Brayden gave him room, waving off the catcher. This wasn’t a normal ball, and he didn’t want the guy to get hurt even though he wore all the gear. “Don’t throw it full force. All you’re doing is checking form, and it won’t take much.”
Gunner wound up and threw the balls. They wobbled like a kid with his training wheels just off. The catcher ran over and picked them up, tossing them underhand to Gunner.
Gunner worked his jaw for a minute as he adjusted his grip, making sure his finger was lined up correctly and that one ball was on top of the other. This time he took more effort with his movements, moving slower and with deliberate focus.
The balls’ path was cleaner. There was still some wobble, but the improvement was there. Brayden did a mental fist pump. “Nice,” he said to Gunner. “Now do it twenty times every bullpen.”
Gunner’s mitt dropped to his thigh. “What? I’m already throwing more than any guy here.”
Brayden clamped his teeth down. The first words that wanted out of his mouth weren’t constructive. “You can cut back on your fastballs and save your arm.”
“Cut back—? Are you insane? My fastball is what got me here.”
“Right. And your body could throw them in your sleep. Bullpens aren’t just for doing what you already know. You need new skills.”
“Like you?” snapped Gunner. He caught the double ball from the catcher. “And this thing? You’re going to go all super coach on me now?”
Brayden’s hackles rose. “What if I am? At least I’m trying something new.”
“Because you’re a nobody and you’re desperate. You’ve got nothing left in that body, so you’re praying there’s something in your head someone will use. Coach Wolfe sat me down and told me all about your accident and how they’re giving you a shot. I don’t need to be part of your comeback story. I got myself here, and I’ll keep my spot. Even if it means I throw a thousand fastballs a week.”
“There is so much wrong with what you just said that I don’t even know where to start.” But the one truth, the comment about being a charity project, stung.
“I thought you were a super coach.”
“I thought you were a baller.”
“Hey, Brayden,” called Sheila Weaver, the community outreach coordinator, from the net. “I need to borrow Gunner for a few minutes. Do you mind?”
“Nope. His arm could use the rest. I wouldn’t want him to wear it out too soon.” He remembered feeling invincible like Gunner, but he also remembered seeing pitcher after pitcher taken out because they wore out their arms. It was a shame, but bodies weren’t meant to last forever. No matter how godlike a player could be on the field, they all had physical limitations.
Gunner bumped past him, glaring. He dropped the double ball at Brayden’s feet.
Brayden felt the contact all the way to the rods in his neck. He hissed through his teeth. “Punk.”
Gunner didn’t look back.
Newton trotted over and picked up the double ball. A grin split his face. “I’ll bring it to practice next time. I might be able to get him to use it before you arrive. Give me an extra five minutes with him?”
Brayden patted Newton on the back. “You got it. And thanks.”
“I’m not doing it for you. The more curves he throws in my glove, the less balls I have to pick up after practice.” He offered up a fist bump and a grin.
Brayden complied and said goodbye. He was still reeling from the charity comment. Come to think of it, Blake and Dustin hadn’t called him once while they were on the road. Blake got a pass because Elise was also traveling with the team. When they traveled together, they spent free time gazing into one another’s eyes. He shoved the mental image away. Happy couples were a painful point for him right now.
Dustin should have called. He hadn’t seen them since they’d gotten back, either.
He rounded a corner and ran smack into Juan.
“Hey, bro.” Juan hugged him and pounded lightly on his back. “It’s so good to see you man. I mean, I know you’re in the building and everything, but they got you tucked way back in the back with Gunner.”
“Lucky me.”
“Oh, I know. Gunner’s a great guy, right?” Juan’s smile was genuine.
Brayden stared at him for a minute, trying to figure out if they were talking about the same person.
He was quiet long enough that Juan felt the need to jump back into the conversation. “I heard about Tilly. Man, that sucks that she broke your heart like that.”
