“You’re embarrassing yourself.”He jogs out to behind the plate.
I run out to shortstop, my lips still tingling, my cheeks still warm.I could get used to kissing Hadley all the time.
It’s a quick three up, three down, and I’m in the dugout before I’ve fully come down from my high.
I get my helmet and bat, ready to head up to the on-deck circle, glancing into the stands again.
Is Hayes right?Was it embarrassing?
Nah, I don’t really care what Hayes says.I’m not against PDA, as long as Hadley is okay with it.I’m not gonna strip her down, but a little tongue action isn’t too much.
Camden gets walked.
“All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled plays as I step into the batter’s box.
I crack my neck.I circle my bat.I twist my torso.I have my rituals that I always do before I step into the box.
I twist my waist one more time and see Hadley pointing at me, saying something to Tanner.I push the pressure to perform for them out of my head.
This is just another at bat.That’s all.
I get in my stance and wait for the pitch to come in.
Someone is looking out for me because the first pitch floats over home plate a little on the outside.It’s my kinda pitch, and I swing, the ball hitting off my bat.The crowd goes crazy, and I run, rounding first to second with Camden right in front of me.
A wall-banger against the right field wall, giving me a double and getting Camden to third.
I take another glance at the stands and find Hadley clapping.Hayes’s mom has Tanner in her arms.I forgot what it was like to have a cheering section.
Sure, my parents try to come to as many games as they can, but while the other guys have their wives and fiancées and kids at every home game, I don’t have anyone.
It feels really nice to be able to look up there and see someone here just for me.
Torres is next up, and I take my lead off second base.
It’s a little distracting knowing they’re there, so I try to push it out of my head and do my job.
My willpower wanes in the second.
Again in the fourth.
Then in the sixth.
In the seventh, I peek three times, seeing Tanner asleep in the baby carrier strapped to Hadley’s chest.
At the end of the ninth, I’m grateful to win, but also because it feels like being put out of my misery.
I can’t figure out if it’s Tanner or Hadley or both of them that has me excited for the game to be over and hoping I don’t get called into the media room.
It’s Tanner.It has to be.Yeah, for sure.It’s Tanner, not Hadley.
That’s what I’m going with at least.
ChapterTwenty
Hadley
The other women show me to the family area after the game.
