Page 61 of Undeniably Perfect

I take a breath and open the chat.

C-Dog: Uh, sorry to send out an APB, but Tabby is sort of missing.

Kylie: Define “sort of missing”

Mother Hen: Clarky, are you saying you misplaced an entire person?

Mothership: What’s wrong?

Dad: This better be good, I’m working.

Mother Hen: I thought you two were at the game?

C-Dog: We are. I mean were. She said she forgot something. Went to get it. But that was over an hour ago. I saw her Uber app, and it looked like she went to her studio.

Kylie: Activate Moore Mission

Di: Team Moore activated

Mother Hen: I’m at a meeting by Metro Center. Heading there now.

Kylie: I can be there in thirty.

C-Dog: I can leave and go there now.

Mothership: Are we sure she’s not just running late?

C-Dog: Still no replies to my text.

Mothership: Oh dear. Well, be careful. Call me when you find her.

Dad: You want me to call in Uncle Jim?

C-Dog: Dad – stand down for now. Mom – ten-four

C-Dog: Just sent a carrier pigeon to KJ

I shake my head, partly because my weird-ass family is…well, special and partly because I don’t understand what is going on. I walk over to my coach.

“Coach, what’s the deal? I may sort of have a personal crisis going on.”

The coach gives me a serious look. “Kent, you know the rules.”

I nod. “I know. I’m in it to win it, I just need to give the boys a pep talk. Can I please do that?”

He nods. “Go ahead, son. But that shit better be good.”

I turn to my team. Most of them are chatting, some have on headphones. I clear my throat and whistle.

Everyone turns and stares at me.

“Guys, I need your attention for about two minutes. I have a situation. My girl may be in trouble, and I need to make this the shortest game in the history of playoff games. Who’s with me?”

Ward looks around. “Let’s do this motherfucker!”

A roar of agreement goes up amongst the players. I look up to the ceiling and silently pray to the god of pitching to let me pitch like I never have before. Until I shut down the other team, all my focus has to be on the ball and my arm.

Chapter Twenty-Five

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