Grand Slam

Part 7

After practice, I'd just finished changing back into my jeans. Dansby walked over to me as I was pulling my jeans off my legs because they were sticking from the sweat. "It's way too hot for this," I said as Dansby laughed at me. "Well, my mama just called me and asked if we wanted to come over to eat supper with them and swim in the pool with my little cousin." "I mean if they don't care, I'll go. Swimming sounds good right about now." I replied as we started walking back to my truck. "Very true," Dansby replied as Austin, Ozzie, Freddie, and Max joined us walking to our cars.

"Ashlyn, you know it's way too hot to be wearing jeans right?" Max said as I pulled them off my legs again. "Yes, Maximus I know." "Did you just call him Maximus?" Freddie asked, laughing. "As a matter of fact Frederick I did. I'm going to have nicknames for every single one of y'all before this is over." "That's kind of scary," Austin said, as we got to our vehicles. "What's Austin's or Dansby's?" Max asked, laughing as I unlocked my truck. "Well Fried chicken, sometimes I can't think of one for someone, but for people like you, I can think of multiple," I said, getting in and looking at Max while Dansby got in the passenger side. "Yeah, whatever Ashlyn. I'll see y'all tomorrow." Max said getting in his truck. "Bye fried chicken," I said, waving as Dansby and I pulled out and left.

Dansby's POV

While we were walking out to Ashlyn's truck, she started making fun of Max and Freddie, so Austin pulled me aside and said, "Did y'all even get to go out?" "No, we didn't. But mama invited us to come over there and eat and swim with my little cousin, so we're going to head over there." "Well, I'm glad y'all are going to hang out. I was serious when I said I thought y'all would make a good couple." "Thanks, man," I said, watching Ashlyn dance around and make fun of Max for his last name. "She's something else, isn't she?" Austin said, laughing as Ashlyn almost fell. "Definitely. I don't think I've ever seen someone be themselves around us so fast. Like even some of the wives won't act normally around us." "Well I mean Ashlyn has probably been around guys her whole life with baseball, so she's probably used to it," Austin said as we got to our parking spots. "Yeah, that's true. Well, I'll see you tomorrow man." I said, walking around Ashlyn's truck. "Yeah man, have fun," Austin said as he got in his truck and pulled out.

"So are we going straight to your mom's?" Ashlyn asked as we pulled out of her parking spot. "Yeah, you might need a swimsuit though. And do you care if we switch trucks? Mama would kill me if she knew I let you drive." "Yeah that's fine," Ashlyn said laughing. "Do you think she would care if I brought Lou?" "I'm not sure, but I can call and ask her," I said as I picked up my phone to call mama.

Hey mama

Hey baby, what's up?

Well, Ashlyn and I are on the way home and she asked if you minded if she brought her golden retriever. She's a really sweet dog and she's well trained.

No of course I don't care. How much longer are y'all going to be? Lily is getting impatient.

We're about five minutes away from Ashlyn's and she's got to get a swimsuit and Lou.

Alright, I'll see y'all in a few.

Love you, mama

Love you

"What'd she say?" Ashlyn asked as we drove past Marietta high school. "She said it'd be fine and Lily is getting impatient for us to get there," I said, laughing about my little cousin. "I've never met her, but she sounds adorable," Ashlyn said as we pulled into her driveway and my phone rang again.

Hello?

Dansby when are you going to get here?  Lily asked in her toddler voice.

I'll be there in like five minutes Lily. Are you ready to meet Ashlyn?

Who's that?

That's my friend that's coming over with me.

Oh okay. Hurry up!

Alright Lily.

Ashlyn's POV

As I was grabbing a swim suit, I realized how nervous I actually was to meet Dansby's family. On the outside, I could keep myself calm, while on the inside I could be having a panic attack. I walked downstairs where Dansby was waiting and asked, "You ready to go?" "Yeah, whenever you are." he said

After we loaded Lou in the backseat and Dansby opened the passenger door of his truck for me, he got into the driver seat and looked over at me. "You okay?" he asked looking concerned. "Yeah, just a little nervous," I said, giving him a small smile. "You don't have to be nervous. I promise." he said, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze. Instantly, I felt some of my nerves leave.

As we pulled out of my driveway, Die a Happy Man by Thomas Rhett came on the radio. When the chorus came on, I started softly singing along. "You can really sing, you know that right?" Dansby said, looking over at me before looking back at the road. "Thanks," I said, blushing. As Dansby pulled into his mom's driveway, I felt my nerves come back. Dansby must've sensed it, because he grabbed my hand and squeezed it again. We looked at each other and smiled as he put the truck in park and a little girl in a swimsuit and floaties came running out the front door. Dansby picked her up and swung her around as I got Lou out of the backseat. Two women came out on the front porch laughing at the little girl, who I presumed was Lily. When Dansby put her down, she grabed his hand and tried to pull him to the door, but he told her to go on and came over to grab my hand and lead me to the porch.

"Ashlyn, this is my mama and my sister, Lindsey. Mama, Lindsey this is Ashlyn." "Hey, it's nice to meet y'all!" I said, as Dansby's mom held her arms out for a hug. "Hi! You can call me Nancy. And this is my daughter Lindsey. This little booger is Lily." she said, picking Lily up as she buried her head into Nancy's shoulder. "Hey Lily, this is Lou." I said crouching down as Nancy put Lily down and she reached out to pet Lou. "She's really pretty." she said, smiling at me. "Thank you, do you want to taker her inside to see Bentley?" "Can I mama?" she asked looking up at Lindsey. "Yeah baby, go ahead." Lindsey said, smiling at Lily.

I stood up as Lou followed Lily inside where I heard a man say, "Who do you have there baby?"

"I just wanted to say, you play really good baseball." Lindsey said as she also held her arms out for a hug. "Thank you!" I replied, smiling as we walked in the front door.