The first time they meet.
The first time they meet is at luncheon at the baseball stadium. Greta Gill’s best friend, Jo de Luca, works for a company that sponsors Carson Shaw, number 10 of the Rockford Peaches. Greta is a huge fan and Jo had invited her to this event.
Greta is very feminine, her red hair is curled and her red lipstick matches her the nail polish on her manicured nails. She wore tight jeans and black flats with a black v-neck. Carson isn’t really her type but she would never deny that Carson made her feel warmth in her center. She is wearing men’s jeans with a navy v-neck French tucked into them. Her checkered Vans had seen better days and her brown hair was covered by a backwards hat.
Jo called Carson over to introduce her to her best friend of 20+ years who is now 5 shades of red, blushing and smiling like a huge dork. They shake hands and there is static electricity between them, they laugh and jump at the same time. The smile that Carson flashes her is mesmerizing, she has a dimple that melts her heart.
They end up spending almost the whole time talking with each other, laughing and learning about each other. They both recently had their hearts broken.
Greta’s long time girlfriend moved across the country for a new job. They had just been talking about marriage when she said she needed a fresh start and no longer loved her. She had cried for months in the middle of Jo’s apartment. Carson had placed her hand on Greta’s knee and gave it a gentle squeeze and then wiped away a tear. She didn’t realize it but she leaned into Carson’s hand before she pulled it away.
Carson’s fiancée left her for a guy she met through Carson. She had packed all of her stuff while Carson was away for a tournament and mailed the ring back with a note simply saying “I’m sorry”. Carson shrugged it off, mentioning that she started to live more for herself.
They both joked about being celibate or giving up girls and start dating guys. They smiled and made deep eye contact, taking in the color of each other’s eyes. Greta’s a lighter shade of brown and Carson having a deep chocolate color. She mentioned that her sister also said that her eyes were the color of shit and no one would think she’s beautiful. She didn’t mean to say this out loud.
They were silent before Jo asked Greta if she was ready to go, the event was over and they didn’t even realize it. They shook hands and Greta walked away with Jo, smiling.
It wasn’t even 10 minutes later that Carson texted Jo asking for Greta’s number. Carson waited a little bit before texting her, typing and retyping what she wanted to say/ask. Her palms got very sweaty.
C: Hey, this is Carson Shaw. I hope you don’t mind I’m texting you but I was wondering if you’d like to get coffee or something
Greta looked at Jo knowing it was her who gave her number to Carson. Her reasoning was that they are both single and seemed to hit it off at the event. Greta rolled her eyes and tried to argue that it was too soon and that Carson always seemed to have another girl on her arm every week and didn’t want that. Jo couldn’t deny that but knew it was all for show. Greta wasn’t convinced.
G: I’m sorry Carson, I’m just not ready to get out there. I hope you can understand
C: Totally understandable
C: I do hope that you come a game sometime soon.
Disappointment hovered over Carson as regret hovered over Greta. Maybe is was regret, she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. The next game was 3 days later and the night before she texted Greta again. She didn't know if she had saved her number, which made Carson uneasy.
C: It’s Carson I just wanted to let you know that I’ve saved two tickets for tomorrows game. They’re under your name.
She had left 2 tickets that were behind home plate. Two tickets that were empty that night. The Peaches lost that game.
Carson texted Jo that she was leaving two tickets for every home game for the rest of the season but that she didn’t want to push Greta into anything.
J: It’s the last home game. You HAVE to come with me.
G: Fine
J: Great!!! pick you up at 5?
G: Sure. See you then
Greta was nervous, she wore cut off jean shorts and her #10 jersey that Jo had got her as a present for her birthday last year.
They found their seats, two rows behind home plate. She could see Carson take her position and every now and then when the umpire moved she would catch a glimpse of her behind home plate.
When she was at bat for the first time in the game she looked at the seats and was expecting disappointment but instead there was Greta and Jo. She smiled real big like a little kid and waved. She ended up hitting 2 home runs.
After the game, which they won, she found the two in the stands and commented Greta’s jersey. They both smiled. The three of them ended up going to dinner and then parted ways for the night. Carson got home and saw she received a text message from Greta.
G: So, is that date still on the table?