Page 66 of Rain Delay

If this is how I could wake up every morning, I would die a very happy man.

It felt normal again. It felt like things were back to what they should’ve been all along. This felt routine. I didn’t even second guess anything when I felt her body on mine this morning.

I let her sleep in a little bit as I went to go do my morning workout. She was heading up to see her parents today, while I was starting a three-game series against Detroit.

We weren’t even four months into the season, and I felt the fatigue starting to hit me. I love baseball more than life, and wouldn’t trade it for the world, but I was exhausted.

There’s nothing more valuable and special in the world to me than this sport. I’ve given my whole life to it, and have made some great memories over it. The airplane rides, the road trips in the bus, everything was worth it.

Yet I still can feel the exhaustion starting to creep in.

It happens every season. There’s really no way to get rid of it unless you ask your coach to allow you to take a break. I wasn’t that guy, though. I never took a break. I was constantly on the go, I was always doing something to make sure that I was at my best.

I knew the burnout would hit soon, I just didn’t know when.

When I get home from the gym, the smell of bacon wafts in the air and it instantly brightens my mood.

I hear music coming from the kitchen. The sounds of Prince echo through the halls as I hear the lyrics of “Little Red Corvette” sing.

I walk into the kitchen to see Eliana cooking breakfast and dancing a little to the music in the background.

“And honey I said, Little Red Corvette,” I sang as I walked in the kitchen, startling her. I walk up to her and put my hands on her hips, moving them back and forth with the beat. “You need a love that’s gonna last,” I sing dramatically, leaning in and kissed her before I ventured to the fridge.

“You scared the shit out of me,” she said, putting her hand on the fridge handle. “Can you wait like five minutes and I’ll get you a plate ready?”

“I was not expecting breakfast when I got home with a little Prince session.” I told her, grabbing her hand and pulling her over to by the opposite side of the island. “I may still dance like I have two left feet, but I just got this itch in me to dance with you.”

Her cheeks flush a shade of pink and she wraps her arms around me as “Purple Rain” starts to play.

Almost like the Alexa could read our damn minds.

“Funny…” she says quietly, laughing against my shoulder as we swayed to the music. “That’s how I know the computers are listening to us.”

I chuckle, my hand splaying across her back. “Or it’s just the music you were listening to.:”

“I like my thought better.’

“Thanks for making breakfast this morning, baby,” I mention, rubbing her back lightly.

She shrugs. “I felt nice this morning.”

“Or is it you nervously cooking because you have to go see your parents today?” I ask, continuing to sway with her.

She waves her hand at me. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

I study her as she doesn’t look at me. “Do they know…?”

Her eyebrow cocks up. “Know what? About us? Or about the whole working situation?”

“Well, both.” I say.

She takes a deep breath. “Mom knows that I’m working and living with you. Dad doesn’t have a clue about anything, I was planning on telling him today. So, let’s pray I make it home in one piece. Or make it home at all…”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine, El. Plus, it’s a day off from the ballpark,” my hands rest on her hips. “I’ll miss seeing you there, though.”

Once the song was done, Eliana gave me a quick kiss, then moved to plate up some food for me. She sets a plate full of delicious food in front of me and removes my hat off of my head, setting it on the counter. “It’s rude to eat at the table with your hat on.”

I roll my eyes. “So we’re deflecting now?”