VIP treatment.
If not for Michael, Julia didn’t want or need special handling. Her idea of going to a ball game was sitting in the stands, listening to the vendors yell as they walked up and down the aisles selling popcorn, peanuts, soda and Cracker Jacks. A hot dog under the hot baking sun. That was her idea of the perfect baseball game. Not sitting in an air-conditioned, luxury box, with big screens showing the game on two separate walls. But she had to admit, with the outside temperature plus ninety, she appreciated the A/C.
She’d been looking forward to seeing the stadium and the game through Michael’s eyes. Kyle had insisted on picking them up so they’d get there early, allowing Michael time with the team beforehand. The teen fairly bounced in the car on the way to the stadium, filling the Escalade with questions and excitement.
When they arrived, Kyle handed Julia over to Macy’s assistant and he took the boy to the locker room, where Kyle explained he’d dress in a team uniform and be a batboy for the day. From that point on, Kyle was elevated from idol status to a god in Michael’s eyes. Kyle had really gone all out for the teenager, showing a whole other side that Julia had never seen before.
And though she was thrilled Michael would have this experience, his absence left her alone in the luxury box with over a dozen strangers. Everyone smiled and nodded in her direction, but they migrated into private groups who knew each other and had things in common. And when a particularly young group of women arrived, their giggling took over the room, making Julia uncomfortable.
With fifteen minutes to game time, she focused on the field, looking for glimpses of Kyle or Michael, and tried not to appear as out of place as she felt.
During the “Star-Spangled Banner,” the team publicist slipped into the empty seat beside her. “Whew,” Macy said. “First game I’ve made it to on time in over a week. I see you got here okay. Are you having fun?”
Though Julia didn’t know the woman except for their brief meeting in her office, she was grateful to have a friendly face beside her now. “Yes, I am. Thank you for helping to arrange all this. I’ve never seen Michael so animated or excited. I’m so grateful to you and to ASRL for making this happen.”
“I’m happy to help,” Macy said. “So tell me, just how far back do you and Hansen go?”
“High school.”
“Aha.”
“Frankie and I met in high school.” A pretty brunette who looked about Julia’s age joined them.
“Do you two know each other?” Macy asked.
Julia shook her head.
“Julia Caldwell, this is Lisa Banks, the wife of our first baseman, Frank Banks,” Macy said, handling the introductions. “Lisa, this is Julia. She’s an old friend of Kyle Hansen’s.” She tapped on her blinking BlackBerry. “Look, I need to handle some things. Mind if I leave you two alone?”
“I’ll keep her company,” Lisa promised.
Julia smiled. “I’ll be fine.”
“Great!” Macy ran off to do her job.
Julia turned to Lisa. “You really don’t have to babysit me, you know.”
“I’m not babysitting. Frankly, you look more my type than some of the other women here today.” She leaned in closer and explained. “This box is for the players’ families and friends. Sometimes it’s a great group up here. Other times, the rookie players wrangle special favors from Macy and get tickets for their girls. Then we end up with that.” She subtly tilted her head in the direction of the young women Julia had noticed earlier.
While Lisa and Julia wore jeans, short-sleeve shirts, little makeup and had pulled their hair into loose pony tails and plopped baseball caps on their heads, the others had primped and made themselves up like life-size Barbie dolls. Not to mention their cleavage-popping tube tops, and stomachs with belly rings.
“I’m actually very happy to have the company,” Julia said, trying not to think too hard about the girls in the corner.
She had already seen similar-looking females crowding the entry to the private lot where Kyle had parked, craning their necks for a look at the players, hoping to get noticed.
He’d shrugged it off as no big deal.
These were obviously the lucky ones who’d gotten beyond the hopeful stage. She wondered how many of Kyle’s women had occupied her very seat. Clearly she wasn’t being successful in ignoring their presence in the scheme of Kyle’s life.
“You’ll keep me from ogling the scenery,” Julia said.
Lisa laughed. “I wish I could say you get used to them, but you don’t.”
“It’s a good thing I don’t have to worry about it then. Kyle and I are just old friends.”
Old friends who’d kissed like about-to-be lovers, she thought, her mind immediately going back to last night.
The other woman raised an eyebrow. “Mmm, hmm.” Her tone conveyed complete disbelief. “Okay, well, you should know that you’re the only friend he’s ever gotten box seats.”
“Really?” Julia asked, so hopeful she gave herself away.
“Truly.” A satisfied grin settled on Lisa’s face. She’d obviously seen through Julia’s lie and liked being proven right.
Kyle, with his honesty, his generous spirit and the connection that still remained between them, meant much more to Julia than just a friend.
