Strike One

Chapter 10: Double Date / That doesn't include me

Whitney's Point of View:

After finally unpacking my last box from home, I finally feel a bit more settled. I decide to call my mom and let her know how I'm doing and check in with her.

Ring...ring...

Mom: Hello?

Whitney: Hi Mom, how are you?

Mom: I'm good dear, how are you?

Whitney: I'm hanging in there. Just wanted to call and check in and see how you were doing?

Mom: I'm Leslie Brown, a powerful judge in Wisconsin. I'm also tired and missing my daughter. Tell me about.... "Jamie, can you push my meeting out 10 minutes?"

Whitney: Mom, it's okay, if you need to go, we can talk later.

Mom: No, family first. Now tell me.

Ever since my dad passed away, my mom has become more in my life. Well, she is trying to be. To be fair, she hasn't always been a hands-on mom, involved in the PTA meetings at my school or the mom who would hold me after I scrapped my knee up. But she was a good mom in her own right. Just because she isn't here 24/7 doesn't mean I don't feel loved by her - but my dad. Well, my dad was both of our rocks. He is what held us together and ever since he passed, she has been trying to find ways to interact with me like any mom should be able to talk to their daughter.

Whitney: Alright, well, I hit my new personal record today in the weight room. Squats. It was a pretty big deal. My name is on the board now.

Mom: I think that is great. You've always been so incredibly athletic and determined and, man, do you have your father's spirit.

Whitney: I'd like to think I did. But everyone was incredibly supportive, especially a couple of guys from the baseball team.

Mom: Oh, alright. Which guy are you gushing over, because you wouldn't have brought up the team unless you were interested, and you really never have been before?

Whitney: (how the f**k did she know that?) Umm, whoa. You are kind of good at this mom thing, huh? (God, that was a gut punch to her).

Mom: Yeah, I guess I can be.

Whitney: I'm sorry mom, I didn't mean that. Well, it's another catcher. His name is Chandler, he's been really nice to me and been a true gentleman. (Not wanting to tell her about the Suchy kid and what he tried to do to me.)

Mom: Whoa. You just described how I met your father. Just so, kind and pure.

Whitney: (That made my heart sing) Yeh, in a weird way - I guess he kind of does remind me of dad. Always looking out for everyone, would take the shirt off his back. I've only known this guy for a couple days but he is already someone I can see becoming good friends with.

Mom: Oh honey, you think you're just going to be friends. That is your first mistake. My advice is to be just careful. Use protection - I am too young to be a grandma.

Whitney: Jesus, MOM!

Mom: What? I'm serious - I can tell by your tone, you're into this guy. I'm just sending you the message to put in the back of your mind: You have a ton of life to live, softball to play and hearts to break kiddo. Be smart. s**t, I have to go ok. I love you Whitty.

Whitney: Love you too mom.

I hung up the phone, but not before she had already ended the call. I looked at my phone for a couple minutes. My mom and I have never been incredibly close, no. But she always knew when something was wrong, always. She has been more of my sister than my mom and every day she has had to be a mom she tends to take on more of her judgmental persona than my mom. In this case, I think she was trying to be both.

I heard a knock at my door and jumped up to open the door to find Abi behind it. She smiles, "Take a shower and get dressed - Hop Cat tonight, I'm starving and want c***k Fries, I mean Cosmic fries! Be ready in 45 minutes, K!" She turns and leaves. I shut the door and just slowly walked back to my couch. I opened my phone and looked over the Hop Cat Menu. Alright, a nice brew spot. I wonder why my dad never brought me here, and think it was probably too new for his taste. He loved the hole in the wall joints that no one would find him hiding in.

I hop in the shower and run my fingers through my thick set of curls that have appeared due to the humidity outside today. After the shower, I looked in the mirror and decided to put my hair in a bun and ball cap with my bun sticking out the back. Toss on some Old Navy dark purple shorts with Goo Goo Dolls Band T-shirt, I toss on my Converse and head out the door. To my surprise, Abi was waiting outside the door for me.

We took off walking down the street and headed into downtown Ann Arbor. We make a couple of turns and cross a couple of roads and end up at Hop Cat, which is next to the old movie theater as well as the Giant Downtown parking structure. We walk in and ask for a table for two and our host is so incredibly sweet and seats us towards the back at a table that is typically for four people. We thank her and she walks away.

The waitress comes up and asks if we would like to drink. We both asked for water with lemon. She smiles and says she will bring those back and take our food order. We were scanning the menu when I glanced up to see Chandler sitting across from two girls and sitting next to Luke. My heart sinks right into my gut. My breathing grows ragged, and my eyes must have been the size of saucers because Abi looks at me then looks at what I'm staring at. She calmly says, "I've seen the one girl before, the smaller one. She has been at parties with Chandler." I shake my head, not just accepting what Abi is telling, but also accepting the fact that whatever I thought I felt, well I can throw that out the window because he is clearly with another girl.

I feel almost embarrassed, like, why did I allow myself to even for a second think that he liked me? Abi looks at me, "It's OK, whatever it is, I mean maybe she is his sister? I don't know. I'm just sorry." She is so sweet for trying to make me feel better, but she has nothing to be sorry for, so I told her that. I quickly snapped out of my funk and looked at Abi, " He is not the reason we are here. We are here to get food and to talk, just the two of us. He can hang out with whoever he wants, he's not my boyfriend or anything," I muster. She smiles.

When the waitress brings over our drinks, Abi orders first. I followed her lead and ordered a wrap off the menu. The waitress smiles and indicates she will be back shortly with that. Abi and I started talking about this, that and the other thing. Talking about our lives, what our ambitions are and what type of person we want to be. Abi tells me a horrific story of her getting caught naked in her mom's bed with her high school boyfriend and I laugh so hard I almost peed my pants. To my dismay, Chandler turns his head around and sets his eyes straight on mine and smiles. He smiles at me, as if he is not out to dinner with another woman?

I don't acknowledge him but continue to laugh and joke around with Abi. I did, however, notice that they were just finishing up their food as ours was being delivered and was thankful that they would be leaving soon. I dive into my wrap and it's good, but the fries, the fries are to die for! We continue talking as I get hit by a wadded-up piece of paper. It falls to the floor. I look up to see Chandler pointing at the girl he is with. I raise an eyebrow at him and tilt my head as if I'm supposed to understand what he is trying to tell me.

Chandler and the girl walked over to our table, and I suddenly felt like I was going to be sick.