Chapter 817 - V3 ch52 (2/2)

”Watsonville High School baseball team?” A lady asked from behind the hostess counter.

Dad nodded and looked around. ”We should have two others already here? To make reservations for the whole group?”

The lady grinned and nodded. ”Yes, Jeremy Patterson reserved the whole restaurant for your team and families.”

”...the whole restaurant..?” Dad echoed.

”Jake! Over here!” Jeremy waved from a near empty table, standing beside a sitting Rose.

Noah pulled me along and we led the way back to Jeremy's table.

”Great game.” Jeremy held out his closed fist to bump with the three of us.

Kyle declined. ”I'll save my congratulations for after the game I pitch in. It's weird to hear 'good game' when I didn't even get to go out there.”

”You're thinking too much of yourself.” Rhys told Kyle. ”It's a team thing. There are a bunch of bench players but they should still be congratulated on a win. They put it the same amount practice as the starters.”

Rhys and the twins sat down one table over and started talking about how pitchers differ from bench players. Zeke, Mom, Dad, Noah, and I all sat with Jeremy and Rose, filling up the table. Slowly, the team started to trickled in. Coaches, players, and the families who were there to watched the games. Everyone stopped by our table first to greet and thank Jeremy for treating us to lunch. It was hard to get a word in while the parents all wanted to talk. It wasn't until everyone found a table to sit at the servers started to bring glasses of water around.

”I figured all the players will be restricted to water.” Jeremy stood up and addressed the room. ”Parents, coaches, and any non-players can order any drinks you guys want.”

”I can't even get a lemonade?” Noah joked.

Jeremy laughed. ”You have a slice of lemon in your water. That is good enough.” He sat back down and smiled at me. ”I caught your homer in the first inning; do you think I can get an autograph?”

I felt my face heat up.

”It's just one of many.” Noah clapped me on the back. ”Better get used to it. It's like how you doc.u.ment your broken bats now. Jeremy or you can write the date of the game and that he was able to catch it. It'd be cool.”

”Want me to go get it from the car?” Rose asked.

”Nah, it can wait until after lunch.” Jeremy relaxed in his chair and picked up the menu. ”You guys have time until your next game so order what you want.”

”Dessert for lunch!” Noah exclaimed, bouncing in his seat.

”Noah James.” Mom said sternly.

”Kidding, kidding.” Noah calmed down.

The restaurant had servers for every table, going around taking orders. Being the huge group we are, no one mind the order the food came out. Whoever's food was ready first, got to eat first. A lot of the players sat together or moved around to talk to other teammates. Noah was the most social, getting up and talking to almost everyone. The twins, Garret, Mitchell, Jason, Sean, etc.

I stayed in my own seat, mostly listening to the conversation around me. Mom and Rose were talking about the housing market, whereas Dad, Jeremy, and Zeke talked about Zeke's first semester at college. I really felt comfortable. And happy. My two families were blending quite well.