Page 61 of Off Season

“Then what is it that you do want?”

She thinks for a moment. “To make a difference.”

Not the answer I expected. “How so?”

She’s quiet for a moment. “If I tell you something, can I trust that it stays between us? No one knows this, not even my sister.”

“Of course. I promise. I told you, what happens in a fort stays in a fort. Standard fort rules.” I make a show of crossing my heart.

She briefly covers her eyes with her hands. “I can’t believe I’m going to tell you this. I’ve never uttered the words out loud. Not even to myself.”

I squeeze her hand. “You can trust me, Kamryn.”

She nods. “I know. I don’t know why I feel like I can, but I know I can.” She lets out a breath. “I’m in law school.”

I sit up as my eyes widen in shock. Of all the things she could have said, that wasn’t what I expected in the slightest. “What? Where? When?”

She smiles. “It’s an online program. Obviously I can’t take a full course load, so it will take a while, but I’ve been doing it for over five years. I have less than two left. I don’t sleep so it’s not hard to make time to watch the lectures and read all the cases. I have a photographic memory. The tests are easy for me. I have straight A’s. I got a perfect score on the entrance exam which entitled me to a full scholarship. The program allows me to participate at my own pace. It’s been working for me.”

I grab her hand again. “Kam, that’s amazing.”

“You think?”

I nod enthusiastically. “Absolutely. Do you know what you want to do with your law degree?”

She shakes her head. “Just something that matters. That’s all I care about. I’ll graduate ahead of the Olympics. It’s kind of my post-Olympics career plan.”

“Why don’t you tell people? You should be proud.”

She blows out a long breath, “People see me as the goofy, crazy, outrageous one. I have a rep to protect.”

I smile. “I certainly understand that. Well, I think it’s awesome. I have no idea what I’m going to do after baseball. It’s assumed that I’ll move home, start a family, and probably end up being a high school baseball coach. It’s not enticing to me at all.”

“You could easily play another ten years, but you could do commentary when you’re done. You certainly have the personality for it, and obviously you have a face for television.”

I shrug my shoulders as I lay back down. “Maybe. I never considered that before.”

“You should.”

“How do you get into it?”

“You have natural charisma and game knowledge. I think those are probably the two most important things. You could take some classes to learn how to properly channel it all.”

Hmm.

I look at the pile of candy, marshmallows, and crackers. “Want me to make you a s’more?”

She shakes her head. “No. I’m good.”

“I have some pineapples. Do you want those?”

She narrows her eyes at me. “How do you know that I eat pineapples?”

“I didn’t. I eat them because it’s supposed to make my spunk taste sweeter. Want to test that theory?”

She giggles. “I eat them because it’s supposed to make my honey pot taste good.”

“It’s working. Ilovethe taste of your honey pot.”

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