Page 60 of Bad Run

“So do all of you,” Nico says.

I glance at the phone again, and that’s when I see it. Nico’s ex-manager and best friend, Damien. Before the season started, Nico fired the douche for talking shit about his sister, Talia, while at Cam’s bachelor party. Damien, who was there with his business partner, then tried to start a fight at the club, which Nico and Cam ended.

“It’s that son of a bitch Damien,” I growl.

I knew he was a scumbag the first time I met him. He tried to poach me to be his client last spring when he was visiting Nico at the stadium.

“Yep. I need to get the fuck out of here and get home to my woman.” The frantic way Nico paces, tugging at his hair, makes my skin itchy and tight. I can sense his anxiety, and I don’t know why, but it wraps around my lungs, suffocating me.

“Dude, we have a game. You can’t go anywhere.” Reed glances around the group, waiting for someone to back him up.

No one does.

I continue to watch Romero as the our coach’s deep, rumbling voice cuts through the air. “Romero, get your ass over here!”

We were so interested in figuring out who was on the video we forgot Nico could get fined or, worse, fired from the team for breaching the code of conduct clause in his contract.

As Nico approaches Coach Anson, the five of us stand behind him in support.

When Nico joined our team, he was a hot-headed asshole. But that was a front for who he really is—a good guy. He’s an amazing ballplayer. He’s sarcastic as hell, funny, and most importantly, he’s our teammate.

Our brother.

It might have taken Cam falling in love with Nico’s sister for the change to happen, but I’m glad it did. We all are.

The five of us listen to Anson and Nico discuss the details of the tape. Turns out, Anson is way smarter than we are because he saw the truth immediately.

Determined to get home, Nico attempts to shove past Anson, who blocks his path.

“Don’t care. I need to get home to my woman.”

My woman.

An unfamiliar stinging sensation prickles beneath my skin as I hear Coach agree to let Romero go home to Savannah and fix this mess.

The only one of us not on board with Nico leaving is Reed. “You’re not seriously going to leave, are you?”

Nico replies, “I am. Some things are more important than baseball. Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll understand one day.”

Images of Gwen’s bright smile, her sparkling aqua eyes, her full pink lips, and her soft laugh come flooding forward.

Some things are more important than baseball.

My teammates’ words are a bell I can’t un-ring in my head.

There isn’t a single thing in my life that is more important than baseball. Baseball is my life. Every day, I wake up, eat, train, play, sleep, and repeat.

The life I lead is of my own design. At first, I played because I loved the game more than anything, but then baseball became a way to avoid my guilt for not following in my brother’s footsteps and letting my dad down.

If I’m honest, my life has become empty and lonely. Sure, I have great friends and my career is going strong, but I can’t shake the feeling that something is missing.

The last time I felt fulfilled was the night I spent with Gwen. And I’m not even thinking about the sex. Even now, just being near her feels right. Fills the gaping hole in my chest.

The little witch cast a spell over me, and I’m done fighting it.

I don’t know where she’s at with her feelings, but if there’s even a slight chance she feels the same as I do, I need to shoot my shot.

Because my gut tells me Gwen just might be more important than baseball.