Chapter Twelve
“Raine.” Trip snuck up behind me, making me jump. “Whoa, where was your head at just now?”
“I’m just sleepy,” I snapped.
Practice was early since Trip would miss the next four because he was attending Pappies’ training camp. He wanted to get one more in before he had to leave.
“Are you going to miss me?” Trip whispered right before we walked into the locker room, making it impossible for me to respond.
The truth was, I would miss him, a lot. Renee was slowly moving her stuff to Brian’s. She and Norah had been staying there even more than before.
Every time Renee would mention the wedding my heart broke a little more. She was unintentionally shredding it apart piece by piece.
The only person keeping me somewhat together was Trip. The nights he wasn’t at a function with Robin he was over at my house, making me forget I was alone. When he was out with Robin we would text back and forth, making my empty house bearable.
“Good luck, Butler.” Coach Mae hugged Trip and a pinch of jealousy was sprinkled across my nervous system.
“Thanks, Coach. Don’t let my pitchers slack off while I’m gone.”
Trip’s head shot toward mine before going back to Coach Mae. I rolled my eyes as I resisted a smile.
Cocky bastard.
“I’ve been interviewing a new pitching coach to take over when you go back to the Pappies permanently. I thought I was going to have more time. I should’ve known you weren’t going to stay away from the field. When you come back, I’ll introduce you two. I figured the last week you’re here, you can give him the rundown of what you have been working on with Hoffer and Raine.”
Trip grabbed the bill of his hat and pushed it up and down, before settling it back on his head. I unlaced my cleats slowly, wanting to overhear.
Coach Mae hadn’t mentioned she was interviewing new pitching coaches. I didn’t know why it came to such a shock. Trip was healing faster than expected, and sooner rather than later he was going to leave us to go back to his dream. Hearing the words out loud left a sourness in my stomach.
“Replaced that easy, huh?” Trip joked, his voice scratchier than normal.
Coach Mae pushed Trip on the shoulder. “You know you can’t be replaced, Butler. I wasn’t naive enough to think we’d be able to keep you the full season. I’m just looking out for my players. Remember I knew you when you were little. There’s nothing that could keep you away from the pitching mound.”
Trip let out a strained laugh. Coach Mae continued talking, but my ears refused to work. I couldn’t handle any more reminders that Trip was leaving. In the locker room I grabbed my stuff, not bothering to change, and jumped in Dora.
After rereading the same paragraph four times and not comprehending any of it, I set my laptop down on the couch. When I got home I showered and threw myself into studying, but not even my books could get my head out of the fog it was stuck in.
When a knock sounded on my door it was a welcome interruption. I would even settle for a Jehovah Witness wanting to explain their religion to me. Anything to get me away from my thoughts.
“Harley, what are you doing here?” I asked, pulling the door open when I spotted Trip’s sister standing outside.
“I’m here to pull you out of your funk. Or something along those lines.” She shrugged, walking toward the recliner and plopping down as if she had done it a million times before.
“I took a shower. I assure you there’s no funk,” I teased, unsure what was going on.
“Trip called and asked me to make sure you had fun today. The cocky bastard thinks you’re going to be sad since he’s away at training camp. I told him he was an asshole to think you wouldn’t be able to function without seeing him every day. But I came over anyway, because I’m Bruce free today, and I wanted a girls’ day. What do you say?”
Harley spied my open computer on the couch and bit her lip. “If you’re studying, I can come back another time. I don’t want to bother you. It’s just Trip said you were alone and without Bruce I kind of got carried away.”
“A girls’ day out sounds great,” I assured her, running over and shutting my laptop down. “I’ve been studying like a mad woman. Getting out is just what I need.”
Harley clapped her hands together. “Yay! I’m so excited. My parents have Bruce for the rest of the day, and honestly I didn’t know what to do with myself. When I wiped the kitchen counters for the third time I knew I was in trouble.”
“Good, then we both need this. Let me go get dressed really quick and we can go.” I walked away, happy Trip had sent Harley here as distraction. Before I entered my room I yelled over my shoulder. “No wiping the counters down while I get dressed.”
Harley’s laugh bounced off the walls as I threw on a pair of shorts and a Pappies T-shirt. Harley didn’t comment when she noticed I was wearing her brother’s team. I had the urge to run back and change.
“I’ve been a fan since I was a little girl. I had this shirt before I met Trip.”
