“Raine, don’t blow your shoulder out for practice,” Trip said coming up beside us.
“She’s just showing me what she’s got, Butler. And I can’t begin to tell you how impressed I am.”
I clenched the ball tight in my hand, debating if I should just smash his face in and come up with another plan later. Trip was right, my pitches were harder than they should have been for a weekday practice, but the anger from having Coach Rutching so close surfaced every time I launched a ball out of my hand. By some miracle, it worked in my favor since Coach Rutching seemed to think I was showing off.
I knew Trip had figured out something was up by the way he kept glancing at me with his forehead furrowed as if he were trying to solve a puzzle. It was going to be hard keeping this from him as lately I confided in him more than in Renee. Having just a tiny shred of a plan formed there was no way I’d tell him in on what I was doing. I just hoped our friendship was strong enough to survive the aftermath.
Trip glared at Coach Rutching, his jaw moving from side to side as he ground his teeth. Coach Rutching either didn’t realize he was getting the evil eye, or didn’t care. He smiled widely at me, ignoring Trip.
“Coach Butler, I was hoping we could practice on my fast ball before you left,” Claire interrupted.
Trip blew out an annoyed breath, his gaze bouncing back and forth between me and Coach Rutching before moving away.
“Is he always so cranky?” Coach Rutching asked, watching Trip lead Claire over to the other mound.
“I think he’s ready to be rid of us and get back with the Pappies.” I shrugged my shoulder as if I didn’t care at all why Trip was in a bad mood.
“Maybe I should tell him he doesn’t need to stay on my account. I think we’re getting along just fine. What do you think?”
“We do work well together, don’t we?” I gave him a smile and his eyes drifted down to my chest before traveling slowly back up.
Coach Mae took Coach Rutching off to the side as I continued to practice. My arm shook at the blatant perusal of Coach Rutching.
Was he fucking with me? Did he know I was still close to Renee? Or was he really that horny he couldn’t see he was stepping into a trap?
Trip was stuck with Claire and her awful fast ball as a thousand questions ran through my mind.
“All right, good practice. Let’s end it early tonight.” Coach Mae gathered the team around her on the field.
“I’m truly proud of you as a team. You’ve made huge strides since last year and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the season plays out. Thank you, Coach Rutching, for taking on our pitchers. They’re the heart of the team and I’m glad to see Coach Butler’s leaving them in your capable hands.
“I talked to Coach Rutching and he feels he’s ready to relieve Coach Butler of his duties. The Pappies will be ecstatic to get their pitcher back full-time. I can speak for the whole team in telling you how much we’re going to miss you.”
Trip jiggled his hat, his jaw tight as he spoke. “It’s with a heavy heart that I’m giving up my position as pitching coach for this team. I wasn’t expecting the Pappies to request me back so quickly. Since I’ve been cleared by all my doctors, and with Coach Rutching on staff I’ll be joining the Pappies immediately. Thank you for the opportunity.” Trip’s eyes ghosted over me before stepping back and stomping toward the locker room.
Coach Rutching smiled and thanked Coach Mae. I shivered when his eyes dipped to my chest before we were released and I sprinted back to the locker room.
“Raine,” Coach Rutching called out from his office I’d just purposely walked slowly by.
I suppressed the smile. He was making it too easy. Once again I doubted if maybe he was playing with me and my plan had already been ruined.
His quick acceptance of my flirting had nothing to do with my skills. So I was either being set up or the little coach in his pants was still calling the shots. I pictured him getting his pitching calls from behind his zipper, making the smile on my face real.
“Hey, Coach.” I sat on the chair in front of his desk, twirling my hair and biting my bottom lip, channeling my inner diva.
“You looked really good today.”
“Yeah, it felt really good today.” I let out a little giggle and Rutching sucked in his bottom lip as he raked his gaze over me like I was dessert.
A knock on the doorframe startled me. I’d been so focused on not launching myself at Coach Rutching’s face and clawing it off I didn’t hear anyone walking in.
“Hey, Rutching, Raine.”
I smiled at Trip quickly before looking down at Coach Rutching’s desk.
“Hey, Butler, what can I do you for?”
“Oh, uhm. Our second baseman, Sampson’s a killer baker. She made blueberry muffins and being new to the staff I wanted to give you a heads-up before they disappear.”
