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Wally nodded. “The news about why the club is releasing him hasn’t leaked yet either. He got into a fight with another player at a bar—one of our guys. It wasn’t the first time, and the club had already warned him about his attitude. He’s causing too much drama, so they punted him. Which is why I was glad to see you didn’t rise to the bait from Tyler. We all know you’re struggling, but you don’t need to worry yet. You’re adding plenty of value to the team here. Keep your head down, keep working, and keep the issues to a minimum. You’ll get through it.”

I relaxed back in my seat, relief flooding through me. Not getting cut was all I wanted right now. Once I got right again, then I would prove I deserved a promotion. “Thanks, Skip. I think I know what’s causing some of my challenges at the plate. Raine spotted something in some video. I’m going to work on fixing it.”

Wally shifted his attention to Raine. “You keep working on learning other positions. The club is impressed with your hitting this year, but they don’t need another center fielder. Once you can play both corners, your odds of being called up get a whole lot better.”

He continued down the bus aisle without another word.

“I can’t believe the club noticed my hitting. I’ve never done enough to get that kind of encouragement before.” Raine tried to hide his excitement, but his eyes and smile gave him away.

Raine’s humility always surprised me, but after ten years in the minors, it was probably hard for him to see his skills clearly. Working with him this season had been a high point for me—he was one of my few real friends on this team.

“You’ve been working hard, and you’re hitting over .340 with ten home runs already. Of course they’re noticing. This isn’t a legacy club, with a farm system where they know every player and they have talent stacked deep. Vancouver got a handful of high draft picks, and then looked for released players they thought they could work with. The turnover at all levels for the next few years will get ugly. For some guys, like Witt, it will mean being called up sooner and the ability to launch his big-league career sooner. Others, like Bennie and me, we get one last chance to keep playing ball. For guys like you? This might be your best shot to make it to the majors. But it also means if you cause problems, you’ll be gone, like what just happened.”

Raine probably already knew that. He’d been around long enough to have seen players get DFA’d for all kinds of reasons. Hell, even the fact I was sleeping with a vendor might get me released, which was one more reason Jane and I were keeping our relationship secret.

Raine punched my shoulder. “We’ve been roommates for how many road trips? You know all I do is play, practice, and study. I cause less drama than you do, and except for the night Chad hit you, you might as well be invisible.”

I intended to keep it that way. Fix my swing, improve my numbers, keep flying under the radar until Vancouver called me. Because I had to ask myself: If that call never came, why was I even doing this?

Chapter 25

Carter

Late June

I looked out our hotel window at the rain pouring down. It was mid-afternoon, but storm clouds made the sky so dark it felt later. Water pooled everywhere in the parking lot, and I could barely see across the street. It had started raining last night during the eighth inning, and hadn’t stopped since. There was no way we could play our final game here in Laramie today. I was looking at a rain out.

I packed my stuff. I was exhausted. My hitting had improved after Raine had spotted my mechanical issue, but I’d been drilled in the ribs by a pitch yesterday and I ached all over. I wanted to sleep in my own bed, and maybe get an additional session with Ari tomorrow.

If I waited to fly home with the team, we’d be up in the middle of the night to catch an early flight, then still have a bus ride and practice after. I was feeling too old for that right now. I didn’t love admitting that the daily grind was getting to me. I still wanted that ring more than anything, but where my mind was determined, my body had other ideas. Taking better care of myself was my only hope to keep playing.

Raine was still in the shower when there was banging on the door. I swung it open to find Mick outside.

“You’ve looked outside?” he asked. “The game’s cancelled. We tried to get an earlier flight home, but the charter company is booked today. So you have the day to do what you want.”

“Will the team have a problem if I find my own way home?” I wanted to get some real rest, and see Jane. It had been a long road trip, and I resented being away from her more than I should for a casual thing.

Mick shook his head. “I’ve got no problem with it. Wally won’t care as long as you’re at practice on time.”

A weight lifted, and I felt lighter than I had in weeks. I was going home. “I’ll be at practice. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Mick continued down the hall, and I closed the door. I opened a travel app and discovered there were no direct commercial flights between Laramie and Calgary, and flying with connections would take me until almost midnight. A quick search told me I could charter a flight on a small plane, though. I was booking my charter as Raine came out of the bathroom.

“Did I hear someone at the door?” He started pulling clothes out of the dresser.

“Mick came by. The game is cancelled. The team couldn’t move up the return flight, though, so everyone is still getting home in the morning.”

I felt a little guilty that I was taking advantage of my past success to get home before the rest of the team. I had the charter window open, and it wouldn’t cost much more if Raine came with me. “I’m chartering a flight back today. I can get you on it if you want.”

Raine paused in the middle of pulling on a pair of socks. “I appreciate it, but no. I have an exam to study for, and my apartment in Red Rock can get noisy. I’ll get more done if I stay here.”

“If you’re sure.” Raine didn’t talk much about his living situation, but noise and distractions weren’t unusual in minor league rental housing. It was another reason I was lucky to have landed at Jane’s place.

I pulled out my phone. I wanted Jane to know I was thinking about her. I also didn’t want her to think I might get home early. Surprising her was way more fun.

Our game was rained out. I’m bored. What are you doing tonight?

I finished packing and ordered a rideshare to take me to the airport. I was going home. I couldn’t wait to surprise Jane.