Behind the Plate (The Boys of Baseball #2) - J. Sterling Page 0,83
had happened that night.
“Was it just that one girl, or were there others? He’s been so distant,” Beth asked through her tears.
I hated lying to her, but I wasn’t sure what to say. I looked at Cayden for help, but he was driving and ignoring her questions as he pretended to need directions to the airport even though he was from the area. I felt caught in the middle, torn between right and wrong, defending a shitty teammate or telling his girlfriend the truth.
Turning around to look at her in the backseat, I asked, “What did Tanner tell you?” I wondered how exactly he’d tried to talk his way out of the shitshow he’d created.
“He said it was only one time and that she turned into some psycho stalker he couldn’t get away from.”
I let out a disgusted sound before I could stop myself, and Cayden punched my leg, telling her everything she needed to know. Tanner Michaels was not only an asshole, but also a slandering liar.
“So, it was more than once then? I knew it,” she practically whispered as she continued to cry, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her hoodie.
“If you really thought that it was only one time, then you wouldn’t be in the car with us, heading back to the airport,” I said because it needed to be said.
If Beth had truly believed Tanner, she would still be sitting at the Waterfront right now without a care in the world. Hell, we all would.
“I know. That girl told me in the restroom that it wasn’t just once. And that it wasn’t just her. Did you see him with other girls? I can’t believe he’d do this to me. We’ve been together for four years.”
Beth was asking all the right questions but to all the wrong people. Then again, if she had asked Tanner, he’d have lied to her, and she’d never know the truth. Neither Cayden or I answered her question.
“Oh my God, come on, you guys. I’ve already been made a fool of, just tell me how big of one I’ve been.”
I imagined my mom and how hurt she must have felt when she found out what my dad had done to her all those years ago. At least he’d been the one to tell her even though I knew it had torn him apart to do it.
“He’s been cheating on you all summer, Beth. With every chick who’s willing.”
Cayden reached across the car and punched me in the arm. “Dude,” he started to say, but I fought back.
“What? It’s the truth.”
“But it’s not our story to tell, man. Beth, you can’t ask us anything else. You’re putting us in a really bad position.”
We arrived at the airport, and Beth got out of the car with her small duffel bag.
She leaned in the passenger window. “Thanks for the ride. Tell Tanner I hope he breaks his arm.”
Cayden and I both laughed uncomfortably. We never wished broken bones on people. It was bad luck.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” I realized that it was already late, and we were leaving her alone to fend for herself in a strange airport.
She wiped at her face and sucked in a deep, loud breath. “I’ll be fine. Thanks for getting me here,” she said before turning and disappearing inside the terminal.
“Dude,” Cayden said again as he pulled away. “You know that Tanner’s going to find out you told her, and it’s going to come back on you. And not in a good way,” he warned.
I shrugged, not really feeling all that concerned. I figured that I could deal with a pissed off Tanner. “But I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You told his girl the truth. It wasn’t your place. We don’t get involved in our teammates’ shit, man. Come on. You gotta know that.”
I stopped recanting the memory and looked at Danika’s face. She didn’t look pleased.
“Are you mad?”
“All I’ve learned is that you told some perfect stranger the truth about her cheating boyfriend, but you wouldn’t tell me.”
“I’m not finished.”
“Then, finish.”
Who knew that doing the right thing could have such bullshit consequences? To say I’d learned my lesson was a massive understatement. Half of the team refused to talk to me after that night, let alone make eye contact with me. If they had the option to choose their catcher, they chose to work with anyone other than me. They no longer trusted me off