The Game Changer (36 page)

“That is so not true,” I say, laughing as we turn the corner, practically bumping into Mikey and Deanna.

“Yo, where the hell have you been? We gotta get out of here,” Mikey says anxiously with De practically on his heels.

We both look at each other and start laughing. “Relax. I’m ready!” Luke answers excitedly.

“You’re comin’, right?” Mikey asks De and I.

Before I can answer, Luke is pulling me by the hand. De and I laugh as we follow them out the door.

***

We’re all so quiet on the way up. The ride seems as if it’s taking forever. Once we finally arrive we tour the MLB Network Studios. I thought it would be packed with guys waiting to hear who has chosen them for their teams. I’m surprised that Mikey, Luke and two other guys are the only ones that show up for the draft. We heard that about fifteen were invited to attend.  It’s an exciting experience being right there in the room while the names are called.

It isn’t long before the commissioner begins announcing the names of the first round picks. I can tell the anticipation is killing the boys, even though they try to remain calm. The rest of us do the same, so as to not make them more nervous.

“The fourth selection in the first round of the first year player draft, the Tampa Bay Rays selects, Luciano DiAngelo…” We all go crazy. “Luciano is a left-handed pitcher from Bay Point High School in Bay Point, New Jersey.” Luke is ecstatic as he high-fives Mikey and hugs us all. People around him begin to congratulate him.
It is pretty much a done deal that Tampa wants them, but until their names are called, they still wouldn’t fully believe it.

The room once again grows quiet as the commissioner continues with the selections; we hold our breaths until the sixth round pick is called. “The sixth selection in the first round of the first year player draft, the Tampa Bay Rays selects, Michael Vaughn…
Michael is a catcher from Bay Point High School in Bay Point, New Jersey.” Again, everyone goes crazy. Tears are streaming down all our faces, knowing how bad they wanted this. The last couple of weeks, things started to seem as if they were going in a different direction and we thought maybe one of the other teams might select one of them first. Anything can happen at the last minute. They hug each other while they’re handed jerseys and hats. Cameras flash and the interviews begin.

We arrive at the Little League Clubhouse around 10:30 pm. They have a nice little party going in honor of Luke and Mikey when we arrive. As we walk in, everyone stands up; claps, cheers, and the two of them get very emotional once they see so many people supporting them. For the second time tonight, that sends
Maria, De and me into hysterics. Everyone is crowding around them and through the crowd, I see my dad congratulating them. When he turns, he spots me and I run up to him and give him a hug. As happy as I am right now for Luke, I can’t help but think it won’t be long until he has to leave. My dad knows me too well.

“Hey, Sweetie, how are you?”  he asks, wrapping his arms tightly around me.

“I’m so happy for him, Dad. It’s just that this is a lot, ya know? I knew it was coming, but he’ll
really
be going soon,” I say.

“Yeah, he will, but you guys are gonna be fine,” he says as he takes me in his arms and gives me a hug.

Luke walks over to join us, he picks up where my dad leaves off, wrapping his arms tightly around me. My dad gives us a moment to ourselves.

“This is so awesome, isn’t it?” I ask, referring to the large crowd that turned out to show their support for them.

“Yeah, it’s pretty unbelievable, but are you okay?” he asks, looking into my eyes. I assure him that I’m fine and tell him how happy I am for them. You couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. 

The party goes on for a while and by the time we get back to the house, we’re all exhausted, but still too wound up to sleep. The four of us recount the events of the night as we watch the replay of the draft on TV in the rec room. I’m not sure at what point we finally fall asleep, but it doesn’t seem that much time has passed when Maria begins waking us up for school.

“Time to get up… Let’s go, you two,” she says as she shakes Luke and Mikey, who don’t budge when she calls out to us. “You’re not superstars, yet. You still have to finish school and graduate.” You can always count on Maria and Lucca to keep the boys in line and not let the fame go to their head.

(Jesse)

As I watch Luke accept his diploma at graduation, I reminisce over the last year. I think about the first day I met the three of them as they walked down the street on their last day of school; how shy I had been, hiding behind the trunk of the car as they talked with my dad. I remember thinking Luke was so arrogant, the way he smirked at me as he commented about my age and how he was bragging about how good he is at baseball. Okay, so not much has changed there, but he is also one of the most sincere, good, caring people I know and he loves me more than I could imagine. I couldn’t ask for a better friend than De. She is like a sister to me. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without them.

A year ago, I would have never thought I would ever be able to feel this whole again. I miss my mom every day, but now I truly feel like she is my angel, watching over me and my dad. Maybe, somehow, she guided us to this place, across the street from these wonderful people, who invited us into their family. I’m so happy that I finally stopped dwelling on how fast life can change.

***

Contracts are signed a few days after graduation. I’m still in shock over the signing bonuses. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around two eighteen-year-olds getting paid so much money because they are good at a game. Along with signed contracts come first assignments. This is the part I’ve been dreading. It’s not going to be easy, being separated. We’ve been through the possibilities of the places he could end up this summer; spending numerous nights, mapping out dates when I’ll be able to visit. Thankfully, their first minor league assignment is to the Hudson Valley Renegades Short Season. They’ll be in New York, about a three and a half hour drive from Bay Point. He’ll be busy training and practicing; there won’t be much free time, but just knowing he is a reasonable driving distance away, is a relief. I’ll still be able to catch some of his games.

The night before the boys leave, there is a huge party at the inlet. I decide to wait for De, Cathy and Lori. I tell Luke that I’ll meet up with him later. The
boys are heading there early for a horse shoe tournament. Luke asks me to tag along, but I figure we have all night. I want him to spend time with his friends, without me. We’ll make up for it later.

We end up getting a late start, Lori is held up at work. Luke is already texting, asking where I am.

