Page 121 of Chasing Headlines
I’m sure I can forget his kiss . . . someday.
Loud voices brought me out of sleep. I opened my eyes to Antonio and Hilda standing outside my room. He tried to pull her into his arms, but she pushed him away.
“I don’t understand what you’re thinking. What does baseball have to do with any of this?”
“Concussions are a big deal.” I managed to say words even as I resisted surfacing from sleep.
“Yes? They should be. Which is why he needs professional medical attention.”
“I’m telling you, wecan’t.” Antonio’s voice dipped. “He’ll be out for the Exhibition game.”
“Why would you risk . . . this? The symptoms alone—blurred vision, headaches and nausea, his performance will be shit, no?
“She has a point.” I sat up and tried to stay upright. The world spun in groggy circles.
“You get some sleep?” Hilda's tone found a touch of warmth.
“Not enough.” I grabbed for my phone. It'd been two hours, some power nap. “I don’t know what’s worse, Coop missing the game or him playing and sucking.”
“He wants to play. You know that. Andwe can’t tell Coachhe’s got a concussion.” Antonio brought both hands to his head.
“He has a point.” I glanced over my shoulder at my bedroom door. Coop was sleeping in my bed. In my sheets.Oh God, will I ever be able to forget he was there?“Schorr’ll want to know why we didn’t report it. And between the underaged drinking?—”
“And the deputy sheriff overseeing his probation and shit.” Antonio sat on the arm of the couch. “That won’t go well.”
“Yeah.” I blinked as my brain tried to come online. “Wait, what?”
“He doesn’t like to talk about it, but I finally got some of the story out of him last night. His dad couldn’t afford to fight the assault charges. Coop says some businessman showed up and made a deal to get the ridiculous media frenzy to stop. Pushed an arrangement thing through before he turned eighteen, so the charges don’t stay with him.”
“Wow. Must've cost quite a bit. That reporter really did get his payday.”
“Yeah, cause the lawsuit part was settled within a couple of months—which doesn’t happen. But all Coop sees is how he lost out on the draft, even though?—”
“That paparazzi clown was a monster. And IML’s response was pathetic.” I was on my feet and pacing. “There were just as many people who felt the guy deserved far worse as who thought Coop was a hotheaded miscreant.”
“She’s a fan.” Hilda shrugged then shook her head. Like I was a hopeless head case.
“I like baseball. And guys who are great at playing baseball . . . I like to see them succeed. I’d feel the same way if Antonio slugged a guy on camera for insulting his sister.”
“Joke would be on him, my sister’s a beast. I wouldn’t have to touch him. Besides, I don’t think you’d feel theexactsame way, chica.”
I hugged my arms against my chest. “So, what you’re saying is that Oklahoma didn’t drop the charges, Coop pled guilty?”
“Uh, he took a deal? So yeah, sounds like the guilty thing.”
“And has been under monitored probation the whole time since.”
“Yeah. Said he’s only got a couple of months to finish his community service sentence. He’s been working every night and weekend?—”
“At the senior center.” Air filled my lungs as pieces connected in my brain. “Ohmigosh.”
“Ok, I gotta admit it. I’m starting to feel a little bad for the guy.” Hilda threw up her hands and took my spot on the couch. “Still, it was estupido thing to do. But he did just lose his maman and sounds like the reporter pendejo took advantage of a grieving kid.”
“And all along . . . he’s paying the consequences of his actions. Not asking for sympathy. Just quietly doing what he agreed to.”
“Blame my mental health specialist.” He retracted his arm. The clean scent of soap and sandalwood hovered . . . so close.
“Gets a little worse.” Antonio spoke to the floor.