Cade doesn't play the rest of the trip.
The season is officially half over and the Hotshots have a pretty substantial lead in the standings after Cade's recent streak.
Coming off of the Seattle series, Cade has had another set of absolutely unreal games, with 8 homeruns in 4 games.
They haven't spent a night away from eachother. Cade hasn't had an accident or even any close calls in two weeks now. Aside from night time, which has even subsided to every other night.
Cade is on cloud 9. The team is on cloud 9. That's why it's so unsettling when Brooke walks into the field, and she catches nearly a dozen people starting at her.
Cade had left her house earlier that morning in an incredible mood, coming off of a dry night and 8 uninterrupted hours of sleep. They'd had pancakes with extra syrup.
As she approaches, they all look down though, flashing half-smiles.
She makes her way into the team clubhouse.
Cam is riding the exercise bike and doesn't even notice her walk in. He is staring aimlessly, sweat pouring down his face.
Cade is in the corner by the water cooler, he is sitting on a bench, talking to Dan and Elliott, who are standing above him.
When he sees her, he immediately dissappears into the showers.
"Brooke." Dan says, gesturing to her.
Her feet have never felt so heavy. Her legs tingle like a thousand needles.
"What's up?" She asks.
Elliott raises his eyebrow and puts his hand on his forehead.
"Cade got picked up this morning. Sending him to train with Rockies. If all goes well, they're expecting an MLB debut on Thursday." Elliott says.
And she suddenly feels like there is an elephant on her chest.
"Oh my God. That's incredible." She says, doing her best to sound genuine.
"Except he has been balling for the last two hours." Dan says, rubbing his temples.
"He's crying?" She questions.
They nod.
"I mean...you know Cade's pretty sensitive. He's probably just overwhelmed." She tries.
"No, it's because he's in love with you." Cam is appears behind her. He looks angry.
She looks to Dan and Elliott who both nod silently
"Wait...he isn't crying because he doesn't want to leave?" She questions.
"He almost passed out when he heard he was leaving tomorrow. He cried on the floor for two hours. None of us could even talk to him."
"This is his dream, Cam. It's all he ever wanted." She says, her own voice cracking.
"Maybe not anymore." He says.
The room goes silent. Cam slaps her back and exits through the main doors.
Dan and Elliott follow, leaving her alone.
Tears fall down her face as soon as the door closes. Cade has become everything to her. She knew all along this is what he was playing for. What he has worked so hard for. She could just never bring herself to actually think of him moving on.
She can hear whimpering echo from the shower room. She wipes her cheeks and catches her breath.
When she enters, Cade is balled up on the floor, knees pulled to his chest and his head rested on them.
"Hey, Sweetheart." She says.
He doesn't look up. He actually starts to cry harder.
She sits down next to him, putting her arm around him. He collapses onto her lap. His gray warm-up pants are wet between the legs. She strokes his beautiful brunette hair. Finally, he stops crying and looks up at her. Eyes as bright and green as ever.
"Hey." She says.
"Don't be sad, Cade."
"I got picked up by the ---Rockies--- today." He hiccups.
She smiles, even though she's on the verge of tears too.
"I know. That's incredible."
He shakes his head.
"I don't want to leave." He says.
"Cade, this is everything you've worked for your whole life. I know you're scared, but you're going to the MLB. You made it."
He is shaking.
"But you won't be there." He says.
She doesn't know what to say.
"For the first time in my life, someone actually cares about me, and I'm gonna lose it."
"Cade, I'll still be here. I'll still care. I promise."
That doesn't help at all. In fact, it only seems to make it worse.
She can't believe no one has come in. She's assuming someone must be guarding the door. Or everyone knows they're in here alone. It's breaking every rule in the book, what they're doing right now. She doesn't care. Neither of them do.
"Sit up." She says.
She pushes Cade up. He is a wet, sweaty, and tearry mess.
"Cade." She says and her voice breaks.
"You're going to go to Denver. You're going to play for the Rockies. And you're going to do amazing things. Okay? You're made for so much more than this." She says.
He doesn't respond.
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up."
Over the last three months, she's learned how to help Cade when he is like this. This time is admittedly much harder, but she has to stay strong.
She helps him strip out of his wet pants and turns the shower on warm.
She hands him a dry towel when he is done and pulls him in for a hug. His balmy skin sticks to her shirt.
He manages to get dressed, and she kisses his cheek.
"I'm not playing tonight. I'm supposed to get packing." He says.
She nods.
"Why don't you go do that, and I'll meet you after the game tonight?" She says.
Cade doesn't react.
"Brooke. I can't have you over tonight. It's only going to make it harder to leave you in the morning."
That hits her like a ton of bricks and this time she can't hold back the tears.
"I love you, Cade."
"I love you too, Brooke."
YOU ARE READING
Secrets Of Third Base
General FictionCade is a semi-professional baseball player. He has battled demons his entire life. They're about to pull him under. The only thing that might save him is the team's newly graduated athletic trainer. She's fascinated by his condition. He's apprehens...
