Chapter 15
Julian was out of the car the second that Buffy slid the gear shift into Park. "I'll see you after the game, Mom!" he called as he slammed the door and started running for the dugout.
Buffy leaned her head back against the headrest. Ordinarily, she loved going to Julian's baseball games, but today was not one of them. She was still out of sorts over her fight with Marco. She knew he was going to show up for the game and she still didn't want to talk to him. She heard a voice. She turned her head to find Antonio on the other side of her door.
"What's up?"
"Just got here. He was out of the car before I even hand it in Park."
"Typical boy. Doesn't want to be late for the start of the game. Are you going to sit in the car all day or are you going to go be a Bleacher Bum?"
"Are you calling me a Bum, Detective Dawson?"
"I meant it as a term of endearment, Ms. Rodriguez."
"Give me a minute." She raised the window, then turned the car off, unbuckled the seatbelt and slid out of her seat. Antonio opened the door so she could get out. She used the clicker to lock the car. "So you're going to be a Bleacher Bum?"
"I'm only here for the pizza after the game," he admitted.
She stopped and looked at him. "Seriously, Detective?"
Antonio smiled. She looked adorable standing there calling him on his last comment. He tugged at her ponytail. "Of course not. Came to see you. And Julian play ball."
"That's better."
"You seriously thought I only came for the pizza?"
"Stranger things have happened."
They reached the bleachers. "After you, Ma'am."
Buffy scrambled up onto the bleachers with Antonio following her. He took a seat on her left. "Are you thirsty?" she asked.
"I'm good."
"I have water and soda. And Gatorade for Julian when he gets done."
"You think of everything."
"Comes with being a Mom."
The Tigers opened the game with Bobby Cochran leading off.
"Ok, Bobby, show 'em what you've got!" Buffy called.
"You told me to watch him. You were right. He's going to go places."
"I think so. He has a lot of talent."
"Maybe the Cubs should hire you to scout talent."
"In my dreams, Antonio. Working for Major League Baseball would be a dream come true."
Bobby took three pitches and struck out.
"It's okay, Bobby. There's always next time," Buffy called as he made his way into the dugout.
"You're everyone's cheerleader," Antonio observed.
"Just because I'm Julian's Mom doesn't mean I'm not going to cheer for only my kid. It's a team effort. The whole team needs encouragement."
Antonio thought on that for a minute. "That's true."
Five innings later, Buffy was exhausted. The game had gone back and forth the whole way. Antonio rubbed Buffy's back. "Relax," he whispered in her ear. "They've got this."
She leaned against him. "The Tigers need to get a home run to just end it now," she said.
"You didn't cheer this hard for the Cubs when we went."
"The Cubs aren't living in my house."
Marco spotted Antonio and Buffy sitting in the bleachers. He noticed that Buffy was snuggled in Antonio's arms. 'Getting cozy,' he noticed. He felt his stomach knot. He was so wrong for assuming the worst in both of them. He climbed the bleachers hoping that Buffy had calmed down enough to accept his apology.