I slept in Drew’s room that night, and the next, and the next, and the next. I stayed with him a lot in his office too, just because I wanted to be close to him, and for another reason that I wasn’t going to disclose to him, ever.
I hung out with him and read while he tended to business, and it seemed like I always ended up taking a nap on his sofa. I couldn’t help it. His business was so boring. The only time that I wasn’t with him was when Derik was there, and then I got the hell out of the house. I didn’t want to be anywhere near that bastard.
When I did drive into the city, it was on the north side. I didn’t go against Drew’s wishes and venture into the strip. I didn’t really want to go there anyway. I liked the north end. I liked my little café, where the guys Timmy, Stan, and Jewels all knew me by name, and knew what I liked. I had graduated from the park and ventured a nearby high school, where I would sit and watch the baseball games, track meets, and sometimes just the girls practicing their cheers. I enjoyed my time there. It made me happy.
I was watching a boy’s baseball game one afternoon when Drew phoned. I didn’t want to leave and groaned when I saw that it was him. I had been keeping up with the Scorpions, and they were 4 and 0. It was only the fourth inning, and it was going to be a close game. I didn’t want to leave.
“Where are you?” he asked.
“Trinity High,” I answered with a smile. I knew he had no idea what that was.
“I’m not even going to ask. Come home. I’m done working for the day and Derik left.”
“Uh-uh, you come to me.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m watching a ballgame. You come here.”
“Um, no. I’m good on that. I’ll see you when you get home.”
“Get out of that stuffy suit and come and join me.
Please.” I begged.
“I don’t know the first thing about baseball.”
“I didn’t either, but I’m learning. Do you know where Trinity is?”
“Yes, but I never said I was coming.”
“You are. I’ll see you in a little bit.” I hung up laughing to myself.
Drew was there in fifteen minutes, wearing his oh, so sexy jeans with a red t-shirt. I smiled when I saw that he was wearing the sneakers that I had bought him just the day before. I moved over on the bleacher, and he slid in beside me.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” he said.
“Shhhh, bases are loaded, and this kid that is getting ready to bat is remarkable. If he can get at least two of them home it will tie the game.”
“How do you know so much about baseball?”
“I learned by coming here watching when dick face Derik is in my house.”
Drew laughed, and then looked at me like I had lost my mind when I jumped up with the rest of the Scorpion fans, screaming when the batter hit a home run bringing in all four players.
The other team was good too, and it was neck and neck all the way to the ninth inning.
“I thought there were only nine innings,” Drew presumed. He was into the game as much as I was. I thought it was cute.
“There is. They’re going into an extra inning because it’s tied. We’re the home team. If we score this time the game is over, and we win. If not, the other team gets another try,” I explained.
The first batter made it to first. The second batter was tagged out, but the player on first made it to third.
Everyone held their breath when the third batter was trying to beat the flying ball to first. He slid, and the umpire called out, but the guy on third, beat the ball to the home plate, and scored the winning point.
“That was kind of fun. When do they play again?”
Drew asked. I took his hand as we walked back toward the school.
“Friday,” I smiled.
“Where are you parked?”
“In the parking lot at the park, walk with me,” I coaxed.
We walked through the park holding hands and then along the sidewalk of the different stores and restaurants.
“Let’s go in this sports bar and eat barbeque for supper,” I suggested.
He looked up at the sign and then back to me with a frown. “I don’t think so. Have you been in this place?”
“No. Only because I knew you would throw a tantrum about it.”
“I would. I will take you some place to eat if you want to go out. Not here.”
I gave him the same frown and pulled his hand toward the door. “If you take me out, you’re going to make us go home and change into stiff outfits. We will fit in just fine here.”
Drew growled, but he caved and followed me in.
We sat at a high table with barstools.
“Country music? Are you kidding me?” He protested.
I laughed, and then got serious. Why did I know the words to this song? I was deep in thought when the waitress came to take our drink orders.
“Bud lite in a bottle,” I spoke, unconsciously.
“The same,” Drew said. He knew that I was remembering something.
“What’s wrong, Morgan?”
“How did I know to order that? And why do I know this song?”
“Maybe from when you were in Florence,” he suggested.
I gave him a look. I might regret it but here goes.
“I was never in Florence, Drew.”