The Game Changer (32 page)

“Not yet... and not due to me, either. He always has an excuse. First, it was because I was too young; next, it was because whenever he told me he loved me, I couldn’t say it back. We finally got past that hurdle, which was my own insecurity that my world would come crashing down once I said it out loud.  Now, I’m seventeen, barely a year younger than him, we love each other so much, but I think I’m finally wearing him down.”

“Wow. I’m impressed. I have to tell you, JJ, I’m jealous of you two. I just hope I find that someday,” she says, suddenly changing her tone to a more serious one.

“What are you talking about? You have Timmy… You love him, right? Is everything okay between you two?”

“Yeah, sure. We’re fine. We get along great... but, I mean, you and Luke, it’s different. It’s like you two are connected in a way that is different from the rest of the world. Watching you two, you just know, it’s the kind of love that will last forever. You bring out the best in each other and it’s not something that either of you even has to think about, it’s natural. It’s hard to explain, it’s not a high school kind of love, or a young love. That’s what I have. That’s what Lori and Matt have. There’s a difference. I don’t know. I just hope I find the same thing someday.”

I sit and contemplate what she said. “You’re right, I feel it, too.” It is true. I know that what Luke and I share is so much more than what our friends have and I’m not trying to dismiss their relationships. They have great relationships. It’s just
different from ours. Luke and I have this intense need for each other. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I’ve been through a terrible tragedy and he pulls me through it and keeps me going. He has this crazy life ahead of him, something most people only dream about and he needs me to keep his life as normal as possible. “I’m going to miss him when he’s gone,” I say, reminding myself about this baseball thing.

“If anyone can make this work, it’s you two. So, what do you think Mikey’s story is going to be?” she asks, shifting the subject as she focuses intently in his direction on the field.

“Hmm… That’s a tough one. Hard to say right now. I’m sure he’s going to enjoy the fame for a while, but I think he has a pretty good idea of what he wants in the end.”

Still watching him and only half listening to me, she responds, “I hope so, I love him and I hope everything works out for him and he stays happy.”

“You two are on the same page with that,” I say, knowing she isn’t really listening to me, she’s still thinking about him. I know when she says she loves him it’s in a friend kind of way, but I still say there is more to their story than they both realize at this time.

Thankfully Luke’s late night doesn’t affect his game.
The boys have a fantastic and impressive game, as usual. I discretely blow Luke a kiss which he returns with a wink as he heads into the dugout after the sixth inning. I know it’s his last inning to pitch, so I head out to get ready for work.

(Jesse)

The last several weeks working at the museum have been great and I’m already learning so much. The week long orientation helped with that. I learned a great deal about numerous artists, their backgrounds, and the history behind their works as I’m a guide in the museum. Sometimes I give tours to groups that may come through, or sometimes, I just walk around and am available for questions that people may have.

On this particular day, the museum is crowded. It’s a beautiful summer-like day and the shore is crowded with people visiting for the weekend, knowing the weather forecast is as close to perfect as you can get. As I discuss a painting with an elderly, well-dressed couple visiting from out of town, I spot Luke walking down the hallway towards me, looking rather filthy. I excuse myself from the couple as I meet him halfway.

“Hey, I found you,” he says with a huge grin on his face.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, surprised to see him, wondering why he is so dirty.

“Wow, look at you. You look... so...”

“So, what?” I ask, amused by the boyish look on his face. Especially with dirt smudged across his cheek.

“Grown up… Sophisticated... How come I didn’t know you look like this when you go to work?” he asks suspiciously.

“Because this is the first time you have visited me at work,” I tease, licking my thumb and wiping away the smudge.

“I like it. You look very... teacher-like. A really hot teacher.”

“Oh, thanks. Now, why are you here again? And why do you look like this?” I ask, flicking his backwards dirty baseball hat. 

He laughs. “Work called, a few people called out. Since I was home early from my game and I knew you had to work, I volunteered to go in for a few hours. We had a job in Cape May. I’ve been planting shrubs all day,” he says, pointing to his dirty clothes. “We just finished, the guys are waiting for me in the truck.”

“How did you get in here? Especially, looking like this,” I joke.

“The girl at the front door let me in. You know me… I flashed a smile and she saw past the dirt,” he says with his big head. I roll my eyes. “I’m kidding. I told her who I was and said I had to give you the key to get into your house. I didn’t know it would be so fancy in here.” He looks around.

“It is an Art Museum, not a baseball field,” I tease.

“I know. God, and look at you. Who are you? Are you going to keep this on later?” he says, tugging at my blouse.

“And what’s wrong with the way I usually look?” 

We continue the bantering for a few more minutes until I see one of my supervisors walking towards us.

“As much as I love that you’re here... dirty and all, I have to get back to work.”

“Do you need me to come back to get you?” he asks as my supervisor approaches.

“No, I’ll take the bus. By the time you get home, you’d have to come right back. I’ll be done in about an hour.”

My supervisor walks up to us. “Mrs. Sheppard, this is my boyfriend, Luke. He had to stop by on his way home from work to give me the key to my house.”

“Nice to meet you,” she says, nodding in Luke’s direction. “Jesse, the couple over there, requested for you to escort them through the rest of the museum. They are very impressed with your knowledge of the paintings.”

“Sure. No problem,” I reply. She walks back over to the couple I had been with before Luke showed up.

“Sorry,” Luke apologizes.

“It’s fine. At least they gave her good feedback on me.”

“I know, right. See that, everyone is impressed by you. I’ll see you when you get home. I just wanted to see if you needed a ride.”

I walk in the direction of the well-dressed couple as I watch with my fluttering heart as my supportive, good-hearted Luke walks down the hallway, towards the exit. Filthy or not, he’s still beautiful to me.

