the rookie | andrew benintendi

EMILY
So, hows Andrew?

Ari laughed at the text from her best friend.

ARI
he's nice

EMILY  
And cute?

ARI 
and cute

EMILY  
Ooooooooooo do you like him

ARI 
i just met him yesterday

EMILY  
So?

ARI 
no. i don't like him, emily

EMILY  
Sure you don't

-ARI 
i don't

EMILY  
Wait

EMILY  
Hold on

EMILY  
We need a ship name

ARI 
please no

EMILY  
Aridrew?

ARI 
you know what? i think you and brock would be good friends

-

1. Betts, RF

2. Holt, 2B

3. Bogaerts, SS

4. Ortiz, DH

5. Bradley, CF

6. Shaw, 1B

7. Leon, C

8. Benintendi, LF

9. Rowe, 3B

Porcello, SP

Ari smiled as she saw Andrew's name on the updated line-up.

"Congrats on the start!" she cheered, slapping him on the back.

"Thanks," he said, smiling at her as he walked into the locker room. He wasn't looking at her, but she grinned back, unable to wipe the smile off her face as she followed him in.

"Ari, hurry up!" Dustin Pedroia yelled as soon as he saw her walk through the doors.

"Be patient!" she called back as she walked over to where he was sitting on one of the couches. There were many players surrounding the table in front of Dustin. Most of the infielders were partaking in a "friendly" poker game with Ortiz being the "designated dealer," as Brock had called him(he had been very proud of his clever nickname). However, all that really meant was he gave everyone their cards and laughed when Dustin yelled at him about his crappy hand.

Brock moved over so Ari could sit between him and Xander. Her fairly sad number of poker chips were already on the table in front of her. After remembering the fact that Andrew was standing behind her, she turned at an awkward to look at him.

"Xander, let him sit down. He's on my team," she said, waving Andrew towards her.

"He's an outfielder," Dustin protested.

"Be nice to the rookie!"

He didn't say anything more as Xander moved over to give Andrew some room to sit. He moved around the couch, sitting down in the limited space that had been made. He moved his right arm, resting it on the back of the couch in an what Ari figured was an attempt at getting comfortable. The thought that he was putting his arm around her did cross her mind though she brushed it off quickly, figuring that the fairly shy rookie wouldn't flirt with her just yet, if at all.

Noticing that Ortiz had already dealt the cards she leaned forward, picking them up. She picked them up off the table so Xander and Brock wouldn't see before lifting them up slightly and allowing herself and Andrew to look at the cards. They had two jacks. Ari quickly decided to bet, figuring that having at least one pair was worth taking a chance on. As she leaned forward again, she had to fight the urge to put her hand on Andrew's knee and instead put it on the couch next to it. She put her cards face down on the table before putting 20 dollars worth of chips forward.

As she leaned back she mentally scolded herself for wanting to touch Andrew. He had barely been with the team for 24 hours and she was already acting like she had known him for months. She had never been shy around her male teammates; she was so outgoing a few players in the minor leagues had asked her if she had a crush on them. Of course, her answer was always no.

Those were the days where her teammates doubted her most, so of course, they had to ask. It was like they thought she was here to find someone to fall in love with and then she would quit. They couldn't be any more wrong, and the only way Ari could answer was to prove herself.

Oddly enough, Ari currently felt as if she was stretching her bounds by getting too close to Andrew too quickly. She didn't want to give him the wrong idea like she had given players in the minors. The guys in the Red Sox clubhouse were used to it, but she figured she should show how close she was to the others before trying to get any closer to the rookie.

Andrew poked her shoulder with the arm he had resting on the couch, snapping her out of her thoughts. "It's our turn," he told her quietly.

She looked over to the table where the first three cards were already laid out. They were an 8, an ace, a jack. Trying to suppress her smile, she put another 20 dollars worth of chips forward. After everyone had made their moves, another card was placed down. Much to Ari's excitement, it was the fourth and final jack, meaning that the two had a four of a kind.

Without even thinking about the amount of money she was putting in, she split it up as evenly as possible and put half of it in. She watched happily as the others took their turns, though Dustin was the only one who bet anything. When it was their turn again, she put in another 20 dollars, trying not to scare Dustin into folding. She was trying to get as many chips out of him as possible.

Dustin bet again, though he was cautious and only put in 10 more dollars. She guessed the totals were around 200 dollars, but she was too lazy to count. Ortiz placed another card on the table; an 8. Smirking up at Dustin, Ari put her cards down, revealing her four of a kind. Knowing that he had been beat, Dustin slammed his cards down, revealing his usually impressive full house.

Ari smiled brightly, turning to Andrew and giving him a high five before collecting their chips.

"Someone's gotta learn to shuffle the cards around here," Dustin muttered bitterly.

Ari laughed. "What can I say? Rookies are good luck!"

From across the table, she thought she could see Hanley and Ortiz exchange a knowing glance.

---------------------------------

i completely forgot how to play texas hold 'em while writing this and i had to google it lol

dustin pedroia is the most competitive person ever and he would totally get into poker. i wish he was healthy bc i miss watching him play

also the aridrew is strong af

08.18.17