Page 2 of Taking the Pitch (Love & Baseball #2)

CHAPTER ONE

judd

“Cheers to the happy couple,” I say, finishing my speech, holding up my beer.

Shouts of Cheers! go up around me and we all take a drink with me, finishing mine off.

I make my way to the open bar and order another. While I’m waiting, I turn around and lean my elbows against the bar, looking around at everyone who showed up for my brother and Lucy. It’s not a huge crowd, but they wanted to keep it small, just the important people in their lives. Tony and his whole family are here. Lucy’s best friend, Kara, and her son, of course. Garrett, who isn’t fooling anyone with the way he’s giving Kara looks from across the room.

We see you, buddy.

Reese, Brent, Duke…which is surprising, he never comes to these things; the recluse that he is. A few other guys from the team Kessler’s friends with and their dates, wives, girlfriends, whatever.

Coach Dixon and his wife and daughter Charlie, who also runs the team’s PR department.

Coach raises an eyebrow at me from across the room and I tip my head towards him.

The bartender sets my drink on the bar, and I turn and grab it, taking a swig while I finish my perusal of the room.

Aunts, uncles and cousins from our side round out the body count. Apparently, Lucy’s family disowned her when she got pregnant with Hudson. What fuckheads do that to someone? Especially someone as sweet and amazing as Lucy?

Jared Cox, that’s who.

Shaking my head, I take another drink of my beer as I think about the guy who I used to call my friend. The things he said about Lucy when he and Kessler got into that fight during their league game last season were shocking. I knew he was known to go through women.

It’s not a secret. A lot of ballplayers sleep around, but abandoning your kid? And to toss Lucy to the side like that? No. I told that motherfucker where he could go the last time he called me up. Then I blocked his number.

Dad comes over and claps me on the back. He orders a beer for himself and a white wine for my mom.

Leaning on the bar, he looks out over the crowd with me. “Good turnout,” he notes, tipping his head towards everyone.

“Yeah, everyone they invited showed up for them,” I say, taking another drink.

Feeling Dad’s gaze on me, I turn towards him. “What?”

“You good, Son?” He looks at the beer in my hand and back at me.

Reaching out, I clap his shoulder. “Yeah, Dad. I’m fine, just celebrating the happy couple.”

He grabs his drinks from the bartender. “Okay, but ease up on the drinks, yeah? Maybe switch to water?”

“Sure, Dad,” I tell him. He nods his head and heads over to where Mom is fussing over Lucy.

Oh yeah, fun fact. Lucy is three months pregnant. With twins. Which is another reason we’re here tonight. They wanted to get married before the babies were born and Lucy wanted it to happen before she’s as big as a house. Her words, not mine. So, in true Lucy and Kessler fashion, they decided to get married on Christmas…which is in two months. Their reasoning being everyone who they were going to spend Christmas with would be at the wedding anyway. Honestly, I can’t argue with that logic, not that I would. Lucy has gotten a little scary with all the extra pregnancy hormones coursing through her body.

Something hits me between the ribs, and I absently rub at it.

One of Tony’s daughters comes over. Marie, I think, I don’t know. They all look similar, and I’m not as close to them as Kess is. After she orders a glass of wine, she looks over at me, giving me a shy smile.

I return the smile, but don’t pursue it from there. She’s pretty, dark brown eyes, the color of whiskey, dark chocolate-brown shoulder length hair, beautiful really, but I don’t feel an attraction there.

Giving me one last look, she takes her drink and heads over to Kara and the girl group that’s formed around Lucy.

Seeing my brother has finally peeled himself from Lucy’s side, I make my way over to his little group. He’s been a little…over-protective of Lucy since finding out she’s pregnant. Mom thinks it’s adorable. Lucy is slightly annoyed, but grateful to actually have her partner with her this time.

Squeezing in between my brother and Brent, I clap Kessler on the back a few times. “I thought Lucy was going to have to pry you off her side with a crowbar,” I joke.

