Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Very generous of you.” He clapped me on the back. “Don’t let Shitty get to you tonight. Just remember, it’s only a game.”
I snorted as he jogged back to third base. Only a game. That was something athletes occasionally said, but never meant.
Turning, I scanned the crowd until I located Naomi. She put her hands to her mouth and blew me a huge kiss that lifted my spirits slightly.
Then it was time to go to the dugout.
Usually, the ceremony at the start of the game inspired me, but not tonight. First off, since it wasn’t a regular game, there were lots of pompous speeches. Secondly, this wasn’t my world anymore. For better or for worse.
Then the game started. We were only going for seven innings. Hopefully my knees could last that long.
Shitty didn’t make it easy, though. He fell back on one of his specialties. Throwing the ball just at the edge of the strike zone so that I really had to reach for it—and put more wear and tear on my legs.
It was nice being up at bat, though. When I faced down the opposing team’s pitcher, I imagined the entire stadium empty except for Naomi, watching me with her big, bright eyes. Then I hit a double.
Dom wasn’t hitting well, however. It wasn’t hard to see why. He hated Shitty even more than I did, especially now that he knew the piece of shit was dating his ex.
“Calm down,” I hissed as he stepped up to the plate. It was the bottom of the fifth, and the game was tied.
“I’m fine,” he snapped, sounding as un-fine as was humanly possible.
Shitty struck him out swinging.
Fuck.
Justin and I talked in the dugout during the sixth inning. “Do you want to get out of here as much as I do?”
“More,” I muttered.
“Soon.”
The game was still tied at the top of the seventh. Then Dominic’s teammate, a talented outfielder from Tampa, hit a single. That seemed to rattle Shitty, and he walked the next batter, leaving men on first and second. It wasn’t looking good for the home team, if that’s what we were.
Shitty managed to strike out the next batter, but the one after that had a line drive straight to right field. It zipped right past the first basemen, practically through his legs. If it had been third base, Justin would’ve fielded it, I was sure.
Just like that, the bases were loaded. I looked over at the other team’s dugout and my stomach tightened when I saw Dom marching toward the plate.
For him, this no longer looked like a pointless exhibition game. Nope, the look on his face was deadly serious. I turned my head to exchange a glance with Justin. He’d noticed it, too.
“Just take it easy, Dom. This shitshow isn’t worth getting upset over.”
“I’m not upset,” he said gruffly as he stared Shitty down.
Fuck.
I gave Shitty the signal, but I already knew he was going to reject any pitch I suggested. He didn’t even bother shaking the signals off, he just threw what he wanted to throw which, unfortunately, was a very competent fastball.
Strike one.
The next one was high, but Dom actually got a piece of it. But it was like the ball just glanced off his bat and went into foul territory.
Strike two.
This game was about to become a tie, which wasn’t possible in a regular game, but was a fine conclusion to this fiasco, in my opinion.
Shitty pitched again, and again fouled it backwards. I sprang to my feet and tore off my mask, making a show of trying to catch it, which would’ve meant the third out for Dominic.
Like I would ever do that.
“Sorry,” I called to our coach as I walked stiffly back to my spot. “It’s my knees.”
As I crouched down again, my mind kept returning to the sight of the ball lying in the dirt back there. Shitty was staring at us, probably trying to psyche Dominic out. Then he adjusted his cap.
Fuck.
“Step out of the batter’s box,” I growled to Dom.
“What? I got this.”
“Just do it.”
He looked at me like I was crazy, but he did it. Shitty straightened up, looking pissed.
I turned to talk to the umpire. A moment later our coach jogged out to join me.
“He’s using tar,” I said quietly.
The coach scoffed. “For a fucking exhibition game?”
Fire flared in Dom’s eyes. “He and I have a history,” he growled.
The coach wasn’t convinced. “Let’s just get this over with and go home.”
“Hold on,” the ump said. He was retired now, but he used to be one of the best home plate umps in the business. “There’s no harm in checking.” With that, he strode out to the pitcher’s mound with my coach reluctantly following.
“You sure?” Dominic said quietly.
“Yeah.”
“Just for me or for everyone?”
“What do you think?”
Dom shook his head. “That guy is such a loser. He and Yvonne deserve each other.”