“Alone?” he asked, still staring ahead.
These questions were definitely calculated. “Yes,” she said as the butterflies in her stomach began fluttering.
That seemed to ease his entire demeanor, and he even smiled. “Tombstone, huh?”
“Yeah, it’s one of my all-time favorites.”
He turned to her with a strange smile. “Really? Mine too.”
Clair said something, and he was forced to turn the music down. The rest of the way to the pizza place and even once they arrived they talked of stats. Tonight’s stats. Even Harrison got in on it, putting in his two cents. The baseball talk moved on to Harrison’s chess accomplishments. When they were done eating, the kids ran off to play, and AJ ordered another round: a mug of beer for himself and an iced tea for Addison.
“Harrison seems like a cool kid.” he said, observing them from where they sat.
“He is.” Addison glanced up at where the kids were both now sitting behind steering wheels in front of a monitor, getting ready to virtually race each other. “He’s a sweetheart. I can’t tell you how relieved I am that she finally made a friend that actually gets her. I was beginning to think it may never happen.”
“Were you like that growing up?” he asked, peering at her.
“Yeah,” she admitted as she took a sip of her tea. “It’s been kind of a consolation that she picked up on her papa’s and my love for the game of baseball and keeping stats and all. It was what kept me from ever feeling depressed or like a loner. I didn’t have many friends either. Like with Clair, the players were my friends.” She stopped and took another sip of her tea as the memories resurfaced. “I was never bullied or anything though, and I make real sure Clair is always open and honest, so she’d tell me if she ever was. But I admit it was one of the reasons why I wanted her in such an academically elevated magnet school. I figured the kids there would be less likely to bully her. Though she has been in quite a few of what she calls debates.”
AJ chuckled, glancing over at Clair again. “I can’t imagine her not winning all of them.”
“Oh, if you ask her, she’ll insist she wins them all. In some cases, she says she let them think they won, but secretly she knew better.”
“Yep, I’m pretty sure she’s done that to me a few times.”
Addison laughed as that strangeness in her belly started up again when his eyes met hers and his smile flattened slowly. “So what’s your story, Addison?”
“My story?” she asked, straightening out a bit.
“Yeah.” Unlike her, instead of the change in subject making him uneasy, he leaned over on the table and searched her eyes, making no qualms about his interest in her story. “I know you said Clair’s dad isn’t part of your lives, but I’m surprised no one else has snatched you up. Or am I making assumptions? Is there someone in your life you haven’t told Clair about?” He started to bring the mug to his mouth then stopped. “Not that I’ve asked her, I just figured as much as she talks she would’ve mentioned it by now.”
Swallowing hard, Addison attempted to appear as unperturbed by this subject as it made her. “There’s no one now,” she said, but didn’t want to sound too pathetic. Clair was seven now, and while she hadn’t had any serious prospects all this time, she had dated a few times. “I’ve dated here and there, but I’m paranoid about having her meet anyone I date. She might be better at understanding things in general than most kids. I know firsthand it doesn’t matter how smart you are; your heart is still fragile and vulnerable.” She smiled. “Not sure if you’ve noticed, but once she decides she likes someone, she really becomes attached.” That made the intense expression soften a little and he smiled. “I really had to think about it when I decided if I’d be moving in with my parents for a while before getting my own place out here. You’ve seen how they spoil her, and it’s not just with monetary things either. As you’re well aware, my father takes her to every home game I let him. And I’m not sure if she told you, but she has big plans for the summer. Since I won’t be able to use the “no games on school nights” excuse anymore, she plans on being at every single home game, weeknight or not. My parents have both already agreed to take her along on many of the road trips too.”
“She did tell me,” he said, his eyes shining as if that made him happy. “I’m looking forward to it. I missed having her around while I was on the road.” Something else flitted in his eyes and then he added. “Missed seeing her.”
Something about the way he said it made Addison’s heart flutter. There was more to that statement; though she dared not over think it. He’d missed his little buddy and that warmed Addison because she knew Clair would be happy to hear it. She’d lost count of how many times Clair had said the phrase “I can’t wait until Papa and AJ get back.”
“Will you be joining her in the summer?” he asked, taking a drink of his beer.
Again he was just curious, so she shrugged as casually as the inquiry had been made. “I’ll try to make it a few times. More than likely to some cities I like visiting most, but mostly because I don’t want my parents taking on the brunt of having to travel with her alone each time.”
That seemed to please him because his eyes did that smoldering thing they did so often in Niagara Falls, the same unnerving gaze she still couldn’t quite put her finger on. “The summer just keeps sounding better and better.”
The kids ran over a few times to drop off tickets they won on some of the machines. Addison couldn’t get enough of seeing AJ’s interaction with them. For such an intense guy, as famous for his raging as he was for his incredible baseball skills, he was so sweet and patient with them.
Addison didn’t even realize she wore such an adoring smile until he turned back to her. He’d been watching the kids run off again as she’d been watching him.
“What’s that smile about?” he asked, bringing his mug to his lips.
Feeling a little embarrassed because she’d been caught, she shrugged, but couldn’t quite undo what she knew was likely a goofy smile. “You’re so good with them. I think it’s sweet.”
“Kids?” He glanced back at them then lifted and dropped a shoulder. “Never met one I didn’t like. It’s nice to be reminded of what life was like once upon a time. I envy them actually. I’d give anything for life to be that simple again.”
“But your life is a dream come true,” she said, surprised by his last comment.
“It is,” he agreed immediately. “And I’m not complaining, but like with everything, no matter what profession you’re in, there’s always something to worry about. When you’re a kid, you can go to bed at night without a worry in the world.”
“Oh, you don’t think Clair worries about stuff?” Addison smirked.
“Okay, you got me there.” He laughed. “But she’s an exception. I’m sure she worries about stuff she doesn’t have to worry about: the team’s stats, maintaining her perfect grades in school, her mother having company tonight.”
That made Addison’s face heat. “Did she say that?”
“Why? Does that embarrass you?” he asked with a growing smile. “She’s a smart little girl. Of course she’d think ahead. She knew this is what she’d be doing.” He motioned out to where Clair and Harrison were shooting basketballs into a basket and missing every single one then turned back to Addison. “She just thought it’d be better if you had someone to keep you company. I’m just glad it was me she asked and not anyone else.”
Just as he had from day one, he’d done so again all night. Every time he said something she thought could mean more, he held her gaze silently for a few moments, almost as if to challenge her to ask him to clarify. In this case, he couldn’t be making it clearer. While the thought was beyond thrilling, she didn’t want him getting the wrong idea. Addison had been around baseball players her entire life. It still hadn’t stopped her from making the mistake once, but she knew better now. She wasn’t naïve enough to think that a guy like AJ would be interested in more than just a flirtation, maybe a meaningless romp—his San Diego girl even.