Page 16 of Always My Comfort

“And somehow, she’s still marryin’ your sorry ass.”

* * *

Checking my reflection,I adjusted my tie one last time before stepping into the room where my coach was sitting at a table with the team manager and a reporter.

It was time to announce my arrival to the Atlanta Braves. I hadn’t told my family the news about me getting signed yet.

After today, I wouldn’t be able to hide it anymore. My arrival to this team was breaking news in the league, especially with Richard Balmer’s retirement coming soon.

“You’ll just answer a few questions, but your coach will do most of the talkin’, okay, hun?” the older reporter told me, reading over her notepad. I nodded, my tongue dry from nerves. “Congrats on the team swap, by the way. The Braves are my favorite.” She winked and then prepped Coach with the questions she was going to ask him.

I took my seat, adjusting my suit jacket, wishing I could just rip it off and undo the tie wrapped around my neck.

An Atlanta Braves team hat was laying on the table, and the manager handed it to me. I put the stiff hat on my head and stared ahead at the camera.

“Going live in three, two, one,” the cameraman said, and the reporter stood in front of him, a fake smile tugging at her bright red lips.

“Good evening, Atlanta! Behind me is the Atlanta Braves’ hottest new recruit. He started his career late in the game, but he’s been taking the league by storm. You know his brother, Dante Dexter, but have you met Jaxon Dexter?” The cameraman turned the big device to me, and sweat rolled down my neck.

I waved, unsure what was expected but kept a grin plastered to my face.I want to be here.As nerve-wracking as this was, I wanted to be here on this team.

“You caught the coach’s eye at a game last season, is that right?” she asked, and I paused.

What was I supposed to say?

“I hope so. I played for the Tampa Bay Rays last season, and when we played against the Braves’, I threw my first ever three-digit mile-per-hour pitch.” She nodded, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Coach did, too.

“What did that feel like, Jaxon? You’re late to the sport, so you must have put in a lot of extra work to get to this point.”

“Funny enough, I didn’t know I had hit 105 until the announcer screamed it. I think I was in shock. It felt like every other time I had thrown the ball, except I put everythin’ I had into that throw.” She grinned, and it eased my nerves. Talking about baseball had become therapy.

“So, tell us why you chose baseball and not football like your brothers.”

This was the question I wasn’t sure how to answer. It was fun to play with my brothers and dad, but without them, I hated it.

“I grew up playin’ football. I think as soon as I could run, my dad had me out in our backyard, playin’ with my brothers. He wanted all of us to play pro, but only Dante made it. I was following his path until I realized I wasn’t enjoyin’ the sport anymore. We all played baseball during the off-season to stay in shape, and it just made sense. Plus, I don’t have to run as much.” I winked, earning laughter from everyone in the room.

“When can we expect to see you on the field?” she asked, and I turned to Coach because ultimately, it was his decision.

“Hopefully soon. I’m still learnin’ the dynamics of the team, and I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, you know?” She nodded as if I had just given her the perfect segway to start talking about Balmer.

She turned her attention to Coach, and the tension eased from my body, the bright lights no longer on me.

She questioned Coach and the team manager and then ended her segment. I was relieved it was over, but from the buzzing coming from my pocket, the buzzing that hadn’t stopped for the last ten minutes, my family now knew. Which meant I had to deal with the consequences of not telling them first.

Coach shook my hand and then the team manager. I thanked them for what felt like the hundredth time and then exited the building, the fall breeze cooling me down.

Pulling my phone from my pants pocket, I cringed at the caller ID.

“Hey, Ma,” I answered, getting into my black F-150.

“Hey, Ma? Is that all you’ve got to say, young man?” She pauses. I could hear dad in the background and waited. “Why didn’t you tell us you were goin’ to the Braves? And why haven’t you come to visit if you’re so close?!” She wasn’t asking, that was for damn sure.

“I wanted to surprise you, that’s all. Is everyone there?” I sighed, gripping the steering wheel.

“Oh, we’re all here, brother,” Dante said, chuckling. “You could have made me sound better, you know. That reporter loved me.” His wife, Brooklyn, started to question him about the reporter, and I fought a grin.

I missed them.

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