“I’m not that bad,” Kessler grumbles, looking over at Lucy with a mixture of adoration and concern. Feeling his gaze on her, Lucy looks over and gives Kessler a wink, making him smile and his body relaxes slightly. “Okay, maybe I’m a little…protective.”

I scoff. “A little? I recall Lucy telling Mom at the last Sunday dinner she had to sneak out of the house the other day so she could go on a run.”

Kessler rolls his eyes like I’m the one being dramatic.

“Then, then, when you couldn’t find her, you. Tracked. Her. Phone.” Kessler’s face turns a slight shade of red. Driving my point home, I finish, “Then drove to her location and insisted she get in the truck so you can drive her back.”

Brent and Reese snicker beside him. Duke rolls his eyes and Garrett just takes a drink of his beer.

Kessler grips the back of his neck like he does when he’s stressed. “I was concerned about her jostling the babies around.” Pulling his hand from his neck, he waves it around in the air. “How was I supposed to know that’s not what happens? I’ve never done this before. I know nothing about babies, or pregnancies.” He stops and takes a drink of his own beer.

Feeling a twinge guilty for giving him a hard time, I lay my hand on his shoulder. “You’re going to be a great dad, Kessler; you already are to Hud. Plus, we’ve had a great role model. You have nothing to worry about.”

Kessler nods and takes another drink of his beer. Trying to lighten the mood, I turn to Brent, who has been eyeballing Lucy’s group. “So, Brent, who are you eye fucking over there?”

Brent chokes on the drink of beer he was taking. Reese smacks his back hard a few times. “What?” he chokes out. “I’m, no, I.” He coughs a few more times, then takes another drink. “I’m not looking at anyone,” he says, his voice a little higher than normal.

I grin. “Riiight. That’s why you haven’t taken your eyes off Lucy’s little group over there,” I say, pointing with my bottle to Lucy’s girl gang. Brent looks over again, right as Marie looks up. Their eyes lock and they both turn red and look away.

Oh …

“She’s cute man, you should go for it,” I tell him.

Brent shakes his head and moves off, muttering something about needing another drink. I chuckle and Kessler just shakes his head. “Always have to stir up trouble, don’t you?”

I shrug. It’s always been my duty as the younger brother to cause trouble. Why stop now?

“Sooo Garrett,” I start, turning to him.

“Nope,” he says, staring me down, blue eyes blazing into me.

I laugh, but don’t push it. Garrett is a retired Navy SEAL. I may like to cause trouble, but I don’t have a death wish. Holding my hand up in surrender. “Okay, chill. Just thought there was a certain BFF over there that caught your eye.”

He cocks his eyebrow at me in warning, but there’s a hint of a smile on his lips.

I smirk back, but decide to keep quiet, not wanting to push my luck.

“What about you?” Reese asks, looking at me.

“What about me?”

He tips his chin at me. “You seem invested in everyone’s love life. What about yours?”

I shrug. “Don’t have one.” Another twinge hits me between the ribs, and I try to ignore it. “You know me. I’m not the relationship type.” Apparently, I’m not the hook-up type anymore, either. It’s been longer than I care to admit since I’ve been with anyone. Not that I’m going to tell them that.

“Mmm hmm,” Reese responds, knowing I’m full of shit, but not calling me on it.

I tip my beer and finish it off. I excuse myself and go to the bar to grab another one. I know I told my dad I would switch to water, but one more won’t hurt.

Fresh beer in hand, I spot my favorite nephew, or soon to be nephew, I guess, and head over to where he and Kade, Kara’s son, are sitting at a table playing on their Nintendo Switches. Hudson looks up from his game and gives me a wide grin. “Hey Uncle Judd, wanna play?”

A warm feeling spreads through my chest when he calls me Uncle. I return his grin and sit in the chair next to him. “Sure, what are we playing?” I ask, holding out my hand for his switch.

