Shawn slammed his bottle down on the table. “What a fucking bitch. How could she do that to you?”

Shaking his head, Kyle tried to calm his friend down. “Listen to me before you jump to any conclusions.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. You’ve fallen for her shit again, haven’t you?”

“Shawn, it’s not what you think. She did it because she thought she was doing the right thing.”

“Bullshit. She’s using you now like she used you then.” He stood up, throwing some bills on the table. “I’m not going to sit here and listen to this.” He stormed off, leaving Kyle alone at the table wondering what had just happened.

He’d known Shawn was going to take some convincing, but he didn’t think it would be this drastic. He knew there would be judgment on him for forgiving Celia so easily, but he never thought his best friend would react this badly. Finishing his own beer, he fished out some cash and dropped it down next to the money Shawn left. When he exited the building he was surprised to find Shawn sitting on the bench out front.

“I’m an asshole,” he said before Kyle could speak. “I just...you didn’t see how hurt you were all those years. How bad she hurt you.”

“But I did.” He sat down next to him. “I had to look at myself every day in the mirror and know I wasn’t enough for her. I was the one who went to sleep at night with her memory still fresh in my mind, and I was the one who had to hear those hurtful words over and over. I’m not asking you to forgive and forget, but I am asking you to listen to what I have to say. As my friend.”

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