Page 20 of Fastball Fever
"No way," I insist."You're coming with me to every game—as my coach.Otherwise, I quit."
She draws in a slow, ragged breath and hesitates just long enough for doubt to creep back in.Then she rips it away with words that sound like they sear her throat."I can't let you do that, Charlie."
I gape at her, the shock twisting into anger."You can't stop me."
Despite her bleary eyes, her voice remains firm."This team is your life.I'm just a coach you had a fling with."
She's trying to make it sound like it never mattered, like she never cared, but I know better."I thought you were the one who told me not to give up."
Amy swallows hard, and for a second, I think she might change her mind.But then she looks at me like she's engraving my face in her memory.The finality in her gaze hits me harder than any pitch ever could.
"I'll be fine," she assures me, her voice barely above a whisper.
I stagger backward a step, my mind racing to find something, anything, to say.Words tangle in my throat, refusing to come out.
"Amy," I manage at last, her name loaded with everything I want to say and can't.
She says nothing, simply watching me.The silence stretches between us until it snaps something inside me.
"Fine," I spit out, sounding bitter and broken even to my own ears.
With a last look, one filled with too much feeling for me to bear, she walks away.Everything inside me wants to run after her, make her listen until she understands.But I can't move, can't think.The world's spinning like a wild pitch careening toward the dirt.
Phil's office door slams shut behind her.
"Charlie!There you are!"Jared's voice snaps me out of my trance.He strides down the hall like he owns the place.
"What do you want, Morris?"
"To grab a beer with my favorite rival."Jared leans against the wall, smirking.
I'm not in the mood for his crap."Get lost."
Jared saunters away, whistling the song "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."
That jerk means nothing to me.I need Amy back—now—and I know exactly how to make that happen.
Chapter Eleven
Return to the Mound
This might be the biggest night of my life.Sure, I've pitched my fair share of awesome fastballs but tonight feels different—special—for reasons both good and bad.If I can't convince Phil and Ray to keep Amy as my coach for good…I don't know what I'll do.She could be my groupie, I guess.But that's not too appealing either.
She wouldn't go for that, anyway.
But for this one day, this one last time, Amy will serve as my coach.If I can win this game for my team and make it a blowout, maybe she will change her mind about leaving.
I tug my cap on and scan the crowd gathered here tonight.I love a good night game.The cool air, the bright lights, the crowd, it's everything I love about the game.As I breathe in the smells, from grass to hot dogs, all of it bolsters me like nothing else can.This is my world.Once both teams are on the field and the fans settle into their seats, I feel the rush of adrenaline kicking in—almost enough to tune out the tension between my shoulder blades.
The Aspen Altitude are in town.Not all of those guys are dicks, but quite a few are.Jared Morris has his own clique within the Altitude roster.These games always get heated, which is exactly what I need tonight to rev me up.I take the mound and toss a warm-up pitch.The ball smacks into the catcher's mitt with a satisfying thud.Good start.Phil and Ray are watching from the sidelines, whispering to each other like they're picking out a puppy—or they're deciding which minor league team they want to dump me in.
"Focus, Charlie," Amy calls out from her spot near the dugout.
"Hey, shouldn't you be home knitting a sweater?"I yell back with a smirk.
Her lips tighten into a line, but I catch a flicker of humor in her eyes before she turns away.That's right, Amy, watch what I can do.If I've still got my mojo, then Amy will pounce on me the second the game is over.Hot sex for Charlie tonight?Damn, I hope so.
But Amy swore she'd quit being my coach after this game.I'll prove to her she can't quit.Somehow, some way, no matter what Phil and Ray might've said.
