He wanted it, and apparently he’d have to jump through hoops to get it. He sighed. ‘‘Yeah, okay. I’ll do it.’’ The pitcher went into his windup. ‘‘When do I have to go?’’
‘‘Next week.’’
With a crack of the bat, the hitter sent the ball over the center-field fence. Leo jumped to his feet and cheered while the Dempsey twins leaped around and bumped into him with their generous assets. Sweet. ‘‘Sorry, Mom!’’ he yelled into the phone. ‘‘Next week is out.’’
‘‘Why?’’
‘‘We’re in the playoffs! We might end up in the World Series! Maybe I could go in late November.’’
‘‘Won’t work. You’ll need plenty of time, and Gwen’s closing the shop in mid-December to spend the holidays in Arizona with her parents.’’
If it hadn’t been for his acute hearing, Leo wouldn’t have picked up on that last sentence. Pandemonium ruled at Safeco Field, and the Dempsey twins became orgasmic in their joy. He looked forward to capitalizing on that in his hotel suite tonight.
‘‘January, then!’’ he shouted into the phone. ‘‘Gotta go, Mom! ’Bye!’’ He snapped the phone shut and shoved aside all thoughts of his assignment. Party time!