Uh-oh.
“Frankie and Kyle are good buddies. They’re the same age, the young guys look up to them and they joined the team the same year.”
Lisa chatted throughout the game, telling Julia stories about the individual players, both good and bad. She talked more about how she and Frankie had been together since high school and married the same year he was called up to the majors. They had no kids—yet—and had weathered some serious storms during their time together. The traveling took its toll on their relationship, but they’d both worked hard to keep it together. In short, Frankie and Lisa were the couple Julia and Kyle could have been.
She glanced out the huge window just as the batboys were running onto the field. Julia jumped up and cheered for Michael, thrilled beyond belief that he’d been given this opportunity.
“Are you two related?” Lisa asked.
Julia shook her head. “No, he’s just a very special boy.” She went on to explain her relationship to the teenager and how he’d brought Kyle back into her life again.
“Life works in mysterious ways. Kyle’s great with kids. Every fundraiser the team has, he’s the first one out there, hands on, hanging out with them.”
Lisa was giving her insight into a side of Kyle she didn’t know—hadn’t had the chance to know.
“I saw him throwing balls with the boy before the game.”
“That’s great! Validation from Kyle will mean everything to Michael.” Julia didn’t know how to thank him. This was so much more than she could have hoped for.
She realized she was taking Michael’s situation to heart and was getting way too close, both to the boy and to Kyle. Julia knew better than to get emotionally involved with patients at the hospital or their families, but she couldn’t seem to help it.
With Lisa by her side, Julia relaxed and enjoyed the game. Not only did Kyle pitch a phenomenal seven innings, but while in the dugout, she saw him rallying his team and fulfilling his role of captain. To the delight of the fans, the middle relief pitchers and then the closer held on to the win Kyle had handed them and the day was a huge success.
Since Michael was with the other batboys and Kyle would bring him to her later, Julia remained in the box and watched the press conference that followed on the big-screen television. Kyle fielded the reporters’ questions like the pro that he’d become. He joked with the press, addressed many of the sportswriters and columnists by name and was at ease with himself and the world around him.
When the questions turned from today’s win to the upcoming schedule, she discovered the Suns were about to embark on a ten-day road trip to the West Coast. Ten days. She didn’t know why the length of time surprised her. She was aware baseball players spent huge amounts of time on the road. That had been one of the many reasons she wouldn’t have gone with Kyle way back when, even if her circumstances had been different. She knew they’d end up living separate lives. The reminder that he’d be gone for ten days confirmed for her that they lived in parallel worlds. And his world had no place for her in it.
But she wasn’t ready to walk away from him just yet. She could have tonight, said a small voice in her head. And maybe she could revisit the past and survive, as long as she knew ahead of time it was just one night.
Her breasts tingled at a possibility she found extremely appealing. As long as she separated her body and her heart, she’d be fine. Unfortunately it was her heart that took a huge leap an hour or so later at the sight of Kyle, his arm around Michael’s shoulders, as he strode out of the locker room to meet her.
“Hey there!” She forced a smile and waved as the two of them walked up beside her. “So? Good day?”
“It was so freaking cool!” Michael’s eyes lit up. “I watched the game from the field. I caught balls and washed the players’ cleats after the game. And Kyle says I have talent. Real talent. He wants me to have a chance to learn, so he’s going to find out about getting me a permanent batboy job.” The teen was more animated than Julia had ever seen him.
“That’s fantastic!” she said, her heart expanding by the minute at the change in the sullen boy she was used to seeing at the hospital.
And she had Kyle to thank.
She met his gaze, hoping he could sense the gratefulness and admiration she felt for him at this moment.
He winked at her and her knees went weak.
“Are you hungry?” he asked Michael.
The boy shook his head. “I can’t wait to get home and tell my mom!”
“She said she’d be at your place after the game, so we’ll drop you off and you can fill her in,” Kyle said. “How about we pick up some drive-through on the way home?”
“Burgers, Shakes and Fries?” Michael asked.
Obviously he felt comfortable enough with Kyle to suggest his favorite. Another testament to the man: he was a superstar, but could still put a child who looked up to him at ease.
“You really think that’s the best takeout?” Kyle asked.
“Ms. Caldwell brought it back special for me when we watched the game at the hospital the other night,” Michael said, playing the Julia’s-better-than-you-are card.
Kyle caught on immediately and grinned. “Well, if Ms. Caldwell eats Burgers, Shakes and Fries while watching me play, I’m all for it.”
“That’s not what he meant.”
“I know. But it’s what I heard.”
“Shameless,” she muttered under her breath.
He laughed. “I heard that, too.”