The first thing I do after my shower is text Daisy to see if she’d like to meet for lunch. I’m still in the dark about a lot of personal things when it comes to her and it didn’t escape my notice that each time we spoke while I was away, it was about my game. She would rarely answer questions, except for the basics like favorite food and color. I get why she keeps everything to herself. I’m a wildcard where she’s concerned. She’s read the rumors, and while some are true, others have been made up purely to get traffic to a certain website. Nonetheless, I’d be hesitant too. Most people only dream of meeting celebrities, sports figures, and the like, but to have one calling you at odd hours just to talk, has to be pretty freaking surreal.
She answers when I call at one a.m. after being in the bar with the guys. She doesn’t ask what I’ve been doing, or if I’ve been with anyone even though I want her to. I want to be able to tell her that she has been on my mind since that first morning in Tampa and that I can’t wait to see her again. I hold back, though, because I don’t want to scare her away. It’s important for me to pursue her the right way and not like the sex-crazed twenty-two-year old that I am.
For the first time in a long time, I want this girl to like me, and not the one that makes a regular appearance in the sports pages of the tabloids. Rarely do I find a woman who isn’t related to me that can talk shop and understand what I’m saying, although, that could come back to bite me in the ass if I keep playing like shit. I have no doubt Daisy will tell me where I fucked up and what I need to do to get better.
Daisy texts back saying she wants to meet at T. Anthony’s Pizzeria. Between the pizza joint and the place we had breakfast, I can pretty much guess that we’re meeting in between her classes, even though she won’t tell me what her schedule is. I’m going to have to find a way to get it out of her because I’m hoping there will be a day where I want to surprise her. I can see myself showing up on campus and leaning against my car as I wait for her to come out of her dorm or class. I’m getting ahead of myself here, having these thoughts. I don’t even know if she likes me or just feels sorry for me right now.
The BoRe Blogger was quiet while we were on our road trip. The losses diminished most of our spirits and no one wanted to do anything. I didn’t play as well as I had been which is bringing my batting average down. My father doesn’t like that and has expressed his displeasure with my strikeouts after one of the games. Even though I’m playing at the highest level possible, you’re never too old to take feedback from your first coach, especially when he’s your dad.
There’s a light drizzle falling as I drive over to T. Anthony’s. I hate thinking Daisy is out walking in this. I shake my head trying to clear my thoughts. My first thought about rain shouldn’t be about Daisy, but about whether we’re going to play tonight. We have three games until we get a day off. And that day off just so happens to be Daisy’s birthday. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to see her, but I’m assuming her family will want to take up all of her time.