By the time we arrived at the field, Josh was already shaking hands with the person I assumed to be the coach.The guy had a thick mustache and receding brown hairline, but it didn’t hide the fact he had to be the same age as Josh.
A brunette woman in black spandex exercise pants and a tight blue sweatshirt held out her hand.“I’m Meghan.I’m Reno’s wife.He’s the coach.You’re with that guy, right?”She pointed at Josh.
“Yes, we’re here with Josh Hurst.”
She tucked a hair that had strayed from her tight ponytail behind an ear.“They’ll do some warmups first.Since this is a tryouts day, they’ll split up into two teams and play five innings.”
“That sounds fun to watch.”I was glad Josh would get some real play time with people of his age instead of a bunch of kids.
“Then we have a dinner picnic.Hope you brought something for the potluck.”
“I knew I brought those cookies for a reason.”Marty had offered to make her famous double chocolate chip for me so that we would have something to bribe our way onto the team.No one turned down her cookies.
“Here’s the packet of information.”Meghan shoved a thick manilla envelope into my hand.“If he’s selected for the team, review the dates of the tournaments.There’s also information on the uniform and the cost for joining and all that.”
I took the manilla envelope, unsure if it was okay for me to be taking it for him.“What about work conflicts?He also coaches a kids travel team that has some weekend tournaments.”
“Part of the commitment is that he can only miss four tournaments in the season.”Meghan offered a tired but genuine smile, the kind that tried to hide how stretched thin she was.“I’m really glad you guys made it.Reno is excited to find a new catcher.Have fun, okay?”
“Thanks.”I directed Vinny to a spot off to the side near the third base dugout.We watched them toss and do a few drills.
A half hour later—teams sorted, rules shouted, dust settling—Josh ended up in the dugout closest to us.His team was batting first.The first few guys in the lineup managed decent hits, nothing special, just enough to push the nerves higher.From where I sat, I could read the batting order taped to the fence.Josh was in the hole next.
The rush that went through me… I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed watching him at the plate, the way the entire field seemed to tilt toward him when he stepped up.
He should be getting his hitting gear on, like his elbow pad and ankle guard.Instead, he sat rigid on the bench, elbows on his knees, hands clenched so tight his knuckles were white.
Oh, hell no.He was not going to fall apart now.Not after everything.
I pushed up from my canvas chair and marched straight to the dugout.I leaned in and gave a sharp whistle.
His head snapped up, eyes locking on mine, startled and already spiraling.
I crooked a finger, calling him over.
He closed in on me, voice rough.“What’re you doing?Did you get a call?Do you need to go?”
“No,” I said, breath tight with urgency.“I need to tell you something.”
When he came within reach, I caught his shirt over the low fence and tugged him in until his chest struck the rail.
“Josh.”I held him there and waited until his eyes finally found mine.“This is it.You were made for this.Tonight isn’t a fluke.It’s a second chance.A gift.Moments like this don’t circle back.If you let fear rule, it’ll haunt you every time you hear a bat crack for the rest of your life.”I leaned in, voice dropping to steel.“Go.Step into that box… and end it.”
I let go of him.The dugout had gone silent—dead, stunned—as I turned and walked off, already knowing I’d just lit a fuse and there was no taking it back.
“What’d you say to him?”Vinny asked when I dropped back into my seat.
“I told him not to strike out.”
Vinny snorted.“Sounded like a lot more words than that.”He went back to carving lines in the orange dirt with his toe.
“The bases are loaded,” I said, because saying it out loud made it real.“Look.He’s up.”I pointed.
Josh glanced over before stepping into the box.Just a flicker of a look, but the corner of his mouth twitched, like something I’d said might’ve landed.
My heart kicked hard enough to hurt.
Please,I prayed.Just give him this one.He needs it.
