The Cocktail Party
Mike stared at the poster featured at the cocktail party. It was of Ginny and Jordan with the slogan, "The Wrecking Crew." They were a force to be reckoned with in the baseball world right now. Breaking records in nearly every game, the two were history in the making. Amelia and Emilio were whisking around with their last-minute touches. Amalia and Emilio never failed to dress a great party. Bar height tables spaced out throughout the room with sleek navy-blue covers stretch and pinned to the legs. White luminous oval cut outs gave the room a soft glow as did the glowing center piece that lit the green and yellow glass balls that sat inside the oversized glass oversized martini glass. Twigged trees with white soft bulbs along the perimeters of the room that led to the outside balcony. Outside, rows of carnival lights stringing to the end of the balcony and the glass rails that overlooked the twinkling city. It was a venue people would pay hundreds attend. A high-end sports bar on the 15th floor. Mike's heart ached. Seeing posters and commercials of Ginny and Jordan together was eating him up inside. Now he has to bear the thought of them living under the same roof overlooking an ocean. The god damn bastard walks around half naked. He muttered to himself. It wasn't easy for Mike to accept the younger better version of himself. It made him feel like a "has been." Collins was taller, leaner yet more muscular. He was quick and had yet to suffer the aches and pains of his repetitive actions. And given that he took half a decade off, his career was probably going to last a great deal longer. San Diego had already begun to fall in love with their new hometown hero and Ginny Baker had a front row seat. It made him sick.
Blip and Evelyn arrived. Evelyn now 6 months pregnant. Blip had been so happy it showed in the way he played.
"Hey Coach."
"Sanders. How are you two?"
"Great of course." Blip placed his hand on his wife's stomach with a pearly white grin.
"Please excuse me as I have to get to the restroom already. This baby girl loves to dance on my bladder." Evelyn revealed through her gritted teeth as she crossed her legs. She quickly wobbled to the restroom leaving the boys behind.
"Mike. How are you holding up these days?" Blip asked.
"Hum?"
"I haven't seen Rach around all season. You kind of disappear on us off the field. You okay?"
"Rachel and I aren't together."
Blips eyes widened. "Really? Since when? Why didn't you say anything?"
"I just didn't feel like sharing."
"Okay. I'm sorry to hear that." Blip could see this wasn't something Mike was ready to talk about. "Well, if there's anything I can…"
"I'm fine." Mike snapped. He walked to the bar ordering another drink. He turned his head toward the entrance when he suddenly heard everyone start talking. In walked Ginny in a long golden yellow sparkling dress. A long v shape passing her gravity defiant breast. Her smooth shoulders bare from the thin straps that held her dress up. The even deeper cut of the back of her dress that bared her skin from her very well-defined shoulder blades to the dip of her lower back. If it were any lower, you'd see the glorious crack of her ass. Her hair long, straighten and curled set in large waves and locks that lay on each side of her shoulders except for a very thin long lock that fell down the middle of her back ever so lightly. She was more stunning than he had ever seen her. Will I ever escape this? Her beauty, her smile. How much more suffering will I have to take? I just want to hold her. Kiss her. Love her. Why does it have to be impossible to be with her? She held onto the arm of Jordan Collins who wore a very sleek Armani. His bow tie matching her dress. Mike wanted to rip the arm off Jordan Collins body. Mike felt the heat of his rage rising.
Ginny made her rounds taking pictures and making small talk. Every smile was a sharp jab into Mike's yearning heart. Ginny glanced at Mike and caught his anguished stare. She smiled but his smile fell short from reaching his eyes. She looked at him, curious as to what was going through his head. His eyes never left her. Ginny's own heart began to falter. This look he was giving her was saying something. But she couldn't begin to believe what her instincts were telling her. He was in a committed relationship with Rachel. She returned her attention to her guest. Every now and again she searched for him, and each time he was still there, watching her. After nearly 25 minutes the master of ceremonies began. They played a commercial that would air the next week of "The Wrecking Crew." The commercial showed a series of strike outs the two made thus far. It caught them at practice together. It showed him surfing and her in the gym. They even showed a picture of the two of them playing when they were 16 years old. Once the pitch for the commercial was over, Ginny once again was tending to her guest. Mike's eyes on her like a hawk. Then, Collins placed his hand on the small of Ginny's back as he leaned in to whisper something in her ear. Mike could feel his hot blood boiling over from the pit of his stomach through the top of his head. He watched as saw Collins fingers flex on her skin. In a short moment he walked away. Ginny nodding in Collins direction before returning to the couple she was engaging with.
"A drink?" Mike handed her a cocktail.
"Sure." she said.
"A word?" His voice was low and controlled.
"Please excuse me." Ginny excused herself from the couple she was speaking with.
"Thank God! Why didn't you come rescue me sooner?"
"I had to let you make your rounds a little." He whispered near her ear with his hand at the small of her back as if to reclaim the flesh as his own. It hadn't gone unnoticed to Ginny. He escorted her to the bar where Blip and Evelyn already stood.
"Should we go rescue Collins at least?" Ginny asked?
"Naw. Let him take one for the team." Mike laughed.
"You look stunning." Mike said with his eyes soft.
"Thank you." She paused at his familiar stare. It wasn't the look from her coach. It was the look of the Mike she knew inside his kitchen when he confessed his feelings to her. He had been drinking tonight. He always got honest with a drink in his hand. Suddenly Blip and Evelyn looked up at the television that was playing over the bar. On it was Rachel who was interviewing with Jimmy Kimmel. He displayed a photo of her kissing an unknown man. She blushed and explained there was a new love in her life. "Excuse us," said Jimmy, "but we all were under the impression you and Mike Lawson were still an item?"
"No, we split up 3 months ago when he went back to coach for the Padres. We just want different things right now. It was mutual."
Evelyn, Blip and Ginny all stared hard at Mike.
Ginny's anger built deep inside her. She began to tremble as she began to realize he lied to her. He lied to her face in the office her first day back. He lied to keep her away from him. Was there nothing he would do to stay away from her. She stared right into his eyes as the hurt inside her betrayed her, revealing the raw anguish for his eyes to read. She marched past him to the balcony outside.
