“I don’t know why you think this will work, man. I can’t seem to get out of my head and just hit the damn ball.” I grumble at Atlas as we walk across the parking lot to the ball diamond.
I shove a hand through my hair in frustration. Scouts are coming to the game this weekend. This could be my shot at getting picked up for a pro team. Playing ball in the majors is all I’ve ever wanted to do but it’s all in jeopardy if I can’t get out of my head and get my swing back. Atlas's big hand clamps down on my shoulder.
“You just have to trust the process, Tor. We’ll keep at it every night this week until it’s too dark to see the ball. We’ve got your back.”
The other guys are already on the field when we step through the gate and I’m surprised to see Luna there too, tossing a ball back and forth with Gage. I’m a little surprised at the strength and accuracy of her throws.
“Your sister plays baseball?”
“Yeah, she’s been a pitcher since she was ten. This is the first year she didn’t play. She wanted to come see if she could help. You don’t mind her being here, do you?” He asks.
“No, I’m already embarrassed as it is. What’s one more witness?”
He scoffs and gives me a shove before jogging out.
“Yo, Moon! Send it!”
Luna catches the ball Gage sends her way and then pivots and fires it at Atlas who snags it easily in his glove. Luna looks my way and frowns and then jogs toward me. She looks really cute in her white spandex shorts and a long, loose baseball jersey. Her hair is pulled up in a high ponytail that bounces until she comes to a stop in front of me.
“Hey, Ballboy. Atlas said you’re struggling with your swing?”
I give her a one-shoulder shrug, not really wanting to talk about it. She squints her green eyes at me and shakes her head.
“It’s a lot of pressure, isn’t it? What used to be fun now has a load of weight on your shoulders with the scouts coming and all. That would mess with anyone’s head. Stop being so hard on yourself.”
I blow out a breath. “It’s not that simple. I don’t have a backup plan if this doesn’t work out. All I’ve ever wanted was to play in the Majors.”
She turns to stand beside me so we’re both looking out at the others and gives me a light shoulder check. “I get that. But… you aren’t playing in the Majors today and there’s no scouts watching, so why don’t you set all that aside and just have some fun with us? Sometimes you have to clear your head and hit the reset button for things to start making sense again.”
She jogs away from me and waves the guys all in to huddle up. I turn my back on them and get my glove and bats out of my bag. Fun… sure.
Twenty minutes later, music is blaring from one of the dugouts and I’m howling with laughter as Atlas does some weird ninja move to get around Reid, who’s trying to tap him out between first and second base. Atlas goes low, flips Reid over his shoulder, causing him to drop the ball, and then carries him to second base where Luna throws her arms out and yells, “Safe!”
I’ve almost forgotten about the scouts when she yells at me that I’m up next to bat. All the enjoyment drains out of me as I walk to grab a bat. Mars runs past me and drops into the dugout as I head to home plate. I square up and get into position but there’s no one on the pitcher mound to throw me a pitch. Before I can ask, Mars runs over and drops something in front of me. It takes me a few seconds to process what it is.
“What the fuck is this?”
Luna’s the one who answers as Mars runs back to third base.
“It’s a T-ball stand! Don’t you remember how much fun it was back when you played T-ball?”
I kick the damn thing out of the way. “I’m not using that thing!”
Luna stomps forward from her short stop spot with a huge eye roll.
“F-ine! Oh my God, don’t be so dramatic.” She climbs the mound and holds up the ball. “No bitching about my pitching, then.”
I shake my head but square back up and wait for the pitch but instead of overhand, she tosses me a soft underhand lob that anyone could hit.
“Seriously? Come on, Luna.”
She cocks a hip after catching the ball that Gage throws back to her.
“Seriously? Come on, Torrin.” She mimics me in a baby tone and sends another underhand toss my way that I let go by.
“Strike two!” Gage yells from behind me with a laugh.
I drop my bat as a grin starts to pull at my lips at how stupid this is. It overtakes my face as all the guys start yelling trash talk at me. I can’t help laughing when I square up again and look at Luna.
