Part 25 (1/2)
”What about you?” he asks. ”Did you have a high school sweetheart?”
”No. My father wouldn't let us date until we were sixteen, so I didn't even start seeing anyone until...my senior prom was actually my first date.”
”Really?” He sounds surprised.
”Yup. But like you, most of my time was spent dancing.”
Ben chuckles.
”Not that you dance, but...you know what I mean.”
”Yeah. You were committed to something other than the opposite s.e.x.”
”Right.”
For a moment, he looks like he's going to ask something, but he shakes his head and the look's gone.
”Were you always a pitcher?”
”Pretty much. I like being the center of attention.”
”You? That doesn't sound like you.”
”Just kidding. I have good focus. Besides, I suck in the outfield.”
”What about batting? You good at that?”
He nods. ”Again. Good focus.”
”I'd love to see a game.”
”We start scrimmaging in February. You can come to one of them if you want. The real games start at the beginning of March.”
”Yeah. I'd love to.” Then I remember that there will be other people at a college baseball game, so I quickly change the subject to avoid confirming a concrete date. ”When will you be done with college?” Duh. He's a junior. He'll be done next year.
”Next June.”
His phone rings from the dash. ”Incoming call. Mom.”
”I'm sorry. She'll keep calling if I don't get it. Hi, Ma.”
”Benito. Are you driving?”
”Yeah, Ma. I told you, it comes out the speakers. My hands are on the wheel.”
I swallow a laugh, not wanting to embarra.s.s him.
”Benito. Did you make that appointment with the...”
”Ma. I got a friend in the car. I'll make the appointment. Been busy with baseball.”
”I know, Benito, but you need that scan. I can call...”
”Ma. I promise I'll call. 'Kay? Right now I'm heading to Johnny's. I'll call Monday.”
”Okay, Benny. Say hi to Johnny.”
”Will do, Ma. Love you.”
”Love you, Benito.”
”Sorry about that,” he says to me. ”So...what about you? Are you going back? To school?”
I don't respond immediately. I would be graduating in June if I didn't miss this semester. ”I don't know. Your mom sounds nice.”
”Thanks. Overbearing, but nice. You're a senior, right?”
”Yeah. I love her accent.”
”Yeah. Thank G.o.d I don't have it though. So you can always finish online if you're not up to going back.”
”Yeah.” I didn't really think of that.
”At least you have options, right?”
”I guess.” I contemplate this. Options. Do I finish online even though I'll be working my dad's farm for the rest of my life? Is that really an option? Seems like a waste of more money to me. ”You have a best friend or anything?” Lame question, but I have to get off the subject of me.
”I got my team, but they're not really what you'd consider best friends. More like buddies. I like talking with Johnny. And of course Holly. She's cool. I never had a girl as just a friend before.”
”Yeah. Holly is cool. But she's my best friend, Falco. No stealing.”
”Right. I'd never do that.” He holds up two fingers. ”Scouts' honor.”
”You were a boy scout?”
He laughs. Really hard. ”No way. But isn't that what you're supposed to say when you're telling the truth?”
”Or 'cross my heart, hope to die,' but I like 'scouts' honor' better.
”Okay,” he says. ”Now I gotta pay attention. I've never gone to Johnny's from this way.”
”You got it on GPS?”
”No.”
”Falco, Falco, Falco,” I tease, hoping he doesn't see that I'm really a bundle of nerves. That sitting so close to him for this long, just the two of us, is making me feel all sorts of tingles and nervous energy.