Page 33 of Lines We Cross
His jaw muscle clenched over and over again as he sat there staring out the window. After a few deep breaths, he looked over at me. His eyes had gone icy blue, a sure sign Max wasn’t happy.
“Just my coach telling me if I’m not back by the end of the season, they won’t re-up my contract. Which means I’m done playing baseball.” He shrugged and the tension in his shoulders told me he cared quite a bit despite the front he was putting up. “We both know I won’t be back before the season is over. I can’t even walk without a limp right now, let alone sprint, jump, or move laterally with high speeds. I’m done.”
Max grabbed his coffee and took a huge gulp, slamming the heavy ceramic mug on the Formica tabletop while he swallowed. I waited him out, remembering how he was as a teen. He blew hot, and then as quickly as the storm came, he let it go. The seconds ticked by and I watched him fidget, his gaze darting all over the restaurant.
He finally grabbed his menu and put it back against the wall in its holder. “I need some waffles and bacon.”
Max looked at me again, this time holding my gaze and dropping the constant movement. The blue of his eyes had warmed again. I put my hand on his on the tabletop.
“I’m sorry, Max. I know this isn’t what you were hoping for.”
His lips pulled into a wry smile. “No, it really wasn’t. But I have to face facts. I’ve had a good run, played a lot of baseball, made a lot of money. I need to think about my future now.”
I let go of his hand as Jillayne approached. Didn’t need her spreading more gossip at the sight of us holding hands.
“What’ll it be, folks?” She had her pad of paper ready, the pen that stayed tucked behind her ear all morning at the ready.
“Waffles and bacon for me. Veggie egg white omelet for her, wheat toast.” Max grinned at me. “Did I get that right, Gingersnap?”
I narrowed my eyes, already telling my heart to calm down. He had a good memory and I was highly predictable, that’s all. Him memorizing my breakfast order meant nothing.
“And a side of fruit, please, Jillayne.”
“You got it.” She finished scribbling and put the pen back behind her ear. “Glad to have you back, Max. If you’re thinking of staying, I heard the boys could use a baseball coach over at the high school.”
She winked and rushed off to take orders from another table. Max leaned back and slouched in the booth, long minutes ticking by while the wheels in his brain cranked.
“Speaking of the future, what did you have in mind?” I took another sip of coffee just to have something to do with my hands. I focused on his answer, not wanting to miss a word.
His face went soft and he looked younger, more like the boy I remembered. “I want to get back to the love of what I’m doing. Somewhere along the lines, baseball became my job instead of my passion. I guess I just want passion back. For baseball, for my work, in my love life.” He paused to clear his throat, his gaze flickering down my face. “I want to date a good woman.” He locked eyes with me. “A beautiful woman.”
The diner faded away as I held my breath. My heart leaped and hoped. Hoped for something real with this man I couldn’t seem to drop. Everywhere I went, there he was. Even when I was alone, I wasn’t really. He was right there in my next thought.
“Chow down, my lovelies.” Jillayne plunked down our loaded plates and hustled off, completely unaware she’d interrupted a moment strung together by tension started over a decade ago.
Max smiled like he didn’t have a care in the world. Like all was well as long as he had bacon and waffles and me. Or maybe it was just the bacon. That greasy stuff really could amplify your day.
He drizzled the entire cup of syrup over his plate and took a huge bite of waffle. The food pushed out his cheeks, reminding me of a squirrel preparing for winter. I giggled, letting myself enjoy the morning, enjoy the company of Max. Friends enjoyed each other’s company, right?
He washed down the bite with more coffee. “I’m going to look into that coaching job. I have enough money saved to retire for good, but I want to keep busy. Have a purpose, you know? I got the house, next is the job, and then the beautiful woman.”
I lifted my eyebrow and got busy buttering my toast. My hand was shaking. “Got any women in mind?”
If my heart would just stop beating a million miles a minute, I could eat my food in peace.
“Yeah, actually I do.” He paused and I finally looked up, both dreading and coveting his answer. “You.”
I dropped my knife and it made a loud clanking noise as it hit the edge of my plate. I scooped it up and ducked my head, whispering furiously, “Be serious, Max!”
He ducked his head too, leaning over the table so our faces were only inches apart even with the table between us. “I am being serious, Rae. I’m going to do things right. I’m going to deserve you. Just you wait.”
13
Max
Ego was a funny thing. It could completely take over your life, ruling your decisions, your thoughts, your feelings. Ego was sly too, rarely alerting you to its presence. But once you saw it and got brave enough to kick it to the curb, a whole new world of opportunity awaited you. At least, that was what I hoped for.
I’d let the demise of my baseball career, and all the blustering and ego that went along with it, blind me to the opportunity right in front of my face. The chance for forever with Rae and my best friends in the town I’d grown up in. Sure, I could do a little less with everyone being up in my business, but I gained so much more by embracing this town. Telling Rae I planned to pursue her left me feeling free in a way I never had been before.
