Page 8 of Spending Forever With You

“So I was thinking Redmond’s for a quick snack before you hit some home runs. What you think?”

“Ooh yes! Ooh, can I get a lemonade too?”

“Now Cami, you know auntie’s rule. The meal ain’t complete without the cup of lemonade.”

“Because period, girlfriend!” I laughed at her sounding like me as we made our way across town.

CHAPTER 2

Luke “Deke” Deacon

My eyes were glued to my phone screen while I half-ass listened to the TV playing in the background. I was reading another one of her articles and right now it was more important than the film I should be studying.

Hollis Walker.

Or Shanel Deke as she went by whenever she published an article on the messy ass gossip site Caught Live. Every time I saw the name stamped on the site, I smiled to myself that even after all this time she wore a piece of me, even though it wasn’t my official name.

I wouldn’t have known if my Grandpa Jimmy hadn’t told me. Somehow he managed to keep up with his granddaughter-in-law as he still referred to her, even though we had been divorced for the last ten years.

Ten long ass lonely years.

Hollis was my one I let get away way too quick.

Even though the articles had nothing to do with her, I read them religiously, as if this was my only way to ensure she was happy without me.

I hope she is because I am for damn sure not.

“Nigga, you supposed to be focused on the big screen, not the little one,” my homeboy and teammate Shep said as he walked back into the video room at the stadium. We both played for the Badgers. He was a hitter while I was the catcher and it was game day.

“I am, had to check an email real quick.”

“Uh huh, sure. I didn’t know Caught Live was sending you personal emails now. When you reply, please tell them muthafuckas to get off my ass.” I locked my phone and looked over at him as he retook his seat, releasing a heavy sigh in the process. I knew what was going on in his personal life and hated to admit it was heavy, especially on game days, because the press was ruthless with those damn cameras and shit.

“Both of y’all fools need to be paying attention. Tonight’s a big game for us and I can’t carry y’all old asses.” Rando, another batter who doubled as a fill in pitcher, said as he walked into the room. We all came to the Badgers around the same time a few years ago.

I was sure we all had our reasons, but mine wouldn’t even acknowledge I existed.

“Old? Nigga, please. Youngin’, you’ll be lucky to reach my status in this game when you get my age. That’s if you last that long. I heard your knees popping the other day. Now sit your ass down and learn some shit,” Shep said, making me crack up. Rando wasn’t that much younger than us but always made it his mission to remind us of the four years we had on him. But I got it, in baseball player years, those four years made a huge difference.

Shit, the amount of injuries to my body told me to add ten to the number. I’d broken fingers, torn my rotator cuff multiple times, and a shit ton of other things.

The sound of my phone ringing had my attention back on the smaller screen. I frowned at the number I didn’t recognize before I hit the button to accept the call.

“Hello.”

“Yes, is this Luke Deacon?”

“Yes, who is this?”

“My name is April. I’m a nurse at Crescent Falls Memorial. Your grandfather, Jimmy Deacon, was rushed here earlier this morning.” I was moving before she could even finish her sentence.

Jimmy was the only father figure I had ever known. When my father, his son, died, I moved in with him since my mom was already gone, staying with him until I graduated high school. But even after that, we remained close.

“Is he okay?” I asked through a cracking voice as my heart began to pound uncontrollably.

“Yo, you good?” Shep called to me. I nodded as I made my way toward the back of the room for more privacy.

There was a long pause on the line before she spoke again.