Page 30 of The One for Me
“You’re going to survive, and I pray that you have a little adventure doing it.”
The sound of the ball against the metal bat causes both our heads to turn as Austin takes off. We get to our feet, cheering and yelling as he makes it safely to third and the team rushes out.
Austin hit the game-winning run.
They swarm him, bouncing around, and I can’t help but smile. He’s such a good kid, so warm and happy when he’s playing baseball that it’s clear this is where he belongs.
Once the celebration is over, Hazel and I make our way to where Jasper, Sean, and Austin are standing.
“Well, look at you, my sweet and wonderful boy!” Hazel says as she ruffles his hair.
“Mom!”
“What? I didn’t kiss you.”
Austin groans and ducks his head. “You’re embarrassing me.” He looks to Sean, and I giggle.
“So, you don’t want Sean to see us kiss and hug you?”
His eyes widen with fear and I bite my upper lip to stop from giggling.
“One day,” Sean breaks in, “you’re going to hope that girls hug and kiss you after you win the game.”
“Not anytime soon,” Hazel warns.
“Right. Not until you’re, like, thirty.”
I can’t resist the urge to tease him. “Which is what you’re turning in . . . twelve days?”
Sean glares at me and then shrugs. “And you’re right behind me.”
“Umm, I’m nine months behind you, pumpkin.”
He laughs. “Yes, but it’s coming sooner than you think.”
“I’m going to be ten!” Austin pipes in. “And then I’ll go up to the older league.”
“You know, you could probably be bumped up now,” Sean encourages. “I think your skill level is much higher than any of the kids on the team now, and maybe even better than some on the next level.”
Austin looks as if he might pass out from the praise. “Really?”
“Really.”
Jasper puts his hands on Austin’s shoulders. “All this takes time and patience, Austin. We want you to enjoy your childhood too. Baseball is great, but not many people make it to the major leagues like Sean.”
Sean smiles and nods. “He’s right. School comes first, but if you keep training and playing the way you are, I can see this being something you do for a long time.”
I wonder if Sean sees how much Austin is like he was when he was younger. He’s played since he was six. All year, he was either playing or talking about baseball. He joined every league he could, practiced all the time, and made me learn how to pitch so he could have batting practice whenever he wanted since his mother refused to buy him a batting cage. I swear he slept with his glove most nights, which I know Austin does.
“You know, while I’m here, I’m going to see a friend who lives close this weekend. I’d love it if maybe you and a few friends would come with me,” he offers.
“You want me and my friends to hang out with you?” Austin asks with eyes wide.
I have a sinking feeling this friend is also someone in baseball.
“Sure do. We’d probably even play ball for a bit.”
He looks to Jasper and Hazel, who both smile and nod. “It’s okay with us.”
