“Shit, man,” Drew said, clapping a hand on Finn’s shoulder. “I sure hope you’re ready for what you’re starting here.”
Ready for it? He had no idea if he was or not. All he knew was he was tired of waiting.
* * *
Christ,it was hotter than Satan’s ballsac out here. Finn’s shirt was soaked to his chest, and from the looks of things, none of the others on his team were faring much better. They’d been playing for an hour already, the imbalance of aptitude between theirs and Dick’s teams glaringly obvious in the disparaging lengths of time each group was up to bat.
Despite the ravaging heat, it’d been an absolute pleasure watching the mayor’s reaction as the game had progressed. When Finn’s team had scored the first run, Dick’s eyes had narrowed as if warning them with a glance to fall in line. Finn had merely saluted him—not the one-fingered salute he’d wanted to give, which, he thought, was damn kind of himself. At the fourth run, Dick’s jaw had been tight, his fists clenching his handkerchief as he’d mopped sweat from his brow. By the eighth, he’d looked ready for murder. Finn would bet the check in his pocket the thought had crossed good ol’ Dick’s mind a time or twenty.
Regardless of being on the losing team, the other players seemed to be having fun. Especially Mac. She was their main force to be reckoned with, and she put everything she had into the game. Willow, though not as competitive as her younger sister, was smiling more often than not, her and Finn’s gazes locking more times than he could count.
Christ, he couldn’t wait until this stupid game was over. He’d corner Dick, give him back the money, and then he needed to find Willow. No more tiptoeing around the facts. He’d been afraid of damaging her and her daddy’s relationship, but he was more concerned abouttheirrelationship. That was his top priority. And now, after having seen father and daughter in action, seeing how the man belittled her, made her constantly feel less than, he wasn’t sure what he’d been trying to protect in the first place.
After Finn came clean about why he’d left and about the money, he’d tell her of their plans to stay. That everything was already in line, and they only had to make a quick trip back to finalize some things and then they’d be home. Back in Havenbrook for good.
“Finn, you’re up!” Ty called.
Time for their team’s last play. Finn slipped on a helmet and took a few practice swings. It’d been a long time since he’d played, but it was like riding a bike. He, Drew, and the rest of their friends had spent hours down here when they’d been younger. Trying like hell to stay out of trouble. Hadn’t always worked.
“Go easy, will you?” Nola said as she passed him, having just scored another run.
He smiled at her. “Now where’s the fun in that?”
With narrowed eyes, she said, “Dammit, Finn, I mean it. Knowing him, he’ll find a way to fuck up the opening.”
He couldn’t argue with that based on what Dick had tried already, but he also couldn’t say he gave a damn. Irresponsible when the bar hung on the line? Maybe. Probably. But this was about so much more than just a game. This was about Finn showing Mayor Haven that he wasn’t going to roll over for him anymore. That the older man didn’t get to push people around, didn’t get to have his way simply because he ruled the town that was his namesake.
The bases were loaded, and Dick stood in the outfield, looking as pissed as ever. Since the Havens were considered the home team, they still had another inning, but unless Babe Ruth materialized to play for their team, they were going down. There was no way they could come back from an eight-run lead.
First pitch was a swing and a strike. He shook it off and looked over at Willow, who guarded first base. The side of her lips quirked up, and that was all he needed.
On the second pitch, his bat connected with the ball, sending it flying in Dick’s direction. Finn took off, sailing past Willow and straight to second, but not before brushing her hand with his as he went.
One thing he hadn’t counted on was Mac’s dedication to covering her father’s shortcomings—at least, when it came to sports. She scrabbled for the ball as Finn rounded third and headed for home, and the crowd went wild. Finn pumped his legs harder, hoping she’d send it to the pitcher and buy him enough time to get home. Except the catcher stood right behind home plate, watching the sky as if awaiting a throw, and Finn did the only thing he could. He slid home, closing his eyes and praying he’d get there a millisecond before the ball.
He came to a stop as the mitt connected with his foot.
“Safe!” the umpire yelled.
Finn didn’t even have time to enjoy the call before Dick was shuffling into the infield, his voice loud enough to be heard over the crowd.
“That’s a bullshit call, Vern, and you know it!” he shouted, his hands gesturing wildly toward where Finn stood, wiping sand from his pants.
“The only call I could make, Mayor. He was safe.”
“Bunch of horseshit. I saw it with my own eyes, and he was clearly out!”
“Saw it all the way back in left field, did ya?” Finn asked.
As if Finn hadn’t even spoken, Dick continued, “I thought you were on our side.”
“Can’t be on anyone’s side, I’m afraid. That’d be a conflict of interest as an ump.”
Dick’s belly-aching had drawn a crowd, many of the onlookers shifting closer to be able to hear exactly what was going on. The rest of Dick’s team looked embarrassed, especially Willow. She’d taken a couple steps closer, but she still stood near first base, biting on one of her nails as she looked on.
“Conflict of interest?” Dick shouted. “I’ll tell you what a conflict of interest is. It’shim”—he shoved a meaty finger in Finn’s direction—“playin’ this game like he’s part of Havenbrook. He’s not even a real member of this community. What’s he done anyway? You forget about the half-dozen times he egged your place, Vern? Or when he took out all those mailboxes on Main Street? Or when he got hauled in for spray-paintin’ the road signs?”
The ump shrugged. “Don’t really see how that’s got anything to do with baseball. Besides, he was just a kid then. You need to let the past lie. Lighten up, Richard.”
