“Tell Sean it wasn’t his fault,” I pleaded, my voice sounding like a strained whisper. Blood coated the inside of my mouth as I ran my tongue across jagged areas where there used to be smooth teeth.
The thought crossed my mind that my dad was going to be pissed after spending so much money at the orthodontist when I was younger. It was nonsensical, but I figured I was lucky to be thinking at all at that point.
“He knows, but I’ll make sure they get the message to him,” Ike assured me. He continued talking to the paramedic, who then relayed information about my condition and the impact to the ER staff. The last thought I had before succumbing to the pain was that Sean’s pitch felt a hell of a lot faster than eighty-three miles per hour as it connected with my cheekbone.
* * *
Sean
I watched helplesslyas the trainers tended to Mason at home plate. I replayed the pitch in my head, trying to figure out where I screwed up. It wasn’t the first time I’d hit a batter, but this was really bad. I couldn’t be certain, but I swore I screamed at Mason to move as the ball rocketed toward him. I wanted to run to him, to collapse to the ground so I could see what I did to him. I shook so violently I’m certain the fans in the last row of the third concourse could see it.
Jason joined me on the mound, placing his hands on my shoulders to steady me. When I tried to jerk away, uninterested in his comfort, he squeezed tighter.
“Hey, it was an accident. They’re going to get him loaded up and checked out. It wasn’t your fault.” I knew he meant well, but I wanted to punch him.
Of course it was my fault. I’m the one who threw the ball and I didn’t think I’d be able to forget the sound of the ball meeting flesh or Mason screaming in agony any time soon. Of all the players in the league, it had to be him.
“Jason, don’t,” I warned him. I twisted out of his grip and crouched down, burying my head in my hands. “You can’t stand there and tell me it wasn’t my fault. I did that to him. I need to be with him, but I can’t. He’s lying there, bleeding, and I can’t do a fucking thing to help him.”
“Sean, you’ll probably punch me for saying this, but you need to relax. I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now, but do you really think Mason would want you falling apart out here?” I hated it when Jason made sense.
If Mason saw the tears welling in my eyes or knew I was about a second away from demanding to ride to the hospital with him, he’d be pissed. We’d promised each other that when we were on the field, all personal feelings would be shoved aside and I had to keep that promise, no matter how much it killed me.
It seemed to take forever for them to load Mason onto the stretcher. The crowd roared with applause and well wishes as the golf cart rolled along the third base line. Mason gave a weak thumbs-up and I was finally able to breathe, knowing that at the very least, he was conscious.
Jason slapped me on the shoulder, asking me if I was okay to continue. I wasn’t, but I couldn’t tell him. Jason might know the truth, but that didn’t change the fact that I had a job to do. The only place I wanted to be was in the back of that ambulance with Mason, which was impossible.
While we waited for the grounds crew to finish —I didn’t want to think about what mess they were trying to clean up— I looked into the stands and saw the last person I expected to see glaring down at me.
The Ice Queen.
Teresa had rarely attended Mason’s games when they were married, so it made no sense that she was here now. I shook my head as I scanned the stands for Bill and Virginia and saw them being ushered toward the exit. It eased my mind slightly, knowing that Mason wouldn’t be alone until I could get there.
The next batter stepped up to the plate, determination etched on his face. He was going to hit whatever I gave him for Mason’s sake. Jason called the pitch and shifted to the outside. I always threw inside against Hoyt, but Jason knew me well enough to know I’d fuck it up if I went high and tight; the image of Mason going down still vivid in my mind.
Hoyt’s bat cracked as he made contact. I’d struck him out every time he’d been at the plate, and now all it took was one pitch to send him running to first. I spun around in time to see Henderson save my ass.
Two out. All you have to do is hold it together through one more and the inning is done.
“Why don’t you get cleaned up and head to the clubhouse?” Stu suggested when I got to the dugout. “Let Mason’s family know we’re thinking about him.”
I swallowed hard, wondering if my secret wasn’t as well kept as I’d originally thought.
“Yeah…okay…I…” I stammered, barely able to keep from breaking down. Stu patted me on the back and sent me on my way.
Jason followed me into the tunnel, stopping me before I got too far.
“Sean, you have to hold it together,” he warned me. “Stu knows Mace is one of your best friends, but that’s it. I know it’s killing you to be here, but if you don’t calm down, you’re going to be the one to out the two of you to everyone. I know you’ve been thinking about doing it, but that’s something you want to do in your own time.”
“Thanks.” Jason patted me on the shoulder and said something about getting back to the dugout before he missed his spot in the lineup.
When I reached my locker, there was already a voicemail from Bill. “Sean, it’s Bill. I know you won’t listen to me, but it was an accident. Ginny and I are on our way to Froedert now. You do what you have to there and we’ll see you after a bit.”
Jason’s warning echoed in my mind as I headed to the showers. As much as I wanted to go, I wasn’t sure it was the best decision because I really didn’t give a damn if anyone saw me with Mason and realized what was going on.
He was right that I needed to be careful. But if I didn’t go, people would question that as well because it’s no secret that we’re friends. In the end, I decided that I couldn’t let fear keep me from being at Mason’s side.
“It’s tough,” I responded when one reporter asked me how I was holding up during the press conference after the game. Stu had told me I didn’t have to participate, but I knew everyone would want their soundbyte and I didn’t want to deal with anyone following me to the hospital. “In all my years on the mound, I’ve never had something this scary happen. Saying I’m sorry seems inadequate while we’re waiting to hear how badly Mason is injured, but I am. And the sooner I can get out of here, the sooner I can get up to sit with his family and find out what’s going on.”
