Page 99 of Praising the Pitcher

“You’re right.” He kisses my forehead. “Let’s go.”

I know it takes every ounce of self-control he has to get in the driver’s seat and not rush over and knock my father out, but he does it. And as he’s climbing in and closes his door, Anna squeezes my shoulder and tells me it’ll all be okay. And for the first time, I believe her.

He really can’t hurt me anymore. I won’t let him.

THIRTY-SIX

NOAH

TWO YEARS LATER

I stand in front of my seat, thankful we’re in a box that just our family and friends will be in because right now, I can’t sit, and I’d feel like an ass if I was blocking someone’s view of the field.

“This is nuts,” I say to Cane.

“Sure is.” He nods, popping some Skittles in his mouth.

Standing beside me, he looks down onto the field where his girl, Harley, is warming up with Gigi. This is Harley’s second year playing for the pros, so for Cane, it’s not new. For Gigi and me … this is fucking insane.

After Harley had caught for Gigi for three years at NEU before she graduated last year, it was both of their dreams that one day, they’d get to play together again. They truly were a dynamic duo, but the chances of them being drafted to the same team were rare. Gigi never wanted to get her hopes up, but I know she was hoping like hell that maybe with a miracle, she’d get picked up from Harley’s team, the Northern Nor’easters.

I was hoping so, too, because I still have one more year at NEU, and it’s only an hour away from campus to come to her home games.

“Even after a year of Harland playing in the AUSL, I’m still just as excited for her right now as I was last year,” he says sincerely, nothing but pride swelling in his voice. “Those two have worked so fucking hard to get here.” His words stop when he watches my sister running out onto the field, only in different colors than our girlfriends are wearing. “Those three have worked so hard,” he corrects himself.

“They have,” I agree. Gigi has been training her whole life for this, and my sister? This is her second year playing for the pros, and she’s working as hard as ever to stay in the best shape of her life. “Also, how insane is it that the first game of Gigi’s professional career is against my sister’s team?” Even when I say the words, I can’t believe it.

Haven plays for the Carolina Thunder. Even though I’m sure she would love to be playing with Gigi and Harley instead of against them, she loves being in South Carolina while Dallas is playing for the Carolina Cyclones, so it’s better she’s not. Still, never would I have imagined my whole family could be watching Gigi’s first game while also watching my sister play the first game of her second season.

“Damn, that line was long,” my dad grumbles, coming back into our box. Dallas trails behind him, and the look on his face says everything I already know.

He’s overwhelmed with the crowd and the fans, even though he’d never let them know that.

I don’t bother telling my old man he could have ordered shit to be brought to the box so he wouldn’t have had to stand in the line. He knows it already and simply likes to do things like he normally would.

Even if he is a retired NFL player who gets stopped for a picture or autograph every five seconds.

Now that Dallas is playing professional football, going anywhere with them is nuts. Add in my girlfriend and sister who are also professional athletes? It’s hard to go anywhere.

My sister loves the attention, and surprisingly, Gigi does too. I think her favorite part is connecting with young girls who love the game like she always has. She’ll talk to them for as long as they want and never rushes them away.

She’s even doing a summer camp next month with Harley—one for pitchers and catchers. And the greatest part is that it’s free. That way, kids who wouldn’t normally get the privilege to do a camp like this one can. Thanks to my dad’s friend, Brody O’Brien, Harley and Gigi got this all set up.

As Gigi and Harley bump fists, and Gigi heads to the mound, my heart begins to pump a million miles an hour.

She’s about to throw her first pitch as a professional softball player.

And of course, my sister being the beast she is steps up to the plate first. Normally, I’d want Haven to crush the ball, but right now … I know getting this first strikeout for her AUSL debut is huge.

Sorry, Haven … I hope you strike out. Just this once.

I feel a hand on my back, and I know it’s my mom. She’s grown to love Gigi like another daughter, so I know this moment isn’t easy for her.

“Sis won’t make it easy for her, that’s for sure,” she utters, trying to keep her tone light.

“Nope.” I swallow back my nerves, knowing she’s right. My sister has one of the best on-base percentages in the league. She’s a beast at the plate, and Gigi knows that too.

The first pitch is called a strike, and my sister watches it go by just like she always does for every first pitch thrown her way. It’s all part of her strategy, she says.