Free Fastball by V. K. Sykes

didn’t much like the idea of her leaving
Philadelphia. Which made him a selfish jerk. He barely knew her and
he wanted to tell her how to lead her life?
    Fortunately, she forestalled him. “It’s okay.
I decided long ago not to do that. I know if Mom and I were able to
really talk about it, she’d insist that I not sacrifice myself that
way. She believed in me and what I was doing, and she would totally
hate it if I ever derailed my career for her.”
    He swallowed against the tight feeling in his
throat. “Ever think about moving her to Philly?”
    “Sure, but she’s in one of the best
facilities in New England. Besides, the move would be too
disruptive for her. The doctors and I agree she’s best left where
she is.”
    He gave her a brief hug as they reached the
top of the hill, then let her go. “Then you should definitely
follow the advice your mother would have given you, and try to make
your peace with it. I know it’s got to be an incredible emotional
drain, but it sounds to me like you’re dealing with it as best you
can. Don’t beat up on yourself, okay?”
    Maddie took a deep breath and gave him a
brave but wavering smile. Man, she was killing him.
    “You’re right,” she said. “Thank you, Jake.
I’m touched you were interested enough to listen so patiently while
I rambled on.”
    “You weren’t rambling and I am interested,” he replied quietly. “I meant it when I said I wanted
to be your friend.”
    She threw him a sideways glance, not
bothering to answer as they walked up to the cab line. Clearly,
he’d pushed her enough for one night.
    Jake pointed to the first taxi. “That one’s
yours. Maddie, thanks for doing this. I really enjoyed the
interview. I know it wasn’t easy for you to do it this way. But I’m
glad you did, and I hope you don’t have any regrets.”
    She slipped his coat off her shoulders and
held it out to him. “No, thank you , Jake. Thank you for
being so open and frank with me, and for being such a good
listener, too. I really had a good time tonight once I got over
being scared half to death about what we were doing.” She flashed
him a brief, uneasy smile. “Sort of got over, anyway.”
    He smiled back and held out his hand for a
friendly shake. Best not to spook her any more than he already had.
“Thanks for sticking your neck out. I probably shouldn’t have
asked, but I hope it’ll turn out to be worth it for you.”
    “It’s going to be a great article,” she said
as she pulled her hand from his and climbed into the cab. “See you
at Petco.”
    Jake stood fixed to the spot, staring at the
cab’s taillights as they faded into the dark night. Unfamiliar
feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction washed over him. It was
stupid, given all the obstacles that stood between them, but when
it came to the woman who’d just left him in the dust, stupid seemed
to be rapidly developing into his middle name.
     
    * * *
     
    Maddie steeled herself, fixing her eyes
straight ahead on the narrow highway in front of the cab. She
really wanted to turn around and look back at Jake to see if he was
watching her go. Oh, God, she was in big trouble, because
she already missed him, lambasting herself for passing up the
opportunity to get closer to him.
    She leaned back against the shiny vinyl seat
with a sigh, trying to convince herself to be happy with scoring
such a fantastic interview. But she was kidding herself. Jake
Miller was more than just an interview subject. By halfway through
dinner, she’d wanted to lean across the table, grab the lapels of
his jacket, and yank him up into a smothering kiss. But then when he’d tried it on her, she’d panicked and shoved him
away.
    She closed her eyes against the embarrassment
of that moment. How foolish, how girlish she must have appeared to
a guy like him. Of course, she couldn’t afford to fall for him. She
was deadly serious when she told him it would derail her career, or
at least force it onto a side track she had no