“ Mario Kart ,” he says, handing me his game system. “I’m kicking Kade’s ass, and I think he needs a break from me winning.” His eyes widen when he realizes he said the word ‘ass’, making me chuckle.

“Don’t worry, Hud, I won’t tell if you don’t.” I give him a wink.

He relaxes back into his chair and nods.

I lace my hands together and crack my knuckles. “Alright boys, prepare to lose.”

I suck…

Twenty minutes and several lost rounds of Mario Kart later and Hudson has dubbed himself king. He wiped the floor with both Kade and me.

“Re-match,” I say, motioning to Kade for the switch. He’s holding it out for me when Kara comes up to the table, grabbing it.

“Sorry boys, no re-match, the party is over,” she says, motioning to the room. I look around and realize that only our families are left and getting ready to head out themselves.

Standing up with the boys, I take my phone out of my back pocket and check the time. 8pm. Shit, it’s still early. If I go home now, I’m just going to sit in my apartment and mindlessly flip through the channels. I make the decision to stop by my favorite club for a while before heading home.

I walk with the boys and Kara over to where Kessler, Lucy, and my parents are getting their coats on. October in Oregon is usually pretty wet, and this year is no exception. It’s currently dumping outside the event space they rented for the party.

“Great party guys,” I tell Kessler and Lucy, grabbing my jacket.

“Nice speech,” Lucy says, slipping her coat on that Kessler is holding out for her.

I blow on my nails and buff them against my shirt. “Thanks. Only the best for my favorite future sister-in-law.”

Lucy laughs and gives me an eye roll.

“Hey! What about your favorite brother?” Kessler asks, shoulder bumping me.

“I don’t have one of those.”

“If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have a favorite sister-in-law,” Kessler argues, handing Hudson his jacket before putting his own on.

I lift a shoulder. “You’re right.” Placing my hands on Hudson’s shoulders, I stand behind him before adding, “There’s still time to change your mind, Luce. I could have a favorite fiancée instead,” I say, giving her a wink.

Lucy barks out a laugh while Kessler says something about being an only child under his breath. An elbow digs into my ribs, and I turn to see my mom giving me a pointed look.

“Quit teasing your brother.”

“What? I’m just letting Lucy know that she still has options.”

Lucy pats my arm and gives me a sweet smile. “Sorry, Judd, but I only have eyes for Kessler.”

“That’s right baby,” Kessler says, looking down at Lucy like she’s the only woman in the world. He leans down and connects his lips with hers. Mom makes a soft hmm and places a hand over her chest, grinning.

“Ugh, gross,” Hudson mutters.

I laugh and pat his shoulders. “One day, Hud, you’re not going to think it’s gross.”

He shakes his head in disagreement, making us all laugh.

A few seconds later when the rain lightens up and Kessler releases Lucy’s lips, a decision is made that Dad and Kess will go pull the cars around so Mom, Lucy, and Hudson don’t have to get completely soaked. Me, being the lone wolf, will just leave from the lot. I say my goodbyes and make a beeline to the only three cars left in the lot. Lifting my hand to my dad and brother, I get in the car and head off to the club.

Two hours and a couple of drinks later, and I’m beginning to think I made the wrong decision. The thumping of the music is giving me a headache, and the girl that attached herself to me as soon as I walked in isn’t helping. Apparently, she’s a chatty drunk, and she’s sucking down the drinks like they’re water.

I let my eyes wander her body again and wonder how she’s still upright. She maybe weighs 120 pounds soaking wet. Her clothes have left little to the imagination. It’s basically two scraps of fabric covering, and I use that word loosely, her important parts. To top it all off, she’s wearing heels that make my feet hurt just looking at them.

“Want to get out of here?” she asks hopefully, noticing my gaze.

Yes, but not with you.

Leaning forward in the booth, I set my half empty beer down on the table. “Actually, I have a headache. I think I’m going to head out,” I tell her, hitching my thumb over my shoulder.

