Page 20 of Curve Ball
Isla looks at me, confused. “What? Why?”
How do I tell her the reason I have to leave is that I hooked up with a player on her husband’s baseball team?
Oh, and that I’m carrying his child.
“I just... I can’t stay here,” I say, my voice shaking. “Please, just trust me on this. I need to leave before the game ends.”
Isla searches my face, but when I don’t give her anything else, she nods. “Okay, do you want me to go with you?”
“No, stay and support your man. I’ll be fine.”
Lie.
I’m anything but fine.
I never considered how close he could actually be to me.
Gael won’t be able to catch up to me because he can’t leave the game early, but I can only imagine the texts I’m going to get tonight. I should block his number.
I know I won’t be able to bring myself to do it.
Quickly making my way through the crowd of people near the concessions and team store, I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I know Gael will be confused and probably hurt, but I can’t let him catch up to me, can’t let him confront me here, in front of everyone.
Seeing him has made me reconsider telling him.
I can’t imagine him wanting a baby, knowing that it might ruin his pro-ball career.
How would him having a baby ruin his career, Adri? Men who play professional sports don’t have kids?
Just me having an internal crisis where I try to lie to myself.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, seeing a text from Isla.
Isla
You okay?
Adriana
Yeah, I just needed to get out of there. I'm fine, I promise.
Adriana
Hey, I didn’t know Gael played on the Coyotes.
Fucking smooth, Adri.
Isla
Yeah! Gael is Kai’s best friend… They played college ball together and then got picked up by the Coyotes together. I didn’t know you knew him.
Adriana
I don’t, really. Just met in passing at Carbón.
I take a few more deep breaths, trying to steady my nerves. I can't believe Gael plays for the Coyotes and that he and Kai are best friends. It's a small world, and now I feel like such an idiot for sleeping with him.
I don’t want to cause issues with Isla and Kai because I slept with his best friend.
