You’re his friend, McKenna Raine, you need to stop noticing his smile, glutes…
“Ball one.”
“Get your head in the game, Raine.” Trip’s voice penetrated my musing.
Shit.
“Strike two.”
Sweat dripped down my back, tickling me between my shoulder blades. I swiped my forearm over my forehead, grit and grime scratching the sensitive skin.
I palmed the ball before taking it out of my glove and pitched it toward my catcher’s glove. The force smacked hard into the pocket and I knew what was coming before the ump screamed, “Strike three.”
“Good job, Raine.” Coach Mae clapped me on the back after the team put me down on the ground. “Go pack up. The bus is leaving in thirty minutes.”
The team ran off to the locker room to get their stuff, and I turned around to grab my mitt.
“By the smile on your face can I assume I’m safe from bodily harm?”
Trip’s southern smooth voice pushed my adrenaline up a notch. My legs wobbled as my hand passed over my mitt twice before being able to retrieve it.
“You’re safe for tonight,” I answered, standing up slowly and begging my legs to keep me upright.
“Well, I guess that’s all I can ask for. Are you still mad at me?”
“Yes.”
His eyes widened in shock as I turned and went toward the locker room.
“Really?”
“Yes. Claire would have got herself together. There was no need to put me in as early as you did.”
“Raine, are you questioning my coaching skills?”
I shrugged and winced as pain lanced through my shoulder.
“I know you don’t believe me, but I know what I’m doing. Hoffer’s head wasn’t in the game. I knew you wouldn’t let the team down. This was my first game as a coach and I wanted the win.”
“I agree Claire’s head wasn’t in the game, but I think she would have gotten there.”
“I didn’t want to wait and find out. Especially when I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about you.”
“Why is that?”
My hands slapped to my hips and my legs stopped moving. I ignored the pain in my shoulder and soreness creeping into every muscle. Before Trip came into the picture I’d come to terms with the fact that I was done playing softball. Graduation was coming up quick, and the only reason I stayed on the team was because Coach Mae asked me to.
Now the first scrimmage before the real season even started I’d already pitched more than I thought I would the whole season. My mind wasn’t prepared to play anymore. I was already moving on to becoming a physical therapist and helping patients. Softball was a memory. Yet here Trip was wringing out the very last shred of competition in me.
Trip stopped and turned when he noticed I wasn’t beside him. His hands crossed over his chest and I refused to let the bulge of his biceps distract me.
“Because this is it, McKenna. I’ve read your file. You turned down every offer you received to play softball overseas. I refuse to let you regret your last season.”
“I won’t. Just let me ride the bench like I was planning.”
“No.”
“Yes.” My leg twitched, but I was able to stop it from stomping like Norah did when she didn’t get her way.
