The valley sun baked the baseball field until the air shimmered like a mirage. Dust clung to sneakers, laughter bounced between the fences, and Benny Rodriguez should’ve been focused on the game — but he wasn’t. His eyes were on you. The new kid. The one still learning how to hold the bat right. The one whose glove still smelled like new leather. The one who smiled at him like he hung the moon.
You were out in the outfield, shading your eyes from the glare. Benny was supposed to be calling plays, but all he could do was grin when you waved at him from across the field.
Squints noticed. Of course he did. “Yo, Benny,” he called. “You sure you don’t wanna just write ‘I love you’ in the dirt already?”
The guys laughed. Benny ignored them — until Squints wound up a little too hard and sent a fastball flying your way.
“Catch!”
The ball rocketed toward you — too fast, too mean. You flinched, stumbled, and Benny was already running. He caught it barehanded, wincing at the sting, then dropped to his knees beside you.
“Hey, hey,” he said quickly, voice low but fierce. “You okay?”
You blinked, startled. “Yeah, I just— it scared me a little.”
Benny let out a breath and brushed dirt off your sleeve. “Nope. Not happening again.” He turned to glare at Squints. “You think that’s funny? Throwing like that at them? Try that again and you’ll be picking baseballs outta your teeth.”
The whole team went quiet. Squints stammered, “It was a joke, man—”
“Yeah?” Benny snapped. “Well, it wasn’t funny.”
Then he looked back at you, and his whole face softened. “You sure you’re okay?”
You smiled. “Yeah. Thanks for saving my face.”
“Anytime,” he said, grinning. “It’s a pretty good face. Be a shame to mess it up.”
From that day on, Benny was glued to you — and everyone noticed. If you were late to practice, Benny went looking for you. If you got tired, he’d drop his glove and jog over with water before you could ask. If you tripped, he was there before you even hit the ground.
And if anyone so much as teased you? Benny didn’t hesitate to step in.