Love With An Asterisk*

Clause 3: Story of My Life

Clause 3: Story of My Life

The team and a few others made our way to a small community diner as was tradition after a game. The chatter was light and the mood laid back as we were all pretty exhausted. The source of fatigue came not only from the physical exertion of the game, but also from school and life outside of baseball.

There had been a lot going on with finals having just passed, the stress of the game, and the matter of figuring out which path to take after graduation. Cianna and I still hadn’t visited that and the more time we spent not talking about it made the situation that much more fragile to discuss.

We weren’t even skirting around the subject recently, but the tension was very prevalent that the discussion was looming. To us it was easier to pretend that it didn’t exist, so that’s exactly what we did, and it’s exactly what I needed to do right now.

Cianna’s hand ran down my arm. She smiled up at me. “You ok?”

“Yup.” I managed to give her a tight smile. She didn’t look convinced. I quickly turned from her hoping to obscure my face from her all-knowing eyes.

"Monroe, you don't have to give up your dreams. I can--"

“I’m getting laid tonight,” Mike howled which was all I needed to distract me from talking about what Cianna and I were about to start talking about.

I scoffed. “Ok Mike. Sure.” May be I was just in a sour mood because I was supposed to be on my back right now, and not because I didn’t know what the future held for Cianna and I. Yes, that’s exactly why, I reasoned.

We got out of the car. “You doubt me man?”

“No one in their right mind would ever doubt your skills with the ladies.” Cianna pinched his butt and raised her hand letting it land on his butt with a loud slapping noise.

"Ooo, you know I like it kinky." He sang and I rolled my eyes.

“I doubt them,” I said as she came to stand by my side. There were a few agreeing comments from the fellas.

“Ok. How about a little wager then?” Mike challenged.

“Consisting of what?” Louis asked.

“If I get a girl’s number you all have to pay for my meal.”

“What is this, high school?” I taunted. “A phone number? That’s child’s play.”

His eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Too easy? Fine then, I’ll just take the first one who greets us into the bathroom and give her ‘The Mike’. If I do that then you all have to pay for my meal the next 5 times we go out to eat.”

Cianna prompted. “What happens if you don’t?”

He thought about it for a minute before he stuck out his hand. “Then I’ll pay the bill tonight."

 “Then I’m definitely ordering the steak tonight,” I shook his hand. I didn’t care if he scored or not, firstly, because that wouldn’t help my situation and secondly, because I loved it when Mike got in touch with his competitive side. It always provided us with a laugh that usually lasted for days.  

We entered the diner where the new waitress, who unknowingly had a Mike target on her back since we made that bet, greeted us cheerfully. “Welcome to Carmen’s. How many will be dining today?”

“29,” Cianna answered. The girl gave a baffled look discretely trying to count how many people were here already. “There are more on the way,” she answered her unspoken question.