“We’re sorry, Honey. We didn’t mean to interrupt you,” the woman acknowledges as I walk over to them.

“No problem, my boyfriend was just finishing up work and stopped by to see if I needed a ride home,” I answer sheepishly.

“Oh, that’s nice. He looks like he was working hard,” the woman replies.

“Yeah, I was surprised to see him working today. He had a game this morning. He usually doesn’t work on game days,” I reply, more to myself than to them, as we walk towards a section of the museum they haven’t yet visited.

With that statement I get the husband’s attention. “What type of game?” he asks.

“Baseball.”

“Oh, no. Don’t tell him that, he’s a baseball fanatic! Just to get him away from the TV on the weekend is a chore in itself,” the woman jokes.

“Hey. I’m here, aren’t I?” he exclaims while turning to me. “That’s a big boy. College?”

“No high school… Senior.”

“Is he any good? What position?” he asks.

“Fred!”  his wife hollers.

“What? I’m just asking.” He laughs, turning a bright shade of red as he shrugs his shoulders.

“It’s fine. He’s pretty good. He’s a pitcher,” I reply casually.

“Big kid,” he repeats. “Is he looking to play in college?” he asks intrusively. As I start to answer, his wife interrupts.

“Fred! Honey, you have to excuse his rudeness, but once he gets talking about baseball, he starts to relive his college days through other people. Besides, he’d rather be talking about baseball than paintings.”

“That’s not true. You know I love visiting the galleries.”

“Just not as much as watching a baseball game,” she shoots back.

“Can’t argue that,” he says, shaking his head at me. “You were saying?”

“Well, to be honest, college is up in the air. I think he’ll get drafted next month,” I say meekly, not sure how much he really knows about this whole thing.

“Really? That good? What round are they talking?” he asks enthusiastically.

This now becomes a conversation between me and him. His wife, I can tell, has no idea what we are talking about.

“First.”

“Get outta here. What’s his name?” he asks a little unbelievingly.

“Luke DiAngelo.” I say meekly, expecting him not to know who I’m talking about.

“That was Luke DiAngelo?” he asks, laughing and shaking his head in disbelief.

I nod my head in embarrassment. “That’s Luke,” I answer quietly. His wife is just watching us, left out of the loop, while I can feel my cheeks turning a bright shade of red. This is the first time I’ve ever encountered someone outside of Bay Point that has heard of Luke. Furthermore, it brings me to the realization of how popular he already is.

“Honey, he’s more than pretty good. Forget the first round. Do you realize he’s supposed to go in the first five picks?”

Again, I nod my head, starting to feel a little uneasy with this fame thing and ready to change the subject.

“Fred, can’t you see you’re embarrassing her. Look, she’s turning red,” the woman looks at me apologetically.

“It’s fine,” I say shyly.

I can sense his wife is getting bored, though, so I divert the conversation back to art as we walk through the remainder of the museum. Although he does manage to ask a few more questions. They’re an adorable couple, I enjoy their company and by the time I have finished guiding them through the museum, my shift is finally over for the day. The couple thanks me on a job well done. They wish Luke luck and say they’ll be watching and rooting for him. I see them speaking with Mrs. Sheppard on their way out. As I’m signing out, she tells me she is happy with my performance and that the museum is lucky to have me. I text Luke from the bus to let him know I’m on my way home.

He is waiting at the stop for me when I get off the bus, looking much cleaner than before. “What are you doing here?” I ask, surprised to see him for the second time today.

“I wanted to see you, again... looking so...”

“Sophisticated is the word I believe you used.”

“Exactly,” he says as he kisses me hello and throws his arm around me as we head in the direction of my house.

I fill him in on the couple I met and how strange it felt to have a complete stranger talk about him. He listens, but doesn’t say much, I’m waiting for a smart ass comment.

“Hello? Are you listening?”

“Yeah, of course I’m listening,” he says calmly.

“No comments?” I ask, searching his eyes.

“It’s weird, huh? All of these people... watching. It’s strange to me sometimes, too. I should be used to it by now, but sometimes... I don’t know. Do you know what I mean?”

I’m a little taken aback by his reaction. He’s usually so confident and matter-of-fact about the whole thing, especially now that he’s so close.

“I know exactly what you mean, but this is such a great thing that is happening to you. I’m really happy for you. You’ve worked so hard to get here. Everything is going to be great and I’m right here for you.”

“That’s what I’m countin’ on,” he says as he gives me a huge bear hug. “So what’s our plan for tonight?” he changes the subject.

“First off, I’m starving. De said there was a party at Shane Donovan’s house.”

“Yeah, the guys were talkin’ about it today. Is that what you want to do?” he asks, but reading his mood, I can tell it’s not what he wants.

“Actually, how about we do something together? Is that okay?”

“See, that’s why I love you. We’re always thinkin’ the same thing. Good, because I already have somethin’ planned. What do you have to do?” he asks as we walk up my driveway.

“Jump in the shower. I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”

“Okay, take your time. I’ll be back in twenty,” he says as he turns to leave.

“Wait, where are we going? How should I dress?”

“Comfortable. It’ll just be us.”

“Sounds perfect already, but, don’t forget, I’m hungry.”

“I’ll take care of it,” he says as he jogs down my walkway.

(Jesse)

The warm water flows, washing away Luke’s favorite scented shower gel that I have lathered on my skin. I can’t help but wonder what he has planned for us. I freshly paint my toenails to match my Juicy Couture Pink Terry Hoodie Mini Dress. I look at the clock on my dresser, it’s been a half hour and Luke still isn’t back. I check in with my dad at work. He won’t be home till after midnight so Luke and I have plenty of time to ourselves.