Chapter Eight
“Areyou ready for this?” Coach Butler pushed his hat further down on his head.
The day was hot and muggy, speaking volumes for what was in store when the regular season started.
It was the fourth tournament game and surprise I once again found myself back on the pitching mound. I was counting the days until tournament season ended. Two games a month for three months was enough to make my shoulder weep. The fact that Trip had played me more than half the games, and there were still two left, didn’t bode well for my muscles.
I refused to think about the regular season and the possibility Trip was thinking about utilizing me for them as well.
Stupid Coach Butler.
I adored friend Trip. Friend Trip came over and had dinner with me, Renee, Brian, Norah, and my parents twice a week. Friend Trip would stay up with me until all hours of the night listening to audio books about the amazing boy wizard.
Hell, I’d even take patient Trip. Patient Trip was considerate. He listened to my orders. Well, for the most part, and did his PT exercises when he wasn’t in the office. Or at least he did them when he came over to my apartment.
But Coach Butler was a pain in my ass. He pushed me harder than any coach I’d ever had. Even Doc, the pitching coach I had from junior high all the way through high school, wasn’t as much of a tyrant as Coach Butler.
“Raine? I asked if you were ready.”
I ground my cleat into the pitching mound. We were ahead by one and it looked like we were going home with a W. Stupid me thought I was going to get out of pitching. Sure Claire wasn’t on her A game, but she definitely wasn’t pitching her worst. When my last name was shouted across his gorgeous plump lips I had the urge to throw a ball at them to make them even plumper.
“Yes, Coach Butler. I’m ready.”
His head cocked and I could see his eyes squint as he studied my face. “You don’t sound so sure.”
“I’m ready, Coach. I just want to get this done so I can go home and not have to see your face for the rest of the night.”
He ducked his head and I was sure he was hiding a smile. I knew I shouldn’t have talked to him that way, but there were times I’d accidentally see my Trip in Coach Butler.
“Whatever you need to think to convince yourself to get this ball game summed up. Now, hurry up and pitch this game into a win.” He adjusted his hat and pivoted away.
I waited. I knew he wasn’t done yet. Coach Butler had a way of pissing me off just enough so I threw strikes for the rest of the game. There was no way he was getting off the diamond without a last remark.
“Oh and, Raine. I’m glad you don’t want to see me after the game. I couldn’t suffer another childish movie about a wannabe wizard.”
“It’s not childish,” I hissed at his muscular back, assuming he was too far to hear me.
“You were a beast out there, Raine. I didn’t think you had any more games in you the way you talked to me at the beginning of the season. I was worried I was making a mistake not getting another relief pitcher.”
Coach Mae put her arm around my shoulders as we walked to the bus. She moved slower so the rest of the team climbed in, while we were just making it across the parking lot.
“It wouldn’t be a bad thing to get another girl on the team for pitching relief. I didn’t think I had another game in me either, and I don’t know how many more I have. I stayed on the team because you asked me to, but I don’t want to disappoint anyone.”
“I think you underestimate yourself, McKenna. I’m glad Coach Butler’s making you come out swinging for your last season. He has a way of lighting a fire under you and getting the best out of you.”
“Well, he knows how to push my buttons,” I gritted out, already planning on refusing to let him take my ear bud to listen to the rest of the audio book we’d been listening to.
The book I only listened to when he was attached to me with wires. For some stupid reason my finger wasn’t able to press play until he was near. I didn’t want him to miss out if he was into the story, and really how could you not get into it. When he wasn’t around I’d listen to other books, but today I was thinking I needed to stop catering to him.
“Trip isn’t as bad as most people think. I knew him before he got big, and I know for a fact a lot of his reputation is being blown out of proportion. He needs a friend and I think you’d be good for him.”
My head snapped to Coach Mae, searching her face to see if she was implying what I thought she was.
“I know he goes to your house and has dinner with you, and his best friend is sweet on your best friend.”
“How?” I asked, afraid I’d slipped and said something when I was around one of the girls on the team and they told on us.
I didn’t want to get Trip in trouble. He only came to my house when Brian was there with Renee. We made sure we were never alone in the house. After falling asleep with just the two of us, Trip realized how much trouble we would have gotten in if we were caught. Trip wasn’t taking any chances. He was serious about changing into a better person.
