Page 31 of Reckless Love

“I did. And did you know I threw up four times before that game? It’s not easy having all this pressure on with a packed stadium, but you can do this. Have you had any of my ginger candy stash yet?”

Charley shook his head.

“Well comeon. Let me show you my special locker. It’s right in here. No one else on the team gets nerves quite like I do so it’s pretty much just whatever I put in here. You’re more than welcome to any of it. Just restock if you finish something out.”

Between the showers and the training tables was a set of lockers. Chris opened one up and showed off his collection of ginger candy, ginger ale, sodawater, crackers, and pretzels.

“It’s not perfect but it helps. Do you have headphones? A playlist? You need that too.”

Charley nodded at everything Chris said. “I do but I’m too far gone today, man. I can’t keep them on my head when I keep running to the restroom.”

I watched the men talk and trade secrets for nerves. I sympathized but didn’t really have anything to add tothe conversation. I’d never pitched a World Series winning game or stood in a packed stadium. I’d also never negotiated contracts for millions of dollars. Although I had written some amazing grant proposals that ultimately funded a self-sustaining multi-million dollar lab. So there was that.

Charley nibbled crackers and sipped ginger ale but he didn’t seem to be getting any better. Chrisexcused himself because he wanted to get out to the bullpen and cheer on his fellow pitchers before the game started. The rest of the team was joking and seemed to be going about their usual pregame rituals of stretching, breathing exercises, and dirty jokes.

Apparently someone’s momma was very fat, hungry, and loved sex. I never really understood Your Momma jokes. Maybe it was becausemy mother was paid to disappear before I started kindergarten.

“Charley, it’s just a game. They need someone with your talent at first base while Brian gets better. What’s the worst that could happen?” Leo looked like he almost regretted asking that.

“Uh, I could have five errors in the first inning and fly-out on the first pitch.”

“That’s not going to happen. You might strikeout. In fact you probably will. Pitchers love to make rookies miserable. You’re not here to hit home runs like Seth. You’re here to protect first base.”

He nodded, appeared to turn a shade of green I didn’t think was possible. Then he ran back into the bathrooms.

“Leo, that’s not normal.”

He swallowed and nodded. “Yeah, there’s something else going on here.”

“You thinkhe caught the stomach bug?” I quickly scanned the room for one of those hand sanitizer stations. Why did I shake his hand? Oh, that’s right. Because it was polite and I assumed he just had nerves. Now I was starting to think he had nerves and salmonella. Or rotavirus. Or what was that cruise ship one? Norovirus? Maybe he had that.

“No. I don’t.” Leo scratched his jaw. “There’s fear in hiseyes.”

“He’s terrified of playing a game he’s played his whole life?”

Leo shrugged and pulled me into his side. “Yes, but he’s also dreamt of running out onto that field his whole life. All the pressure is from himself. Yeah the team needs him but this isn’t the World Series. There isn’t a championship hanging on this game. I suspect he’s built the whole thing up in his head andit’s crushing him.”

“He’s going to be his own nightmare if he doesn’t pull it together. Ugh, can you imagine getting a shot like this and melting down in front of a national audience?”

“He won’t melt down. He might suck but once he runs up from the dugout to the crowd clapping for him, he’ll get his head on straight.”

I wasn’t so convinced but wouldn’t you know it? The kidplayed like the phenomenon everyone said he was. When he ran out on the field there was only an enormous smile on his face. When he took his base he was focused. He played...well, beautifully.

“I can’t believe that’s the same kid we were coddling downstairs,” I murmured.

We were in one of the fancy suites owned by one of the team executives. Greg and Marie were also there becausethey were good friends with the suite owner and her husband Jake, who was also with us.

“That’s the puker?” Greg pointed at Charley with a pretzel still in his hand.

“Yep. We didn’t think he would be able to stand the way he was going.” Leo shook his head. Even though he sounded so confident when he predicted Charley’s transformation, he was still shocked by how complete it was.

“No kidding. He’s playing like he owns that base. Like he’s been a pro his whole damn life.” Greg shrugged.

It was really pretty surreal. Charley wasn’t just doing well, he was thriving. Steady. Confident. Focused. He even drove in two runs.

Jake stretched his long legs over one of the empty seats. “It’ll be interesting to see how they close out this season. Between Brian’sinjury and Carson and Trevor retiring, the team’s going to look real different next year.”

“New blood can be good,” Leo said. “Plus at least one of the guys they’re eyeballing as a replacement is one of mine. And you know I want to see him succeed.”

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