Page 21 of Light Up My Life (Forbidden Heat 3)

Lance laughed.

“Well, no body is perfect,” he said. “I thought we were going to agree on absolutely everything. Shoot.”

“Yeah, that’s disappointing.”

He finished his beer and sat the bottle down, hard on the table. “Would you like to get out of here? Go someplace special? I know a really fun place that I think you would enjoy.”

I was a bit leery and skeptical. I did not know this guy that well, and I wondered where this place was. But I’d taken my car because I did not plan on drinking very much, if at all.

“Sure. I’ll follow you. But I have to admit, I’m very intrigued.”

“I’ll bet you are,” he said. “Trust me.”

* * *

“What are we doing here?” I asked.

I’d followed Lance through several blocks until we came to a large parking lot right in front of a huge stadium. It was the Great American Ballpark. Cincinnati Reds field. It was ten at night and there was no game going on. The lot was empty. I had no idea what I was in store for, but I had a feeling it was going to be totally crazy. I was down for that. It had been some time since I’d done anything wild.

“Oh, you will see,” Lance said. “I have a bit of a fun surprise up my sleeve.”

“Really? You just happened to have a surprise? Are you sure you didn’t know I’d be in that bar tonight?”

He held up his hand. “Scout’s honor.”

“You were a scout?”

“No,” Lance grinned.

I foll

owed him across the parking lot to the entrance on the side of the field house. Lance pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door. Then he motioned for me to step inside.

I was a little apprehensive. “I’m not sure we should go in there. I mean… no one is here. Aren’t we trespassing?”

“I’ve got the key,” Lance said. “So, no.”

“How do you have a key, by the way?” I asked.

“I have friends that help me out every now and then. And I help them out. It works out that I can usually get into this stadium whenever I want.”

“Well, that’s convenient. I’m surprised you don’t see every single game here.”

“I do have a life outside of sports,” Lance said.

“I’m not sure that is a life worth living,” I joked.

I walked into the building. He turned the lights on and then led me down a few hallways until we reached a final door. Through that door we ended up on the field. Wow… I was actually on the same field that the Reds played on. I couldn’t believe it.

But it was still very dark. “No lights? Or do your powers have limitations?”

I tried not to laugh, but it was too much fun busting his balls.

“Do not fret,” Lance said. He pulled out his phone and sent a text message. A moment later the stadium lights came on. I’d always dreamed of being on this field, walking the bases, of touching them first through home, of smelling the dirt and the grass on the infield. I was in total bliss. This was really happening. Wow… I couldn’t believe it. This was insane. I never would have dreamt when I left the house tonight, that I would actually end up here.

“This is crazy,” I said as I walked around. I held my arms open and threw my head back. “Yes!” I shouted. My voice echoed off the bleachers. I could practically hear my voice mingling with the sounds of thunderous applause from games past, the crack of the baseball bat, the sounds of cleats digging into the dirt as players ran for their next base.

It was like a dream come true. I was actually there. I wanted to play professional ball so badly. I remembered it right then. I had been a star softball player in high school and college until my world was flipped upside down. I wanted to get that back again. I desperately needed it. I knew now exactly what my life was missing. It was the final ingredient, and it had taken this random occurrence to realize that.

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