He focuses on nothing but what he needs to advance in the areas in his life he feels are worthy of his efforts and he doesn’t let anything get in his way.
It’s admirable.
He is admirable and hardworking.
I’ve met my fair share of athletes now and while they all have a varying degree of commitment to their craft, his is unmatched.
He’s constantly working to get better, pushing himself harder, and taking every step he’s capable of to grow.
He’s up before dawn, working out and tossing the ball around, all to do it again once his team is there to join him, and he repeats it later in the day in the form of a game or two-a-day practices. If he’s not doing that, he’s watching film and studying his opponents, pinpointing their weaknesses, and forming a game plan to use against them. He memorizes their every twist and turn, the way they point their toes or grip their bat, the degree in which they swing off every pitch along with their hit to miss ratio.
How he has room in his head for school I’ll never know, but he gets done what he needs to and steps out onto the field strong every game.
It’s true what they say on the news.
Tobias is baseball.
It’s his life and it will continue to be, just as he deserves.
Come this time next year, he’ll be gone, that’s no secret, so what’s the point of spilling mine?
CHAPTER 18
Meyer
The moment I step from the child development center, I jolt to a stop.
“Jesus.” My hand flies to my chest, and I glare. “What are you doing here?”
“Not even a hello for me, hm?”
“Hello, boss.” I fold my arms. “What are you doing here?”
He eyes me a long moment, before his chin lifts. “I moved all your appointments for the next two days around.”
I frown. “Why? I don’t have any of your players until Thursday evening.”
“Because we don’t get back until Wednesday night, but it’s midterms for them straight away.
“I don’t get it.”
“Go home, pack your bag, be at the athletic department by four tonight. You’ll ride with the equipment team to Cal Poly.”
My face falls. “What ride?”
“My star player has requested his tutor to join him on the road this week since his grades are barely hanging on, says he needs all the extra help he can get before midterms.” His eyes narrow. “Wonder why he thinks you would agree to that?”
My head throbs instantly. “Maybe he knows the choices aren’t technically mine ... but you told him, no,” I add, sure. Of course, he did.
He sticks his hands in his pocket, his frown deepening. “While you’re on the road, your sessions will be virtual. I’ve already let the students know.”
“What ... no. I can’t.”
“Why not?”
I gape at him. “Are you serious? Just because you’re ashamed of me and my life doesn’t mean I don’t have one to manage.”
His gaze darts away but comes right back, and I get the sense this isn’t something he’s okay with, but baseball trumps all, as usual. “You’ll get a travel bonus, one for you, and one to cover your sitter while you’re gone.”
A laugh bubbles out of me, but it’s mocking.
He really thinks I would leave my daughter behind and travel hours away for two, three days?!
I don’t say it out loud, but something has his eyes narrowing, searching mine.
I hate the way he looks at me.
Clearing my throat, I stand tall. “I can’t just pick up and go. I have another job I need to be at tomorrow night. Thanks to you, I can’t afford to lose it by calling out.”
“At that diner, right?”
My head tugs back. “It’s not your concern.”
He scoffs and begins to walk away. “Call your boss and make it happen. Full details are in your inbox.”
I look to the screen on my phone with a growl, and shout back, “I didn’t get an email!”
He glances over his shoulder, his eyes meeting mine. “Might have sent it to your personal one by mistake.”
My chest weighs heavy, but I don’t show it.
I unlock my phone and plan to send a text to Tobias, telling him to be prepared for me to chew him out, but I pause, going to my emails instead.
I skim the information, my eyes bulging when I get to the bonus information listed.
They’re offering a thousand dollars a day, plus room and meal vouchers at the hotel. On top of that, another twenty-five hundred for childcare.
Suddenly I no longer feel the need to argue, so I hit ignore when Tobias calls not two minutes later, likely having already heard, his beloved coach delivering the news.
This will cover me and leave me with a little extra for the next few months.
With a deep breath and a smile on my face, I walk right back into the day care center to sign out my baby girl.