She gives me a pouty lip, and then her eyes light up. “I can help you with that,” she says, scooting closer to me. Any closer and she’ll be in my lap. “You know, take your mind off the pain,” she says suggestively, with a wink.

I pry her hands off my arms and scoot towards the outer part of the booth. “As fun as that sounds, I’m going to have to take a rain check. Maybe next time,” I tell her, standing. She shimmies her way out of the booth. I have no idea how her clothes stay where they are, but she manages to keep all her important parts covered.

Once she’s standing, she digs in her purse that’s no bigger than my fist and extracts a folded piece of paper. “Here’s my number.” She reaches forward and tucks the paper into my front pocket, letting her hand linger there for a minute. “Give me a call when you want to continue this,” she says, looking up at me through her lashes.

Pulling my keys from my other pocket, I give her a wink and nod to Nate behind the bar. He gives me a wave and I leave out the back.

Once I’m in my car, I reach into my pocket and take out the paper and unfold it.

Huh, I totally thought her name was Sandra. Crumpling the paper, I toss it onto the passenger floorboard and start my car. Pulling out of the lot, I start the 10-minute drive to my apartment.

I’m lost in my thoughts of why I didn’t take that girl home when I normally would. She was beautiful. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Except she was a little too skinny for my taste. I like a woman with more curves, something I can grab onto while I’m driving into her, preferably from behind. I reach down and adjust myself, trying to remember the last time I got laid. It’s been a while.

I’m trying to remember exactly how long it’s been when all of a sudden blue and red lights flash and the whoop of a siren sounds.

Fuck.

The siren whoops again and I hit my blinker, seeing a space on the shoulder to safely pull over. I blow out a breath once I’m stopped and try to figure out what I did.

After what feels like an eternity, the officer and his partner get out of their car and make their way over to my car. One taps the window and I roll it down, squinting against the rain that’s blowing in and the light from his flashlight. “Officer…” I look at his nameplate. “Blackstone, what seems to be the problem?” I ask, holding my hand up slightly against the light.

“Son, do you know how fast you were going?” he asks, holding his light down now that he got a good look at me.

I blink a few times, letting my eyes adjust from the assault of his flashlight, then look up at him. He’s older, salt and pepper hair at the temples. His eyes look like they’ve seen some things, and the wrinkles at the corners suggest long and stressful days on the job. I respect the hell out of law enforcement and I’m not looking to make this guy’s night hard. “Uh, no officer, I’m sorry I don’t. Was I speeding?”

“Does 40 in a 25 sound like speeding?” he asks, raising his bushy eyebrows.

Shit.

“Uh, yes sir. It does. I’m sorry. I’ll pay better attention next time.”

“License and registration,” he says, indicating he’s not done with me.

I grab my wallet from the cup holder and pause. “Uh, my registration is in the glove box. Can I reach for it?”

He nods and I move across my car, getting into the box and pulling out the paper he asked for. I blow out a breath and hand over both items. He reaches for them, then stops. “Son, have you been drinking?”

Fuck.

I stare at him, trying to decide if I want to lie or tell him the truth. I opt for the truth, since he obviously smelled it on me, or he wouldn’t have asked. “Uh, yes sir, I had a beer at Ignite. ” I don’t add the drinks I had before that. That was hours ago, they have to be out of my system by now. Right?

His eyes flick from me to his partner, then back to me. “Do you mind stepping out of the car and coming to the back to do a voluntary test for me?”

Son of a bitch.

I nod and move to get out. He steps back, keeping his flashlight on me. Opening my door, I slowly get out, keeping my hands where he can see them, and walk to the back of the car where the other officer is waiting.

He looks at me and does a double take. “Holy shit, you’re Judd Davis.”

I nod and hold out my hand. “Nice to meet you…” I look at his nameplate. “Officer Thompson.” He takes my hand and gives it a quick shake.

“Thompson!” the other officer bellows from behind me, making me jump a little. “Run these while I start his field test.”

Officer Thompson gives me a weak smile and grabs my cards from the other officer and heads back to the patrol car.

