Page 5 of Pitch for You

“Sure has,” he replied, his blue eyes meeting mine with an unexpected intensity that sent shivers down my spine. “I hope you don't mind me working here. Your mother hired me, but I wasn’t sure if you’d want to keep me on.”

“Of course,” I said, forcing a smile while my pulse raced. “We can always use a hard worker around here.”

Our eyes held each other's gaze for a moment longer, the unsaid words hanging heavily in the air between us. Despite the years that passed, the connection we once shared seemed to defy the passage of time. The arrival of Brett Johnson would change everything. Our past was dangling above our heads.

With a deep breath, I tried to steady the nerves as I stood there, face-to-face with Brett. My heart raced and palms grew clammy in his presence. As much as I wished I could, I couldn't deny the wave of emotions that came crashing down.

“Y’know,” Brett began, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, “I never thought I'd set foot on this ranch again.”

“Neither did I,” I admitted, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.

“Life sure has a funny way of working out, doesn't it?” he said, offering a small smile. “Back in high school, all I ever wanted was to play professional baseball. I was so close, too. Just about to sign when…” He trailed off, looking away.

My heart ached for him – I remembered how passionate he had been about becoming a pitcher, and how his dreams were cut short at just twenty-two when he tore his rotator cuff during a college game. The injury had been severe enough to end his career before it even started.

“…When you got injured,” I finished. “I remember.”

A shadow crossed his face as the painful memories resurfaced. For a moment, he seemed lost in the past. Then he shook his head, forcing a smile. “Yeah, well. That's life, right?”

I nodded, my own thoughts turning bittersweet. Our shared history was filled with both love and heartache, and seeing Brett again brought it all rushing back: the stolen kisses behind the bleachers, the whispered promises beneath the stars, and the tearful goodbyes as we went our separate ways.

“Speaking of the past,” Brett continued, his voice low and hesitant, “I heard about… I know what happened with your husband.”

“Ex-husband,” I corrected automatically, chest tightening at the mention of him. I didn't want to think about how my marriage crumbled, leaving me to pick up the pieces alone. Max and I deserved better.

“Right,” he said, looking down at his worn boots. “I’m sorry, Sofia. And plus, that guy is a real idiot to take you for granted.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, touched by his concern. It was surreal, standing here with Brett after all these years, our lives having taken such unexpected turns. And yet, despite everything, part of me felt as if no time passed at all – as if we were still those two starry-eyed teenagers, dreaming of a future together.

“Listen, if there's anything I can do for you, or for the ranch, just let me know. I may not have made it in the big leagues, but I'm still useful around here.”

I smiled, feeling both grateful and conflicted. My heart longed for the familiarity and comfort of our past, yet my mind warned me against opening old wounds. For now, I chose to focus on the present, knowing that the future remained uncertain.

“Thank you, I appreciate that. Now, we should probably get back to work.”

“Of course,” he agreed, his eyes lingering on mine for a moment longer before he turned away.

I wondered what fate had in store for us. Would our paths continue to intertwine, or would we drift apart once more? Only time would tell, but one thing was certain: seeing Brett again stirred something deep within, reawakening feelings I thought I buried long ago.

I’m most definitely in trouble.

4

Brett

I shifted my weight from foot to foot, looking both eager and unsure. I wasn’t sure what else to say to her, but just walking away would be rude. Thoughts ran back to when we were both teenagers and I used to come over here and help her with my chores. The nights we would lay a blanket out on the grass and just look up at the stars and wonder what our future held. A time I truly missed. Back then, we weren’t adults, and we were both naive.

“Um, so,” she began, voice wavering slightly as she tried to find the right words. “Lots changed since we last saw each other?”

I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck. “Yeah, it really has. It’s been what…”

“It's been twelve years,” she admitted, a flush creep up her cheeks.

“Wow, you've been keeping track?”

“More like, I just have a good memory,” she replied, attempting a casual shrug that only served to betray my underlying unease. “Have you met Max yet? He's eight now, and he loves horses as much as I do.”

“I saw him at the house earlier,” I said. “I always knew you'd make a great mom. And hey, maybe he'll follow in your footsteps and help run the ranch someday.”

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