Page 113 of The Third Baseman

We collapsed together; the softy downy comforter cushioning us as we fell back.

“Holy shit, Marn, that was another level. If I knew studying was this hot, I’d have been getting straight As years ago.” He gently kissed me when I frowned. “You know what I mean.”

I wasn’t actually sure I did, but I let it go because he was right about the study sessions. They were hot, and I couldn’t keep my hands off him. I’d aced every test I had since we’d begun studying like this, and even Jupiter was averaging a B now instead of a C. He even got an A on an English paper.

That had been the best study session, and after his grade, his mom had handed us a hundred dollars to go for burgers and a movie, but we went down to the boardwalk instead and made out on the Ferris Wheel.

He adjusted us so I was underneath him, hovering above me with his perfect smile as he brushed away the mass of hair stuck to my forehead.

“I’m serious. This past few months with you… it’s been incredible. My grades are amazing and I’m playing better than I ever have before. I heard some Dodgers scouts are coming to the game tonight, and it’s all because of you.”

“I don’t know any Dodgers scouts,” I said with a grin.

“You know what I mean,” he repeated, running his nose along my neck before nipping me. When he looked up his eyes had changed; they’d become softer, bluer. “I love you, Marnie Matthews.”

Out of nowhere, my throat thickened, and I couldn’t swallow down the tears stuck in my throat quickly enough to let out more than a rasped, “I love you, too.”

“Hey, don’t cry. It’s a good thing.”

“I’m not, I’m just… they’re happy tears. I just…”

“What?”

I tried to move on the pillow, but I was trapped between his elbows resting either side of my head. I didn’t want him to see the anguish that had started creeping in. “It’s nearly the end of the year. You’ll get drafted, and I’m going to Boston.”

He smiled softly. “I know, but we’ll figure it out. I’m not letting geography get in the way.”

“Actually, I’ve been thinking about it.”

A lot. I’d been thinking about it a lot, so much so that I had the beginnings of a plan.

At least he looked intrigued. “Oh?”

“I’ve come up with a couple of options. One, I don’t have to go to M.I.T. early. I can stay in school here for another two years; or two, I stay in school and apply to CalTech.” I smiled, ready to deliver my wild card. “You can practically see the campus from Dodger Stadium. I’d get in there, easily, and once you’re in the majors, it would be so easy to come to all your games.”

He shifted his body until he slipped out of me. I immediately missed the warmth of him, especially as it felt like the air was cooling around us from more than just the A/C. “Marn, all you talk about is M.I.T. Even I know how perfect the program is there, because you told me about it a hundred times when we first got together. You’ve wanted to attend since you were a kid, when you found out Buzz Aldrin went there. You’ve always wanted to go to M.I.T., just like I’ve always wanted to play for The Dodgers.”

I tried to ignore the way my heart rate spiked; not in the good way, in the way that it did before panic set in.

“I know, but there are still fine programs for me at CalTech. It’s an excellent school. I’ll still get to do what I want.”

“Where’s this coming from?” He searched my face but I didn’t want to voice it, because it was dumb. Because I knew I’d miss him so much it would feel like my heart had stopped, but he could see it from the way my eyes filled with tears before I could stop them. “Marn, don’t worry about us, we’re strong enough to survive a little distance for a while. I’m not letting you give up your dream.” He dipped down, trying to calm my worries with a kiss. “We’ll make a pact; we won’t go more than three weeks without seeing each other. If you can come in term time, then I can travel during the holidays and breaks I get. Deal?”

I nodded.

“Good,” he kissed me again, a light smack of his lips. “I need to get in the shower before my parents get back from taking Emerson to the mall, and then head to warm ups. You’re still meeting Emerson to come to the game later, right?”

I nodded, and tried mustering up a smile. “Yeah, wouldn’t miss it. I’ll see if I can find the scouts and talk you up.”

“That’s my girl.”

My smile still hadn’t reached my eyes as he ran into the bathroom.

* * *

“I didn’t expect it to be so busy.”

Emerson and I were walking through campus to the stands. I wished we could hurry a bit quicker, but the way she kept turning around was slowing us down. At this rate we’d be standing in the wings instead of getting a seat near home plate.

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