Officer Blackstone comes and stands in front of me. Raising his flashlight, he points it back at my face. “Are you sick or injured?”

I shake my head no.

“Diabetic, or any major medical issues?”

“No, Sir.”

“Great. Place your feet together for me and stick your hands down at your side.” I do as he asks, and he holds a finger up to my face. “See my finger?” I nod. “I need you to follow it with your eyes, and only your eyes. Don’t turn your head. Understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

He moves his finger first to the left, almost out of my line of vision. I almost turn my head to follow it, but catch myself. He moves it to the other side of my face and repeats the motion a few times before pausing on each side of my head.

“Now follow it down and up,” he says, motioning up and down in front of my face a few times. “Okay, now we’re going to do the walk and turn. For this test, I’m going to have you stand with your right foot in front of your left, heel touching your toe. Your hands need to be at your side and you’re going to walk in a straight line counting nine steps out loud. Understand?”

I nod while he demonstrates the movements.

“Upon completing the ninth step, leave your front foot planted and make a series of small steps to turn around and make nine steps back. Once you start this test, you cannot stop it. Got it?”

Fuck, do I?

I nod anyway and start the test, as Officer Thompson comes back with my cards. I complete the first nine steps with a few wobbles, but nothing I couldn’t correct, but as I start to turn around, I feel myself tilt and lose my balance. I stop and correct myself before completing the turn and finishing my nine steps back. Or what I thought was nine steps, maybe ten?

Officer Blackstone’s face remains impassive as he gives me instructions for the final test. “Last test. For this one, you’re going to stand with your feet together, hands at your sides again, only this time you’re going to raise your left or right leg off the ground and parallel to it. I’m going to ask you to count one, one thousand, two, one thousand, etcetera until asked to stop.” He demonstrates for me. “Do you understand?”

I nod and lift my left leg. Fighting the urge to hold my arms out, I start counting. “One, one thousand, two, one thousand, three, one thousand…” I make it to 11 one thousand before I start wobbling.

“Ok, that’s enough.” Officer Blackstone sighs. “Signs indicate that you’re impaired and shouldn’t be operating a vehicle. Turn around and put your hands behind your back for me.”

I close my eyes and let my head fall back. “Fuck,” I mutter to the sky.

“What was that?” Officer Blackstone asks, taking his cuffs out of his utility belt.

“Nothing, sir,” I say, turning around and placing my hands behind my back. He reads me my Miranda Rights as he secures the first cuff around my wrist. The cold metal bites into my skin. The second cuff locks around my wrist and he guides me to the back of the patrol car. Officer Thompson opens the door while Officer Blackstone puts a hand on the back of my head as I duck down into the back. Sitting on the hard bench seat, I look out the window and wonder how much I just fucked up my life.

I blew a .09 on the breathalyzer. I’m charged and booked with driving under the influence. Then I’m fingerprinted, photographed, and allowed my phone call. It’s well past midnight when I called Kessler. After he got over the initial shock that I was, in fact, calling him from jail and not pulling a prank on him, I’m wondering if I made the right decision by calling him instead of our parents.

I take the envelope that holds the stuff I had on me when I was arrested from the booking officer and head out through the doors to what looks like a waiting room. Kessler is sitting in a chair with his arms on his knees and his head in his hands, staring at the floor. I clear my throat and his eyes shoot to me.

Instantly I feel like I’m 12 years old again and Kessler is pissed at me for letting it slip that he snuck out after curfew to take Sadie Green to the lookout. Mom was pissed when she found out, and he wasn’t allowed to drive anywhere but school and practice for a month.

Without saying a word, he gets up from the chair and heads to the door leading outside. I follow him like a puppy who was punished for peeing on the floor.

Once we’re inside the truck, the silence is almost deafening. Kessler doesn’t make a move to start the truck, just grips the steering wheel, turning his knuckles white. After a few uncomfortable minutes, I finally speak up. “Are we just going to sit here, or?” I don’t even finish my sentence before Kessler explodes.

