Page 51 of Play the Field

Finally understanding, Daniel pursed his lips. “Allow me.” Reaching behind my head, he pulled out a black, bin with a yellow lid. The top, which wasn’t visible to me, was labeled: “Cat the Bat”.

“Bingo.” Dan slammed the heavy, plastic container down on the wide wood planks. “Why do you want that nasty old thing? The leather is peeling off of it. It leaves black soot on your hands.”

It did sound a little ridiculous. I’d used dozens of gloves since college, most of them sent to me for free from whatever company wanted my picture taken with their product. In a lot of ways, it was perfect. But now that I was trying to get back into the game, I felt like I needed something more familiar. Cleo’s presence had helped a lot in that department. With the rec leagues championships growing closer, I needed another lift.

With a sigh, I popped open the lid of the container. “I just feel like this new glove is too stiff.”

“Did you try Dad’s trick?” Dan smirked.

“Sitting on it for a day did not help.” I laughed as I looked through the treasure trove of items. It was like a history lesson in Cat Collins. There were dozens of trophies from soccer to softball, and math to chorus.

I unfolded a couple of loose papers.

“Oh, I love those.” Dan leaned against the post at the center of the attic as I searched.

Inside were crude drawings of our family alongside sunflowers and rainbows.

Shaking my head, I looked at Dan. “You kept all of this?”

Daniel rolled his eyes. “Of course I did. Mom seemed to think you’d want it, so I trusted her guidance.”

I felt my eyes swelling up. After they’d moved, Dan took on the responsibility of being the family’s keeper. No one trusted Florida’s hurricane season to keep our belongings safe. So instead, Dan volunteered the attic.

I shouldn’t be so hard on his organizational skills.

“What’s all of this about,really?” His forehead wrinkled.

Looking up at him, I stammered. “I… think I’m just trying to see how much of my old life I can get back. And how much of it will stick around.” After I said it, the glove’s faded brown appeared before me.

Daniel nodded. “So it’s about Cleo?”

“Pretty much,” I confessed. “I don’t know if anything will be different this time. But I really feel like they might be the only person I can be with.”

Taking in a deep breath, my brother shrugged. “I felt that way about Meredith. Do you want to know the secret?” Instead of answering, I just nodded. “You can make it different.”

It was an answer I’d been avoiding. But to really make that happen, it would take both of us. A commitment that we’d not let distance tear us apart again. And even if I was ready, I couldn’t do it without them.

“Thanks.” I closed up the bin and put everything back in its apparently correct place.

Dan clapped my back. “Cleo was always my number one draft pick for you.”

And I couldn’t lie, they were always mine too.

Daniel’s advice echoed in my ear as I threw onions into the skillet. A loud sizzle emanated from the pan as I stirred the contents.

Over my shoulder, I watched Cleo typing at their desk. They looked so cute when they were concentrating.

I’d made this particular dish enough times to go on autopilot, not needing to pay too much attention to get the job done. Cleo played some music over their speaker while they worked and I danced along.

But just as dinner was finishing on the stove, my phone started ringing from my pocket.

Cleo, not hearing it, kept the music on and faced their computer.

When I checked the screen, it displayed Tommy’s name. Sliding right on the call, I brought the phone to my ear. “Hey, what’s up?”

“You sound chipper. How’s it going over in small-town USA?” She cleared her throat as she clicked her pen.

Nodding, I looked around the apartment. “Pretty good.”

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