Page 41 of Love in the Outfield

“Here Augs,” I say handing him a sippy cup with apple juice.

“He looks so dang precious in that ball uniform,” Ava says.

The jersey is royal blue with the number eight printed on the back, just like his daddy’s. The bottoms are white with blue pinstripes and his little Nikes are white and light blue with a royal blue logo.

“His little Nikes are so stinkin’ cute. He is not having that ball cap though,” I reply. “I’ll try again when we get there. Do you want a snack?’ I ask as I sort through the treat basket and grab the Lorna Doone biscuits for August.

“I’m good.”

“To tell you the truth I’m too nervous to eat. My stomach is tied in knots. You sure this outfit isn’t too much?” I ask.

“Positive. You look gorgeous. You’re twenty-nine, not eighty-nine. You’ve got a hot body, may as well be strutting your stuff. Besides, nothing trashy about that outfit. It screams big city which is hella better than Hicksville. I paid an arm and a leg for it at the Firefly Boutique. I’m going to have to consider giving it to you. It looks a lot better on you than it does on me.”

I have to admit I do feel pretty Vogue. I’ve layered a khaki spaghetti strapped leotard with an off-the-shoulder slim-fitting white tee then paired it with a loose khaki mini skirt that sits right on my hips. The wide brown belt I borrowed matches mycowboy boots, which, I might add, are all mine. They’re one of my few extravagant purchases it took me weeks to decide on. My hair is loose and thanks to the new conditioner Mama brought home from the salon, all soft and shiny.

“There’s going to be cameras and news people. This is a big deal,” I whine.

“I wouldn’t waste your worry. They don’t care about us. They’ll be focused on the players.”

“I can’t help it,” I say. “This is a far cry from my ordinary life.”

“I for one, don’t give a hooey what they think of me,” Ava declares.

“You look beautiful. You always do,” I say. And it’s true. She has the same color eyes and hair as me and Mama, you can definitely tell we’re kin. She’s tall and slightly curvy like me and not afraid to show it. She decided to wear a jersey from the opposing team, which I tried to talk her out of, and she tucked it into low-riding skinny jeans. She left the top buttons of her shirt undone enough to provide subtle glimpses of her sexy curves. Her hair is in two pigtails with tendrils framing her pretty face. The single guys in the locker room are about to have their world rocked.

After a thirty-minute drive and two stiff drinks for Ava, we arrive at the stadium and enter the parking garage. “Cade told me to text him when we get here,” I say. My hands are shaking as I shoot him a text.

Me: Just got here.

Cade: Great! See you in a nano.

The driver drops us off right at the elevators where Cade is already waiting. As I step out of the limo, I can’t help but feel like we’re making some kind of grand entrance. The driver holds thedoor as we pile out. Cade’s eyes go wide and he lets out a wolf whistle.

“Is it just me or did this parking garage just get hotter?” he jokes. “That outfit is giving! Nice shirt, Ava. San Diego, huh?”

Ava gives a slight sneer. “Thanks. I wore it just for you.”

“No doubt in my mind. Glad you could make it.”

“I didn’t have a choice,” she says, voice saccharine sweet.

I elbow her and hiss in her ear, “Be nice.”

“They might not let you in with that shirt on,” Cade says.

“Free country last time I checked,’ Ava snips.

Cade seems unfazed as he reaches into the limo to get August. “Hey buddy.”

“Da da,” he chirps. I hear Ava snort. I shoot her a look. I’m second-guessing my insistence that she come. She’s supposed to be here to support me, not antagonize Cade.

“Where’s his ball cap?” Cade asks over his shoulder.

“In the diaper bag.”

He opens the tote and pulls out the cap sitting right on top then plops it onto August’s head. Auggie grins happily and says, “Me hat.”Grrr.I’m beginning to detect a pattern.

“Yeah, see I have one exactly like it.” Cade touches his brim. His dark curls peek out from under his cap and my heart melts a little as he shares a playful smile with Auggie.

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