“What the fuck were you thinking, Judd? Driving drunk? What the hell do you have to say for yourself?”

“Okay, Dad,” I start, but he cuts me off again.

“This isn’t a joke, Juddson. This is your fucking life! What if you crashed? What if you had hit someone? Or worse, killed someone or yourself?” His voice echoes inside the cab of the truck as his voice gets louder the angrier he gets.

I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen Kessler lose his shit. Most recently, when he found out about Jared and Lucy’s past and told Lucy he wanted a break, resulting in one very smashed coffee table. So him screaming at me tells me I fucked up big time.

I sit there in silence, letting the reality of the situation wash over me. “Kess, I’m, I-” I stop and run my hand over my jaw and mouth. “I didn’t realize I was drunk. I thought I was good to drive, man.”

Kessler blows a breath out through his lips and lets his head fall back against his headrest. He turns his head and looks at me with eyes that match mine. “Judd, it’s not just about you. You have to think about how your actions affect others. I had to convince Lucy to stay home and not come with me. Hudson idolizes you. What if something had happened? He would be devastated. We all would.”

Those words are a hit straight to my heart and I rub at the ache in my chest. I don’t consider myself a selfish person, but my actions tonight have said otherwise. Running my fingers through my hair, I tug at the ends in frustration. “You’re right Kessler, I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry for worrying all of you.”

Kessler nods and sits forward, turning the key in the ignition. The truck roars to life. “You have to get your partying under control. You’re thirty two, Judd, time to grow up.”

I clench my teeth together. I know he’s right, but it doesn’t make hearing it any easier.

Kessler pulls out of the lot and heads in the direction of my apartment. “You need to call Dale first thing in the morning, too. You know this won’t stay quiet for long.”

I nod, even though the darkness in the truck prevents him from seeing it and lay my head back against my own head rest. The events of the day catching up to me. Dale is not going to be happy about this, but if anyone can handle this, it’s him. He’s been our agent from day one and we trust him with anything. He handled Kessler’s media shit show with ease, and I’m hoping mine has the same outcome.

Neither of us speak during the drive to my place. When Kessler pulls up to the front of my building, I turn to him before getting out. “I’m sorry for taking you away from Lucy on the night of your engagement party. Tell her sorry for me?”

Kessler sighs and rubs his eyes with his thumb and pointer finger. “You can tell her at family dinner tomorrow.” He looks at the clock on the dash. “Or should I say today?”

Shit .

I know there’s no way mom would let me skip dinner, especially after what happened tonight. Oh no, it’ll be all hands on deck to figure out how to fix Judd’s fuck up. I release a sigh of my own and nod. “Guess Mom wouldn’t let me skip this one, huh?”

Kessler snorts. “Yeah, maybe if hell froze over.” He gives me a slight smile. “Better get some sleep, little brother. Mom is going to be all over your ass tonight.”

Grabbing the handle, I open my door and slide out of the truck. “Thanks again, Kessler.”

He nods. “We’ll figure this out, Judd. Everything will work out.”

I close the door and tap it a of couple times, giving Kessler a wave as he pulls away from the curb. Turning to my building, I make my way up the steps and into the lobby. “Good evening Mr. Davis.” I tried correcting Marty my first two months here to call me Judd, but it never stuck, so I gave up trying.

“Evening Marty. How’s your night?”

“Can’t complain Mr. Davis.”

I nod my head at him and give him a wave, heading to the elevator. “Have a good rest of your night, Marty.”

“Thank you Mr. Davis, you too.”

Once I’m in the elevator, I hold my phone up to the screen and hit the button for the Penthouse. Slouching against the wall, the reality of the day hits me in full force. I fucked up, bad.

Entering my apartment. I toss my keys onto the entry table and sag into the couch, my eyes instantly grow heavy. Before I drift off to sleep, my mind replays the events of the day and I pray tomorrow is a better day.