Love in the Lineup by Deborah Fletcher Mello

Author:Deborah Fletcher Mello
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kimani Press
Published: 2014-11-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

It was an extraordinary evening for a baseball game. The air was warm, the sky crystal-clear in a deep shade of ocean blue. There was a hint of a breeze blowing in the air and the stadium was afire with laughing, excited spectators. Roshawn and Ming had come in through the players’ entrance, trailing behind Chen and Allison. Israel and Nina brought up the rear.

“This is so cool!” Ming exclaimed. “I can’t believe we get to watch the game from the pool!”

Chen glanced over his shoulder, smiling at his daughter’s enthusiasm. “Please remember to thank the club’s president when you see him, Ming. Remember your manners, please.”

Ming rolled her eyes, wrapping her arm through Roshawn’s. “Yes, Daddy,” she said mockingly, causing him to throw her a stern look.

Mother and daughter both burst out laughing. Roshawn shook her head. “Relax, Chen. You are wound much too tight.”

Up ahead of them, as if on cue, the doors to the locker room opened and the players began to head out in single file to the dugout. The group paused to let them all exit. Chen extended his wishes for a good game, directing individual comments to each of them as they waved a quick hello and goodbye. Nina jumped up excitedly when Patrick made his exit, blowing the man a kiss that he pretended to catch in midair. Angel was close on his heels and he stopped short at the sight of them all, acknowledging them with a quick nod before hurrying to catch up with the rest of his team.

When his gaze had landed on Roshawn, looking her up and down, she felt herself hold her breath. Biting down against her top lip, Roshawn spun from his sight, leaning down to brush at the back of her leg as if something had crawled against her skin. Israel’s booming voice, encouraging his son’s game, brought her back to the moment as she exhaled, air rushing past the line of her lips. As she stood upright she’d been glad that he was gone.

He had been a good sport at Nina’s dinner party. The rest of the evening had been pleasant, despite the not-so-nice trick Roshawn had played on him. Their conversations had been engaging, only experiencing one other verbal battle during the course of the evening. Angel had departed just minutes before Roshawn and though she had hesitated, hopeful for a hint of his interest and attention, he had only wished her a warm good-night, disappearing before either had had an opportunity to even think about making plans to see each other again. Feigning disinterest in his presence was becoming harder and harder, and Roshawn feared her enthusiasm would not be received as eagerly. Had Angel Rios disregarded her in front of her family and friends, she would have been devastated.

As Chen stopped to have a quick conversation with one of the batting coaches, the rest of the group made their way to the Pool Pavilion. Located next to the outfield wall in right center, the pool area had been designed to recreate an upscale Arizona backyard.

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