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He took a slow calming breath, tuning out everything and everyone else around him, focusing on Myers. He threw a perfect fast ball, and the idiot tried to hit it, clipping it.
“Foul ball!”
Shit.A time out was called. Finley and Jesse both approached the pitcher’s mound. Luke’s stomach quivered, but he’d be all right. He’d make them understand.
He and Finley covered their mouths with their gloves, and Jesse put his hand over his. “Luke, you don’t need to try and strike Myers out. We can get the third out with a ground ball,” Jesse pleaded.
“Come on, man. We all know Myers is a piece of shit. Save the vendetta for another time,” Finley urged him.
Luke glanced toward the dugout and was greeted with a knowing smile and slight nod from his uncle. In that moment he realized Darren must have also been visited by his father’s and grandfather’s spirits. With renewed determination he set out to convince Finley and Jesse it would be all right.
“I know what I’m doing. You need to trust me.” What more could Luke say without sounding like he was crazy?
“It’s not a matter of trust, Luke. We’ve all seen how hard you’ve worked. You’re a big reason we’re here. You don’t have to try…” Jesse began.
“I will strike Myers out, and we’ll win tonight.”
“Look, Luke, there’s no shame in getting the third out by having him hit a ground ball,” Finley offered.
“Iwillstrike Myers out. If I don’t, I’ll quit the team.”
Jesse threw his hands up before covering his mouth again. “Darren—”
“Darren has nothing to do with this. I’m my own man. Either you trust me, or you don’t.”
“All right, Luke,” Finley said, looking at Jesse.
“I don’t give a shit.Iwon’t allow you to quit this team. Strike this motherfucker out so we can celebrate, all right?” Jesse asked.
Luke smiled, relieved they were backing off. “Yes, sir.”
After Jesse returned to the dugout and Finley was back behind home plate, Luke pointed to Myers again. “I’m coming for you.” He doubted Myers could hear him over the roar of the crowd, but it didn’t matter. The anxious expression on the asshole’s face spoke volumes.
Finley gave Luke the signal for a fast ball, and he nodded, grateful Finley was on board. Luke wound up and pitched what he knew was at least a hundred mile per hour fast ball. Myers swung and missed.
“Strike one!”
Keeping his composure rather than laughing in Myers’s face like he wanted to, Luke caught Finley’s return throw. The Rockies’ player at second base had a decent lead to third, but Luke ignored him.
Finley gave the sign for a fast ball. Luke wound up and threw another. The idiot Myers swung again, missed, almost losing his balance.
“Strike two!”
This time, Luke shrugged. The spirits of family had assured him of the outcome. There was no reason to be nervous. He was moments away from winning his first World Series Championship. His woman was with him. Life didn’t get much better than this.
He caught Finley’s return throw and took a deep breath. A sense of calm washed over him. It was time to finish this.
Luke wound up and threw the final fast ball of the night. Myers swung hard, missed, and cursed.
“Strike three! You’re out!”
Luke stood there, stunned for a moment, before the team and fans rushed him. The Cobras had just won the 103rdWorld Series, and he’d brought them the win.Hisway. Teammates and fans alike crushed him, but he needed to get to Abbey and Darren.Theywere who he wanted to celebrate with.
“Luke!” he heard Abbey yell above the chaos.
“That’s my girl! Abbey! Abbey!” Luke shouted when he spotted her golden blonde hair making its way toward him through the crowd with Darren right behind her. He shoved his way through the happy mob of well-wishers until Abbey was safely in his arms. He inhaled the comforting scent of cherry blossoms and was home.
“Oh my God!” she shouted and laughed up at him, her beautiful blue eyes sparkling.
Luke didn’t hesitate, and claimed her lips with fans and teammates celebrating their win around them. Unfortunately, their kiss didn’t last long. They were pulled in different directions. Darren gave him a quick hug, but Luke held on tight to Abbey’s hand, not wanting to lose their connection. There was a lot to do before they’d have a chance to be alone.
He’d borrowed a page from Jake’s playbook and had a promise ring waiting for Abbey back in their hotel room. Unlike Cassie’s though, Abbey’s had a genuine blue diamond center stone with white diamond accents. Only the best for his woman.
During those few moments with his family’s spirits, they’d also assured him Abbey was the woman for him and shared that he and Abbey would have a long, happy life together. He wondered if he could convince her to get married after she turned twenty-one, instead of waiting until she graduated from college like they’d planned.
There would be time to talk about that later. Now was a time for celebration. The future was so bright it nearly brought him to tears. As long as Luke had Abbey by his side, he had everything he could possibly need.
The End
