Page 7 of Deal with Mr. Cruel

“You know, I meant to tell you congratulations earlier. Your dad would be proud.”

Jonas nodded. The last thing he wanted to talk about was his dad, especially with Nico. Changing the subject, he asked, “Did you enjoy yourself at the party?”

“Definitely. Wendy went all out. Although my sister was my date.”

“Not a bad one to have.”

“True. Mae is one of a kind.”

Jonas silently agreed. Nico didn’t know about their history. If he did, he probably wouldn’t be talking to him right now. Soon they pulled up to a white Victorian house with blue shutters. All the lights were off, except for a room upstairs. Jonas wondered what Mae was doing. Wondered if she was alone.

“Well, thanks for the ride,” Nico said, opening the door and closing it behind him.

Jonas watched as Nico went inside. Jonas studied the house for a minute, and almost as if he willed her to appear, the front door opened. He watched as Mae walked barefoot toward the car, on her tiptoes. Her hair was damp and hung in waves, and she wore an oversized jersey. How did she always look so good?

“Mae,” he said, almost as a question.

“Jonas.” She stood, rubbing her arms to keep warm.

He opened the car door. “It’s warmer in here.”

Reluctantly, she slid inside and shut the door. Her bare legs grazed against him before she pulled them away. Being alone with her, and this close, he felt nervous. Tense. Expectant. He wondered if she felt it, too. He waited for her to say something.

“I just wanted to say thank you,” she said, not meeting his gaze. “I know you two don’t always see eye to eye.”

“I did it for the team,” Jonas said with a casual shrug.

She looked at him and furrowed her brow. “Why do you do that?”

“What?” he asked.

“Act like it’s always about work. Like you can’t just do something good.”

Jonas didn’t say anything. She sighed and opened the car door, sliding out.

Feeling bad, he called after her, “Mae.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, shutting the door and not looking back.

Jonas leaned his head back and let out a sigh. As he breathed in, the smell of her perfume lingered.

Chapter 4

Mae

Mae eased into her seat as the first pitch was thrown. The stadium erupted into chants and claps. There was an excitement in the air. It almost felt like a new hope just reverberating off the fans. Usually, she felt it, but today, her heart wasn’t in it, which was surprising because Nico was in the starting lineup. Last night’s moment with Jonas had kept her up most of the night and had trickled into today. Was it even a moment? All they did was make eye contact for a millisecond. She felt stupid for letting it get her all worked up and taking away from today.

Most days, she loved the sport. If her parents could see her now, they would be so happy to see her sitting in the owner’s box. And if her parents could see Nico on the field, they would have been blown away. They had both worked in the industry and for this team. Her mother was a physical therapist for the team, and her father was an announcer. His dad jokes and warm personality made him a local celebrity.

Because of their parents’ jobs, Mae and Nico were always at the games. She still remembered sitting behind the dugout, munching on popcorn, and screaming at the top of her lungs when the crack of a home run rang through the air. Some of her happiest memories were at this stadium. It was where she fell in love with baseball, and where she saw Nico realize what he wanted to do with his life. Baseball was in their blood.

She looked up at the sky and closed her eyes, hoping to feel her parents in some way. Sometimes, at the stadium, she would feel pangs of sadness hit her hard. After she lost them, she didn’t go to the stadium for years. It was too difficult. There were too many memories. There were times she wanted to give up on baseball altogether, but Nico was set on becoming a pro. He was doing it for them, and how could she make him give it up? Now, she was fully immersed in the sport. She lived it, watched it, worked in it.

Mae opened her eyes and looked out over the field. This stadium held other memories too. This was where she met Jonas for the first time. She remembered meeting him in the dugout before her brother’s first game. Beneath a baseball cap, his green eyes struck her first, followed by a soft smile surrounded by dark stubble. He was kind, a stark contrast standing next to his father, who was barking at the players. They didn’t stay long, but an impression was made. He looked over his shoulder and gave her a look that saidI’m sorryas he followed his dad out of the dugout.

“Earth to Mae,” Nico said as he adjusted his laces.

“Sorry.” She shook her head and resumed taking him through a few stretches she remembered her mom doing.