Anthony has already snagged them a table in the back so they don't have to wait in the line that was forming at the front door. Brooke reaches out to grasp Anthony's hand, "Hi Anthony it's so nice to finally meet you in person."
Grasping her hand in a firm shake Anthony replies, "I know. I'm still a little in shock I think that this all finally happening."
"Well hopefully all this pans out and we can skip the minors. By the way Anthony this is Eric Matthews. Who I'm sure doesn't need much of an introduction," Brooke gestures to Eric who reaches out to shake hands with Anthony as well. "If you two don't mind I'm going to run to the ladies room. Eric could you order me a hard cider?"
"You got it."
Eric and Anthony take their seats as Brooke saunters off to the ladies room. Anthony gushes, "Wow I can't believe I'm actually eating dinner with Eric Matthews."
Eric smiles, "Get use to it kid. The way Brooke talks you're looking at a spot with the Yankees. You'll be dinning with a lot of pros from all sorts of circles."
"Yeah it's just hard to believe it's actually happening. Brooke's been real helpful throughout the whole process."
"Brooke's good at what she does. How long have you two known each other?"
Anthony taps his chin as he thinks back, "For about a year now. I met her when she was working for Maxine. Brooke had seen me play and got Maxine to take a look at me. Maxine wasn't to keen on me but Brooke still put in a call for me to a couple of scouts. When I'd heard she was striking out on her own I knew she had to be my agent. I just hope that I can get signed with a team soon so I can start paying Brooke for all of her hard work."
Brooke slides in next to Eric looking between the two of them, "Look at you two gossiping like little ol' church ladies?"
Eric rolls his eyes at her, "Actually Anthony was telling me how you two met."
"And I was just about to ask Eric the same thing," Anthony chimes in.
Looking at Brooke Eric asks, "Would you like to tell the story or should I?"
"Officially we met after I started working for Maxine. However," Brooke pauses tucking a strand of hair behind ear a tell tale sign that she's nervous, "our first meeting was few years prior to that."
"Wait a minute," Eric interjects, "There's no way we'd met before. I certainly wouldn't have forgotten your beautiful face."
Brooke's eyes roll around in their sockets, "Well you did. In your defense," she says holding up a hand to keep Eric from interrupting her story again, "it was during your hotshot younger days. You didn't have eyes for the high school freshman tagging along with her daddy to scouting events."
Eric's brow scrunches up and then realization dawns on him, "Your Jack Barclay's daughter?"
"Technically his adopted daughter but yes."
"I don't understand with your dad's connections you could have clients lining up by the dozens. yet you worked for Maxine?"
Brooke shrugs, "I didn't want to get my start by ridding my dad's curtail strings. Working for Maxine was just my way of paying my dues and making my own connections."
"Yeah but now that you're striking out on your own why not reached out to your father?" Anthony speaks up.
"My dad made his own way in the world sports." Brooke remanences as she fiddles with her straw, "He came from nothing, parents both worked in steel mills. In fact he worked part time down at the mill all through high school while playing for high school baseball teem. I guess - I guess I just want to show him that I can put in the same hard work and produce the same results..."
Eric's calloused fingers overlay hers lightly stroking them with his thumb. "I'm sure he's very proud of you."
"Yeah if he could only see me now," sarcasm interlaced with her words. "I lost my job and my apartment all in the course of a few weeks. Now I'm taking refuge at my one and only paying clients home - "
Eric cuts her off right there, "You're not taking refuge anywhere. We are living together because I don't want you laying under a different roof. Where I go you go babe. It's as simple as that."
Anthony looks a bit stunned. "So...You two are like dating?"
"Yes we are," Eric beams proudly.
"And Brooke's your agent..."
"Right again kid."
Anthony laughs, "Now how come you got that lucky?"
Eric rolls right in to telling Anthony how Maxine had tried to black mail. Then Brooke's heroic rescue. Resulting in her having to leave Maxine's employment. "Despite her being without a job and running low on options this marvelous woman comes to my rescue again by helping me renegotiate my contract. She got me moved to starting pitcher as well as a salary increase. I couldn't very well not hire her after that."
"So you two were dating prior to the whole Maxine fiasco?"
"No," Brooke chimes in. "I think we both admired each other but nothing had come of it."
"I'm definitely jealous Eric. Brooke's a nice woman and certainly easy on the eyes," he gives Brooke a playful wink.
"She certainly is," Eric say casting and admiring glance Brooke's way.
"Alright well that's enough of that." Brooke says waiving off their complements. "We're not here to talk about relationships. We're here to celebrate you." Reaching into the bag she brought in with her she pulls out a package addressed to Anthony. Sliding it across the table to him she prompts him to open it, "Make sure you read it aloud."
"What's this?" Anthony asks as he hesitates to open it.
"Just consider it an early birthday present. now go on and open it," Brooke giggles.
With butterflies swirling in his stomach Anthony tears into the package. Sitting inside is a Yankee's cap and a jersey. "Thanks Brooke! I love me some Yankees gear. But you shouldn't have...besides my birthday's not till next week."
"Trust me you earned this one. Now try on the Jersey and see if it fits."
"Wow you even got my name put on it!" Anthony gushes as he pulls out the jersey turning it over in his hands
"Well of course silly ever player has their name on there jersey."
Anthony just stares dumbfounded at her, "What do you mean?"
Eric reaches around the table to clap him on the back "What she means kid is welcome to the pros!"