Hector (Season One: The Ninth Inning #3) (5 page)

Fun? I stare at the text he sent. I sigh and look at the blank canvas I’ve been staring at for the past hour. I’ve done nothing to it. It’s my night off and I’m doing nothing. Literally.

Me: When and where?

I cave. Hector tells me where they are all heading. I jump off my stool to get ready.

What do you wear to meet a bunch of baseball players? I look up at the ceiling and shake my head. Why do I care? I end up in a pair of red jeans and a black tank top with a matching black mesh overlay. I stick with my black heel booties and head out to the sports bar.

I know where the place is, but I can honestly admit I’ve never stepped foot into it. Why would I go into a sports bar? Why would Hector go hang at a tattoo parlor? Hector with a tattoo? That’s an interesting thought. I can see him with a large cross or maybe a religious emblem on his honey-colored skin.

I pull into the parking lot and park next to a large, tricked out Jeep and head into the bar. Like any other bar, it’s loud and smells like chicken wings and beer. I gaze over the crowd until I see a few tall, built men in the corner throwing darts. I can pick Hector out quickly by his loud laugh. He turns slightly and his bright smiles gleams my way. As I make my way closer, I notice he’s in his usual dark jeans, but this time, he has on a light blue button down dress shirt that’s untucked, and his sleeves are rolled up.

I walk up to him. “You look like a guy having a lot of fun.”

“I am. Glad you could make it. Guys, this is Zoey. Zoey, this is Jordan and Colby.”

“Hey, guys.” I give them a small wave. Is it a requirement to be good-looking to play baseball? “Are you kicking his ass?”

Jordan, the tall one, laughs. “Yeah, he couldn’t win if his life depended on it.”

“Aw, poor Hector. I didn’t realize I would learn your weaknesses tonight,” I tease him.

“Enjoy it because it’s one of the few I have. Can you play?”

“Yes, I can play, but I need a drink.” I spin on my heels and head to the bar. I grab beers for myself and another round for the guys. It’s only fair since I seem to be crashing guys’ night.

The guys thank me for the drinks and we start to play darts. Jordan claims me for his team and soon, we’re beating the pants off Hector and Colby. My side starts to hurt from all the laughter and jabbing we’re doing at each other.

I’m not sure if it was Colby or Jordan who suggested we do shots for every bullseyes we miss. At the time, it seemed like a great idea, until I start missing. I know how to hold my liquor and I know my limit, but tonight, I toss all of it out the window.

I don’t even know what time it is, but Jordan and Colby end up grabbing a cab and leaving. Hector leads me to a table and the room begins to spin.

“You shouldn’t have let me do that last shot.” I hold my head in hopes that it will make it stop moving.

“I figured you would know when to stop. Just drink some more water.” He pushes a bottle in front of me.

“I know my limit, but I didn’t realize you and the guys had bottomless pits of stomachs and a high alcohol tolerance.” I chug the water as if I’m dying of thirst.

“Well, next time, I’ll monitor you better. Are you glad you came?” Hector grins at me.

“I am. I had fun. The guys seem cool and I kicked your ass in darts. All in all, that’s a good time.” I reach my hand up and give him a high five, which he returns.

“Don’t get a big head over it. Anyone can beat me in darts, but I’m glad you did.”

“I was sitting at home staring at a blank canvas.” I sigh as my thoughts become more jumbled. “I think I’m wasting my time trying to be a paid artist.”

“Not if you love doing it. It’ll happen sooner or later. What types of things have you been creating lately?” He waves the waitress down and orders more water.

“Ha! Ha!” I harshly laugh. “Well, according to Aunt Minnie, you’ve become my muse. When we were on the phone, I was doodling and made a tree. A tree of all things. She saw it and was all ‘it’s the greatest thing ever.’ Okay, maybe those weren’t her exact words, but you know what I’m saying.” I can hear my brain yelling for me to quit talking, but I can’t keep my mouth shut or stop the words from magically coming out.

“She thinks I’m your muse?” He puts on his sexy grin. “You said she was an artist too, right? She must know what she’s talking about then. Do you always ‘doodle’ when we talk?”

“You’re not my muse,” I correct him quickly. “My aunt is Minnie Whitlock. Ever heard of her? Because she is the best ever. You can Google that too. Plus, for your information, I was bored, well sort of, when we were talking and that’s why I had been sketching.”

Are my words slurring? No, I can’t be that drunk.

He chuckles. “So I bore you? You’re breaking your muse’s heart, Zoey.”

“I said, sort of. Listen to the words I’m saying, Hector.” Maybe I shouldn’t say another word because this is only going to lead to trouble.

He laughs and it makes me smile. “Am I going to need to take you home?”

“Hector, you're a cool cat. I’m glad we’re friends because I don’t have many. Do you know why?” Why won’t my mouth stop moving? Where are all these words coming from?

“I’m glad we’re friends, too. Why don’t you tell me where you live, so I can be a good friend and make sure you get there safely?”

I don’t understand what he’s saying, but I continue with my confession. “It’s because of how I was raised. See, people have all sorts of crazy opinions about my aunts, but they don’t know them. I don’t think it’s fair.” I stop and stare at him. “Wait, what did you say?” He did ask something, right?

“I asked where do you live?”

“Oh, that’s easy. I live downtown.” I point over his shoulder to the left.

“Where downtown? Like a street name, Zoey.”

“South Main Street at the Downtown Memphis Flats.” I point again.

“Alright, let’s go.”

He helps me stand and I remember getting into his Jeep, or maybe it’s a truck. He helps buckle me in and when I lay my head back, it all goes black.

