Page 19 of Totally Fanatic

It’s Levi’s turn tobuy smoothies after he dropped the last deadlift too soon.

“Hey, that looks like Tim?” I say, spotting his messy bun of blond hair walking toward Joe’s. “Hey, Tim,” I call, and he spins toward me, a wide grin spreading across his face when he spots it’s me.

“Hey, Lion. Looks like our cravings hit at about the same time now.”

“Levi lost on deadlifts, so he’s buying,” I say, reaching the table and pulling out a chair to sit. “Did you want to join us?”

“Ahh, I probably shouldn’t.”

Beau slaps a hand on his shoulder.

“Sure you should. Like Lion said, Levi’s buying, what will you have?”

“Umm, okay, well, a Berry Blast would be great, thanks.” Beau pulls out the chair opposite me, and Tim sits.

“Same for me, please,” I say.

“I’ll have a Strawberry Sunset,” Beau tells Levi, and he heads inside to get our order.

“Do you work out every day?” Tim asks, looking from Beau to me and back. “I mean, of course you do, you don’t get guns like those by skipping a day. But do you always work out together?”

“Most days,” Beau answers. “Unless this one is off doing his groupie thing.”

Tim frowns. “Groupie?”

“You know, like when teenagers follow bands around the country, except with Lion here, he follows Banana Ball. Wait, you’re in the Banana Ball league, right?”

“Tim is the best right fielder they have in the league. He’s got seventeen different trick plays and even hit off one of the OG pitchers in the Jacksonville game,” I say, and the way Tim’s face lights up hearing how awesome he is spurs me on. I want him to always look this happy. He should always be this happy. He’s amazing. “Oh, and he’s played the most games as a right fielder the last two years in a row. They know he’s the best, so of course they keep him on. No need to sub out someone else when the star player is already on the field.”

“So, you’re fairly good, then?” Beau asks with a smirk on his lips. I elbow him in the side.

“You know he’s great. You watch the games, too.”

Tim turns his way. “I take it you’re a fan as well?”

“Of sport, yep, but I don’t limit myself to just one. I follow all sports. I used to play rugby but fucked up my knee. Now, I’m a personal trainer.”

“That’s cool. Not about the knee, just that you have something else you enjoy doing.”

“Gotta have a Plan B, that’s what my mom always said.”

Levi returns with our drinks, and Tim stands. “I better get going, training and all that. This was nice, we should do it again some time.”

“We’re here every Tuesday about this time,” I reply, and Beau shoves me with his elbow. “What? We are.”

Beau clears his throat. “Weren’t you telling us about this great bodega you found? We should all go tomorrow night. Tim, you in?” Beau asks.

“I’m not sure. I’ll have to check with the guys. I think a few of them were making plans before we head out to the next city on tour. But maybe. I’ll message you, if that’s cool?” he says, looking at me.

“You don’t have my number.”

“I’ll message Kittyball100.”

“Oh, okay. Cool.”

“Cool.”

Tim leaves, and Levi is just sitting there staring at me. Tim never goes into the direct messages of people online, he was really clear about that on his page. He only ever comments on public posts and replies to people’s questions there on the open forum, private direct messaging has never been his thing. My foot starts to drum against the floor as I replay his words. He really said he’d send Kittyball100 a message, didn’t he? There’s a lightness in my chest, and my mouth is suddenly so dry.

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