Page 16 of Curveball

Cohen simply nodded. "Thanks, man."

"These road games could not have come at a better time. I can get away from Texas and my suffocating family. I need the distraction."

One of the bar owners, Barry, stopped by and placed a basket of fried pickles on our table. He always brought us food without us asking—we tipped him generously. I grabbed a fried pickle from the basket and popped it into my mouth.

"Have you hooked up with anyone since Farrah? Maybe that’s what you need now. Get her out of your system. Baseball can distract your mind, but you probably could use a good lay." Cohen chuckled.

I shook my head, "Actually, no. I haven't even attempted, honestly. Not that I haven't had offers, just been focused on baseball."

A mischievous smile crossed Cohen's face. "We can change that."

I shook my head again. "Nah, man. Not really interested. I just want to focus on my pitching. It's only my second year. I need to buckle down and focus. If I want to make a name for myself, I've got to put in the work now."

And that’s exactly what I did. I threw myself into baseball, using it to push all thoughts of Farrah out of my head. My sole focus was baseball.

I trained hard, practiced hard, played harder.

It paid off—I became a beast on the mound.

After my second year, I won the Cy Young Award in the American League, an extremely difficult achievement for someone who had only been in the league for two years.

Was losing Farrah worth it?

I still couldn't answer that.

Chapter 8

Walker

Present Day

Ranger and I made our way over the hill and onto a clearing that offered the best view of my property. All rolling hills, blue skies, and wildflowers. It was the spot I always came to when I needed to clear my head, or just needed a break from the world. Everything was quiet and peaceful. I rested my arms on my saddle horn and took a large, steadying inhale, watching the wildflowers sway in the wind.

Wildflower, I thought to myself.

It was what I used to call Farrah. Her birthday fell in early April, right in the middle of wildflower season in the Texas Hill Country. They reminded me of her, so vibrant and colorful. It wasn't lost on me that she’d named her business after the nickname I’d given her all those years ago.

I just didn't know what to do with that.

The first time I saw her sign outside of her building, it felt like the air left my lungs; it caught me completely off guard.

Maybe she was holding onto the last piece of us, the way I was. The same reason I’d kept the number forty-four when I went pro. I’d chosen it in high school because it was her birthday—because she’d been the person who believed in me most.

It felt a little fucked up now that I’d kept it long after she’d stopped believing in the life I worked so hard for. The life she was supposed to be a part of.

Nearly a decade later, and still nothing between us was simple.

I knew I needed to talk to her. Rip the band-aid off. She’d been the one person I’d let all the way in, and now she was a stranger wearing a familiar face. It was a bit of a mind fuck.

Frustrated that my special spot was not doing the trick, I gave up and rode Ranger back to the barn. Once I dismounted, a very pissed-off Theo stormed towards me.

"What the fuck are you doing, Walker?" Theo shouted at me. It caught me completely off guard, because Theo was the least confrontational man I’d ever met. He was usually very laid-back and soft-spoken. I pulled the reins over Ranger's head and patted his neck.

"Uh, just got back from taking Ranger on a trail ride?" I replied in a questioning tone, confused as to where all his hostility was coming from.

"Walker, you need to be smarter than this, man. You’re still injured; your elbow is not fully healed. Do you really want to re-injure your elbow and fuck up your chances to get back in the game?" Theo crossed his arms against his broad chest.

I appreciated his concern, but I was a left-handed pitcher and could easily ride with my right hand. "It's fine, I just took him out to my spot. I didn't gallop or do anything crazy; we just walked. My right hand works just fine." Theo followed me as I led Ranger back into my barn.