Page 56 of The Moment They Can't Forget

He threw in the first ball, and it went wide, but it had pace on it. The next two were better, and the fourth was straight and fast. The thwack of it hitting Jett’s glove had him smiling.

He’d played for years when he was young, only stopping when his father told him he needed to concentrate on joining the family business and there was no time left for leisure activities.

“Well, hell, the man can pitch,” Sawyer said. “Nice work, bud.”

“Thanks, and you don’t know everything about me, you know.”

His friend gripped his shoulder as they walked to where they would wait to bat, as the Rattlers were first in the field.

“I know that, JD. And anytime you want to talk, I’m here.”

“Well, hell,” he muttered as his friend walked to stand where he could talk to the batters, like he did every time they played. It was mainly for Jed’s benefit.

“Okay, let’s play ball!” Bart yelled.

The Leaders struck out with no runs on the board, and went in to field. JD was on third, and felt that zap of excitement he used to get when he played. Maybe he’d see if there was a permanent place in the team for him.

“Go Leaders!” Ally yelled. The Dukes all took a second to wave to her.

The Rattlers soon had a runner on second and third when Beau Keller stepped up to bat.

“Take him out, Dan,” Ryder said as his younger brother prepared to pitch.

JD’s eyes shot to Zoe on first. She was bent at the waist, completely focused.

“Strike!” Bart called.

“That wasn’t a strike!” Beau yelled.

“You keep that up, and I’m walking you,” Bart said.

Beau’s face was like a thundercloud. He connected with the next pitch. Brody scooped it up in the outfield and fired it in to Zoe. She caught the ball and Beau Keller at the same time and went down hard.

They all started moving. He didn’t have the right to defend her like her brothers, but every muscle inside him wanted retribution in that moment.

A shrill whistle had him looking to the bleachers.

“You boys, stop!” Robyn Duke roared the words. She was standing with her hands cupped around her mouth. She then pointed at her sons.

“Aw, hell,” Dan muttered. “If we don’t go back to our places, she’ll come down here and make a scene. You okay, Zoe?”

JD spun back to look at Zoe, who was getting back to her feet but not by the hand Beau Keller held out to her.

“Fine.” She pushed Keller hard in the gut. “It would take more than this fudge nugget to hurt me!”

Her brothers kept glaring at Beau while the crowd roared with laughter. Birdie’s favorite insult was fudge nugget because she didn’t like swearing, which Sawyer loved.

“Sawyer, get back to second base,” JD called to the eldest Duke, who was still eyeballing Beau. “Before your mommy comes and takes you away by the ear.”

“You’ll get yours,” Sawyer muttered, pointing a long finger at Beau, who replied with a raised middle one of his own. He then shot his mother a look. She was still standing in the bleachers, watching.

“Leaders, Leaders, Leaders!”

JD found three women wearing tiny shorts, bras, and body paint all in lavender. JD tried to place them. One was Betsy, who was always in The Gnat getting hair extensions when she wasn’t cleaning his house. Another was Sydney Jane. The other was—Christ, that was Linda from Do-Si-Do Diner. He clenched his eyes shut.

“Looking good, Linda!” Dan called.

She gave him a shimmy, and her belly kept moving when she stopped. This town. There really was nothing like it.

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