Behind the Plate (The Boys of Baseball #2) - J. Sterling Page 0,124
care either way, deciding to leave it up to Danika.
“We should probably go home and be closer to the field since your game is early tomorrow,” she said, and I knew I had a keeper.
“See? You’re a good baseball girlfriend, and you don’t even realize it,” my dad said, meaning it as a compliment.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Dad?” Danika asked her father.
“Of course,” he said before giving her a hug and reaching for my hand. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked me.
I suddenly wanted to throw up everything I’d just eaten. I wasn’t sure I even responded to him, but I followed him blindly, knowing that I’d do whatever he asked.
Why didn’t anyone ever warn me how nerve-racking it is to meet your girlfriend’s dad? I wanted to pummel every guy friend I’d ever had who had never told me this part about dating.
“I wanted to meet you before you got drafted and took my little girl away from me,” he started.
I had to stop myself from shouting, I knew it, before bracing myself for the pummeling that I was sure was about to come.
“I love your daughter, sir,” I said, hoping he would let me live a little longer so I could keep doing it.
He chuckled deep. “Call me Ralph. And I know you do. I can tell,” he said, and I wondered if parents just knew these kinds of things.
“This might be awkward or inappropriate, but I need to ask it, sir,” I said, shifting my weight and wondering how to word this.
“Ralph,” he repeated before giving me a wave.
“It’s about Jared. Is he going to be a problem for us? He keeps alluding—” I started to clarify, but he cut me right off.
“Jared will not be anything to either of you. I’ve talked with the boy. He really did love my daughter, but then something changed for him, and he became more focused on working for me and taking over the company. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but he will not interfere in your lives. And if he does, you make sure to let me know.” His tone was forceful and direct.
“Thank you. I hope you didn’t take that like I couldn’t take care of your daughter. It’s just that Jared seemed a little unhinged.” The last thing I wanted was this man to think he was leaving his daughter in weak hands. “I would never let anything happen to her.”
“I’m not worried, Chance. You’re a great kid. Heck of a ball player, and I only saw the last three innings. You remind me of your dad.”
“Really?” I perked up because that was one hell of a compliment, and maybe he wasn’t going to murder me after all.
“Even though he was a lefty, you guys have some of the same movements and mannerisms,” he said, and I grinned because I’d heard that before, but I hadn’t always believed it.
“I’m really glad you came out. It was nice to get the chance to meet you. I’ve never seen Danika so happy,” I said, hoping he knew that I was being genuine.
“Neither have I,” he said, and I felt the shock rip through me.
I wanted to make Danika happier than anyone else ever had, but I didn’t know if I was.
“Really?”
“Really. You have my approval to steal my daughter away and make her happy for as long as she lets you.” He grinned before wrapping a hefty arm around my shoulders and slapping my back.
I fought back a cough as I thanked him and walked out to get my girl and take her home.
Dreams Come True
Two Months Later
Chance
The regular baseball season had ended, but we’d made it to regionals and were currently up in Northern California for the next game. If we won tonight, we’d advance to Super Regionals, and if we won those games too, we’d be off to the College World Series in Nebraska. I really wanted to go to Omaha and play baseball there.
But right now, I was sitting in my parents’ hotel suite, surrounded by my family.
I’d thought about having some of the guys watch the draft with me, but it felt like it might be in poor taste. What if none of them got drafted and only I did? The last thing I wanted was for any of them to feel like I was throwing my success in their faces. I knew how badly each and every player on my team wanted their shot at playing pro ball, so