Page 18 of How We Fooled

Eli

The national team I play baseball for is in Billings, so the drive there is a bit of a distance to travel just for practice. Dalton and Ben both play sports with me locally, but I’m the only one who took baseball to this next level by trying out for this national team. Dalton is way more into football and is already committed to Stanford to play, and Ben is like me, not sure what his next step in life will be, but I get the feeling his won’t involve sports.

After practice, I hop in the truck and instantly start it to get the air conditioner going as fast as possible. Placing my head on the headrest, I breathe for a second before taking a drink of my water. We’re getting ready to travel to Florida for a big tournament, so today’s practice was intense, and with the summer heat and humidity, I’m a sweaty mess.

I reach for my towel to wipe off my forehead, then grab my phone that I threw on the front seat when I took it out of my bag before tossing all my stuff in the back. After putting my seat belt on, I put the truck in reverse and click Liza’s name to call her before I’m even out of the parking lot.

“Hi,” she answers on the second ring.

“Hey. Did you get some sleep last night?”

She giggles, and it’s the cutest sound ever. “I did. I slept later than usual. How about you?”

“I wish. I had practice today in Billings, so I had to leave my house by eight. I just got out.”

“Dang, that was a long practice.”

“Yeah, I’m on a national team, where all of us guys live all over the state, so we only get a few practices in before we travel to play.”

“Where do you guys travel?”

“All over. Florida, Georgia, Arizona, North Carolina,” I start rambling off.

“Seriously?” She chuckles.

“Yep. I told you your summer is booked for the times I’m actually in town and not on the road, playing games.”

“I didn’t think that meant you traveled all over the country!”

“Summers are crazy, for sure.” I pull up to a stoplight and yawn, placing my head against the headrest for a brief moment.

“You sound tired.”

“I’m exhausted. This pretty girl kept me up late last night.” I wish I could see her face blush as I hear her small laugh. “It was totally worth it though.”

“Glad to hear.”

“So, can I see you again tonight?”

“I’d love that.”

“Great. I have to head home and shower, and then I’ll come pick you up. I’m starving, and that Italian place in Mason Creek sounds amazing right now.”

“Yes, please shower first,” she teases.

“What? You don’t like dirt-covered sweat all over your new boyfriend? It’s a sight to see, I’m telling you.”

“My new boyfriend?”

“Oh, yeah, I thought we made that pretty clear last night. I’m all in. I don’t play games like that.”

“Well, I guess I should get used to my sweat-covered boyfriend, but maybe not to go out to dinner like that.”

“Ha! Yeah, good call. If I walked into a restaurant, looking like this, I think everyone in there would ask me to leave.” I reach for my phone and click the button to FaceTime. “Here, answer the FaceTime call, and you’ll see.”

She accepts it, and in a few seconds, I see her beautiful face grace the screen. Instantly, I raise my knee to steady the steering wheel as I move my other hand to my phone to take a screen capture.

She laughs out loud. “Did you just screen capture our phone call?”

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