740 V2 ch212 (1/2)

He pulled up to the house, parking in the driveway. I thought he was just going to drop me off, but instead he helped me grabbed my bag from the trunk and walked me to the front door.

Noah opened the door from the other side. ”You're back! Finally! Mom said we couldn't touch the cookies until you got home.”

I grinned. ”Were you watching the driveway the whole time?”

”Of course not.” He snorted.

”No.” Dave showed up behind him. ”He was just casually checking every ten minutes.” He looked at Jeremy. ”Hey, did you want to come in?”

”Yea, just for a minute.” Jeremy walked through the doorway. He glanced at me. ”Where does your bag go?”

”Oh. Upstairs.” I told him. ”I can take it up though.”

”It's fine. I don't mind. I'd like to see your room too.” He gestured for me to take the lead.

”I'll go let Mom know that you're back.” Dave excused himself and headed to the downstairs office.

I went up the stairs first with Jeremy and Noah following me. The room wasn't anything too special. Just a couple of beds, a desk and dresser. A closet that was now used to hold all my bats.

Jeremy was shocked to see how many I now had. He looked them over and nodded. ”Looks used, but you're taking really good care of them.”

”I rotate between them so no particular one is used more than the other.” I told him.

”What about the bat I gave you?” He asked.

I turned a little red, feeling embarrassed. ”I don't want to break it. Especially now that I have all these other bats.”

He smiled and patted me on the head. ”It's okay if you do break it. I'd get you a new one.” He looked it over. ”But I guess you don't need any for quite awhile.”

”Jake can never have too many.” Noah spoke up. ”You saw him today. An almost perfect swing, but the bat still broke. It's a rough life for someone using a wood bat. Don't you understand, as a pro?”

Jeremy laughed. ”Okay, I know. I have a few laying around my place, I'm sure.”

”With all that money you're getting, are you going to buy a house?” Noah asked.

Jeremy looked a little sheepish. ”Well. Maybe.”

”What are you waiting for?” Noah asked.

I looked up at him too.

Jeremy pretended to be offended. ”Where I live now is just fine.”

”He's probably waiting for Rose.” Noah told me, grinning. ”Thinking about proposing any time soon?”

”Oh.” Noah shrugged. ”That makes sense. You don't want to be one of those athletes that are still broke after a long career.”

Jeremy froze for a second, then nodded along. ”Yea. One of my first paychecks is going to a financial advisor this time.”

”This time? What happened last time?” Noah asked.