“Jesus, Jesse, what is it going to be like when he leaves tomorrow?” Cathy asks, referring to Luke’s text.

I just laugh and shrug my shoulders, not really wanting to think about it. I’m feeling a little anxious, knowing time is running out and he will be leaving soon. Luke makes me feel settled, he knows what I need. I still have a hard time dealing with my past from time to time, but he always seems to know what to do or say to make things better. I sleep better the nights we spend together.

It’s a little after ten when Lori finally shows up. When we arrive at the inlet, we spot Luke, Mikey and the rest of their friends by the water. A group of girls are walking up to them, one of them being Megan. Since she doesn’t go to our school, we haven’t seen her since the night we went to dinner for Luke and De’s birthday. From what Luke told me, Mikey’s tried calling her a couple of times, but she never answers his calls.

“Who are they? Talking to Luke and the guys?” Lori asks, sounding a bit annoyed.

By now I’m used to girls approaching Luke and Mikey, it’s not that I worry about him wanting someone else. My insecurities have more to do with myself. I feel as if they are looking at me and wondering,
why is he with her
? I’m still considered quiet and sort of shy by most people, outside of my immediate group of friends; I’m not very social. I feel that people hold that against me sometimes, especially since Luke is so outgoing and friendly.

If it had been any one of my friends’ boyfriends standing there, they would have been over there by now, confidently pushing the other girls aside. Me, I just hang back and wait for Luke to find me. I know, probably not a great quality to have when my boyfriend is ridiculously good looking and now considered a professional athlete.

“Is that...” Lori starts.

“Oh, my God... Megan?” De cuts in. “JJ, is Mikey seeing her again?”  She turns to me, sounding rather disturbed.

“Not that I know of… Last I heard, she never answered his calls.”  I reply as we get closer, noticing one of her friends is trying to get Luke’s attention in the worst way. As I begin to head in the opposite direction, De heads right for them. Like I said, confidently walking right over and pushing the other girls aside. Although I think she may have forgotten that it isn’t Timmy standing in the crowd. Before Deanna reaches them, Luke spots us and waves me over. As I hesitantly approached, De is already saying hello to everyone with her sparkling personality and looking beautiful as usual. Megan isn’t thrilled to see her and for the first time, neither is Mikey. As Megan turns to leave, Mikey follows her, ignoring Deanna. I can feel the eyes narrowing on me as I approach. Luke pulls me to him.

“Hey, babe, where’ve ya been?” he asks as he wraps his strong arms around me and kisses me hello, ignoring the fact that we are standing in a crowd of people, while only I notice that all eyes seem to be on us.

“Hey, Lori had to work late,” I answer quietly as he takes my hand and leads me away from the crowd.

“You’d think, since it is my last night, you would’ve been here earlier,” he whispers as he nuzzles my neck.

“Luke, I wanted you to spend some time with your friends. Trust me, I’m not letting go for the rest of the night.”

“I know. I’m teasing you,” he answers as we sit on a blanket, followed by Deanna.

“Is Mikey seeing Megan again?” De asks Luke as soon as she approaches us.

“Not that I know of, I think this is the first time he’s seen her since that night. I think she just showed up on her own tonight,” Luke answers casually as he glances over in their direction.

“Really? I’m surprised he’s chasing her. He must really like her.” De is definitely fishing for more info.

“Maybe, who knows?” Luke shrugs, bored with the conversation and not giving her the answers she is waiting to hear.

As we mingle around the fire, De takes me aside as we spy on Mikey, who is sitting on a blanket with Megan, away from everyone else. The conversation seems to be going well as they are smiling. Mikey affectionately tucks a piece of her hair that has fallen in her eyes, behind her ear. He then leans in for
the kiss
.

“Oh, my God, JJ. I think he really likes her. In all of these years, I’ve never seen him chase anyone before,” De says, obviously distraught.

“De, he’s leaving tomorrow. You know him,” I answer, trying to reassure her.

“You’re right, I do know him. It’s not just that he’s leaving.” She glances over in their direction with a worried look on her face. “Did you see the way he was looking at her? He didn’t even notice me when I walked up.”

“So what? He practically lives with you. You’ll see him later,” I say as Mikey grabs the blanket, takes Megan by the hand and walks with her down the beach. “De, if you’re bothered by it, tell him how you feel.” I’ve mistakenly thought that maybe she is ready to admit how she feels about him.

She suddenly gets very defensive. “What? What are you talking about? It doesn’t matter to me who he’s with... I’m just surprised, that’s all… I’m not used to seeing him like that.” 

“Okay, I just thought you seemed upset that he was with her.”

As she is about to protest, Luke finally walks over and bails me out, pulling me up with him. “I’m stealing her. You have all summer to talk,” he says to De as he pulls me away. I mouth to her that I’m sorry; she laughs and waves me along.

“So what do you feel like doing on your last night home?” I ask as we walk hand in hand through the crowds of partying kids, towards the water.

“Besides the obvious?”  He stops and turns to face me, molding his body with mine as he kisses me, sending chills through my body.

“
Well
,
it can include the obvious
,” I whisper teasingly in his ear with my arms wrapped tightly around him, never wanting to let him go, forgetting we’re still standing in the middle of a crowd. “I’m all yours for the rest of the night.”

“For the rest of the night?  What’s that about? You’re mine for always,” he says, holding on tightly. Neither of us ready to let go. “God, JJ, I love you so much, I’m already feeling homesick about leaving you. I guess this is why they ask all of
those questions about leaving and how I would feel about it. At the time, it seemed so far away and not so real.”

“I know. I feel the same way,” I answer as we walk along the water, finally arriving at our sacred spot. We spread out our blanket and sit down to take in the crescent moon, dimly lighting up the sky and glistening over the calm water as it quietly washes upon the shore.