I caught her gaze and winked.
She laughed, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe what I’d just done.But I understood the message written all over her face.That was incredible.It was redemption.It was salvation.Proof that after all the years and all the doubt, I still had what it took.
For the first time in a long time, I let myself believe it.
Twenty minutes later, I was back behind the plate, catching.Last inning.We were up one, and they were threatening.
I stood and waved everyone in.Tension everywhere—old grudges ruling two of the basemen, a rattled pitcher, and a limping first baseman.
“You want to make this team?”I asked.
Every head nodded.
“Then listen.We need three outs—now.”
I pointed.“Brian throw your fastball.Kaleb, the batter will pop it—he always does.I’ll get you the ball, you get the out at third.Then fire to second.Gene, sell nothing and be ready.”
Gloves met mine.
My heart slammed as I dropped back into position.The pitch came hot.The swing…
Straight up.
I ripped off my mask, tracked the ball, caught it clean, and fired it to Kaleb.Out.He snapped it to second.Gene caught it and tagged the runner before he could blink.
Game over.
For one perfect moment, everyone shut up and played ball—and it worked.
Brian, the pitcher, pointed at me.“How’d you know that play would work?”
I shrugged.Deep inside, I’d just known.
The other players on the infield were all fist-bumping and yelling, each high on adrenaline after that play that gave us the win.
I dusted off my helmet and stood at the home plate, taking in the manicured field and the boys so pumped up on victory.I’d missed this far more than I realized.
In the dugout, the coach came over.Reno said, “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
“Once in a lifetime triple out.Pretty great.”I smiled as I packed up.
“I don’t get how the hell you coordinated that.”Reno scratched his head and stared at the infield.
“I had a hunch the batter would pop fly it.”
The coach put his back to the other guys and spoke low.“Those infielders on your team are decent ball players, but whatever you said got them to step it up to the next level.”
When I exited the dugout Vinny was there jumping up and down, talking fast.“Then you threw it andBAM,out!Then bam, out again!That was some real ball.I think I want to be a catcher.Will you teach me how to do that?”
“Sure.”My gaze met Erika’s over his head when he resumed babbling.
“That was a pretty good play, Coach,” she said softly.
“Yeah.It was.I’m glad you made me do this.”
“I know.”I didn’t even resent her smug smile.“They do a picnic after the practices.We’re going.”
“I don’t know.Might be awkward.”