I’M ON MY stomach in my bed when I open my eyes. I can tell I’m still dressed in the outfit I left in last night, minus my boots.

Shit, what did I do?

I slowly lift up on my elbows and look to my right. Hector is beginning to wake up too. He’s still dressed as well.

Shit, what did I do?
I ask myself again.

“Please tell me we didn’t have sex.” My voice is horse.

“We did not,” he answers back, rubbing his hands up and down his face.

“Thank God.” I drop my head into the pillow. “I mean,” I rise back up and look at him. I don’t want to hurt his feelings. “I’m not the type of girl to drag a guy into bed. Wait, why are you in my bed? Why are you here? And, why the hell can’t I remember anything?” It’s all like a fog.

“You drank too much, and after I finally got it out of you where you lived, I took you home. I stayed to keep an eye on you. Plus, I figured you’d need a way back to your car this morning.”

I groan in pain and at the fact that I acted that way in front of someone as nice as Hector.
Great way to make an impression, Zoey.

“I’m sorry, Hector. I’m not usually this way. I’m not sure what the hell I was thinking.” I give him a small smile. “Thank you for looking out for me. I owe you one. I’m sure I was a nightmare to get up here. I’ve been told I’m a rambling drunk, so I’m sorry for that too. I’m sure I talked your ear off.”

“You weren’t too bad, but you do ramble. A lot. But your muse forgives you,” he grins.

My mouth drops. “No. No. No, I didn’t tell you that. I did not.” Well, obviously he can’t read minds. I drop my face back into the pillow. “I did, didn’t I?”

“Yes, but don’t worry. I know you don’t think I am. I’ll try not to tease you about it too much.” He sits up.

“It’s one sketch,” I try to explain. “It isn’t a good one either, but Aunt Minnie went nuts over it. I think she forgot her glasses or something.” I hope that helps him understand he isn’t my muse.

“If you say so, but I would think the famous Minnie Whitlock knows what she’s talking about. Google had all sorts of nice things to say about her.”

Oh, come on, Motor Mouth Zoey.
“Did I tell you my shoe size too? I need to stay away from alcohol for the rest of my life.” I roll my eyes, mainly to myself. “But yes, she’s amazing and beyond the most talented person in the world.”

“Then why don’t you believe what she says?”

I stop and process what he says. I slowly lift up on my knees and adjust my tank top, trying to buy time to come up with a good reason. “I don’t know. I’ve always thought when I finish
the one
painting that will change my life, I’d feel it. I feel nothing when I finish my works. I like them and they look okay, but I don’t have that
feeling
.”

“Well, maybe you’re getting closer to it then based on her reaction to the tree one. Or, maybe you’re overthinking it. Whichever answer you like best.” He looks deeply into my eyes. “While I would love to talk to you all day, we should probably get your car, so I can head home.”

“Oh, shit. Right. I’m sorry. Yes, let’s go. I need to run to the bathroom and I’ll be ready in five minutes. I swear.” I hop off the bed and race over to the bathroom and quickly get ready.

Hector and I don’t say much, but I do give him a quick hug and thank him for everything. He’s a great guy and I acted like a fool in front of him. I should know better and I shouldn’t be acting this way. I’m twenty-six years old. It’s not like I’m eighteen again, running the roads in a rebellious manner.

Hector makes sure I’m in my car and then we head off into different directions. Once I’m back home, I take a cold shower to wake myself up, fix a giant cup of coffee, and lay in bed, listening to soft music.

There’s no way I’m making it into work tonight.

IT’S CLOSING IN on five o’clock when my phone rings. I’ve just walked into the grocery store to finally buy food. A call from Carissa, my sister, is the perfect distraction from such a terrible errand.

“Hey, baby sister,” I answer. “Who’s driving you crazy today?” She doesn’t call on a regular basis; she’s more of a texter, so I know she wants to complain about something.

“I’m stressing over my schoolwork. Please explain to me why I thought it was a good idea to do summer classes.”

“Because you wanted to get done sooner. It can’t be that bad, can it?”

“Do you remember college? Oh no, that’s right, you were too busy chasing a ball and bat around a diamond-shaped grass field.”

“What are you doing for fun? I remember college as a balance between school, baseball, and lots of time for fun stuff.”

“Fun? I’ve heard that word before, but I can’t place its definition.”

I laugh. “You would stop stressing if you acquainted yourself with it. Problem solved. What else do you need your big brother to fix for you?” Rarely does she have one problem on her hands.

“Mom and Dad. They’re on me about finding a
good boy
. Mom is on my case about missing confession two weeks in a row. The strange part of that is, I didn’t tell her I missed it. I wouldn’t put it past her if my apartment has cameras and mics in it.”

I smile because I wouldn’t put it past her either. “Mom knows all one way or another. They haven’t actually found a guy yet, have they?”

“She has emailed me a list.
A list
. I’m not even sure where she’s finding these guys. I’m praying it isn’t a Craigslist ad.”

Ugh. I hate that Mom is stressing her out with this stuff already. Carissa should be having fun while she’s in college, not worried about finding the perfect man to marry. It would probably be a good thing if Mom didn’t pressure us so much. “Sorry, Carissa,” I say sympathetically. “She’s put us in the same boat though. She said she found me another one, too. All I can tell you is to keep an open mind and go along with it. Just be honest about what you’re thinking for the most part. You know she won’t stop until we’re both married.”

“Not just married. She’s already started the kids speech on me. Last night, she spent almost twenty minutes telling me my ovaries were going to dry up if I didn’t have kids soon. It took everything I had not to laugh in her face, or hang up on her. Help me, Hector; she listens to you more than me.”