“I’m not here to interrogate you, Lucia,” he says gently. “I’m done trying to involve myself in this. You guys can figure out everything yourselves.”
I sigh. “I appreciate that. I already get it from your wife, your sister, Olive, and Ella.”
Cole chuckles. “Can’t say I’m surprised.”
We watch as Josh takes to the batter’s box, eventually striking out on four pitches. Lane heads up next, and since Cole bats cleanup, he heads over to the on-deck circle.
While they get ready, I walk through the dugout to talk to Rivas. He managed to take the starting job over Martin Scholl for this season, so he’ll be in the on-deck circle if Cole goes up to bat this inning.
“Arturo,” I say, snagging his attention. He walks over to me. “Remember to follow the plan I created for you. You looked a lot healthier during Spring Training once you started listening.”
He smiles sheepishly. “Yeah, I will. I’d prefer to not end up on the IL again this year.”
“Well, I can’t promise that,” I say, “but I can say that following the plan gives you the best opportunity.” We hear the smack of the bat and watch as Lane hits a double off the right field wall, sending Ari to third as he advances to second. “Get up there, Rivas. You’ve got this.”
He starts jogging backward on his way out of the dugout. “Thanks, Luc.”
I keep my eye on the field now, watching to see how the rest of this inning plays out.
“I don’t know what you did to get him to listen,” Dr. Coltrain laughs behind me, and I startle.
I put my hand to my chest to settle my racing heart. “I think he’s just finally realizing that if he listens, he’ll spend less time injured.”
“He looked a lot stronger during Spring Training, Lucia.”
“He did,” I reply. “He’ll have a great season.”
Dr. Coltrain eyes me. “As long as he keeps following your plan.”
“He’d do well without it,” I shrug, acting like I have no part in it.
“Not as well,” he asserts. “I made the right call having you create his plan. I think you have a knack for this.”
“Thank you, Dr. Coltrain,” I smile. “I just want to keep everyone healthy.”
“You’re doing great work.”
He moves past me toward the other end of the dugout, and I finally notice Logan standing behind him.
He’sseethingright now.
“Beautiful day for a baseball game, isn’t it, Logan?” I say cheerily.
He rolls his eyes and stalks past me.
Enjoy your time of looking down on me, Logan.
I’ll make damn sure I’m your boss next year.
“Cheers!” we all say, clinking our glasses together.
The Stars managed a shutout over the Suns today. Ari ran in one of those runs when Cole batted in the first, and batted another run in during the seventh.
To celebrate, we found a dingy dive bar, and the ten of us gathered around the table.
We all take a sip of our drinks except Ella, who finally gets to enjoy a mocktail.
“This is the year,” Ari asserts with a smile on his face. “I’m winning the World Series this year.”