Pitch For You (Texas Heat)

Chapter 4

4

Brett

I shifted my weight from foot to foot, looking both eager and unsure. I wasn’t sure what else to say to her, but just walking away would be rude. Thoughts ran back to when we were both teenagers and I used to come over here and help her with my chores. The nights we would lay a blanket out on the grass and just look up at the stars and wonder what our future held. A time I truly missed. Back then, we weren’t adults, and we were both naive.

“Um, so,” she began, voice wavering slightly as she tried to find the right words. “Lots changed since we last saw each other?”

I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck. “Yeah, it really has. It’s been what…”

“It's been twelve years,” she admitted, a flush creep up her cheeks.

“Wow, you've been keeping track?”

“More like, I just have a good memory,” she replied, attempting a casual shrug that only served to betray my underlying unease. “Have you met Max yet? He's eight now, and he loves horses as much as I do.”

“I saw him at the house earlier,” I said. “I always knew you'd make a great mom. And hey, maybe he'll follow in your footsteps and help run the ranch someday.”

“Maybe,” she agreed, a small, proud smile forming on my lips as I thought of Max. “And what about you? What have you been up to since... well, since everything?”

“Ah, well,” I hesitated for a moment before launching into my story, recounting the journey from the last days of my baseball career to my eventual return to the small town where we'd grown up.

As we delved further into the past, laughter bubbled up between us more readily, fueled by shared memories and inside jokes. We spoke about our high school days, reminiscing about the time we'd accidentally set off the sprinklers during prom, leaving everyone soaked and shivering in our formal attire.

“Remember Mr. Thompson's face when we walked into the gym?” I laughed, mimicking the old principal's shocked expression.

She joined in, giggling at the memory. “I thought he was going to have a heart attack right then and there!”

Momentarily, the weight of the years between us seemed to vanish, leaving only the echoes of happier times. But as the warm air wrapped around us like a shroud, reality seeped back in, reminding us that things could never truly be the same.

“Those were good times,” she murmured, the smile fading from my face as she stared off into the distance.

“Yeah,” I agreed, my gaze locked onto her profile. “They really were.”

The wind picked up, rustling the leaves of the nearby oak tree as Sofia and I continued to talk. The choices made, the roads taken – and all that lay in between.

“Look, Sofia, I know it's been a long time,” I began, rubbing the back of my neck nervously. “But I never stopped thinking about you.”

My cheeks heating up as I stared at the ground, unable to meet her gaze. I remembered the pain of the breakup, how lost I'd felt when I’d left town to chase my baseball dreams. And now, here she was again, stirring up feelings I'd buried deep inside for years.

“Those days are long gone,” she said. “We've both changed so much since then.”

“Maybe,” I conceded, eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made my breath catch. “But I can't deny that there's still something here between us. Can you?”

She hesitated, swallowing hard. “I…I can't go through that again, Brett. I just can’t.”

I took a step closer, my hand reaching out to gently cup her face. My thumb traced the curve of her cheek, and she leaned into my touch, eyes fluttering shut. It was as if no time had passed at all – the same electric connection, the same magnetic pull towards each other.

“Please, Sofia,” I murmured. “Just give us a chance. Doesn’t have to be right now, but at some point.”

Yes, we had both changed, but the love that once bound us together still simmered beneath the surface, waiting to be rekindled.

We were both standing at the edge of a precipice – one that could lead to unimaginable happiness or unbearable heartache.

Her eyes, wide and vulnerable, locked onto mine, searching for answers. The corners of my mouth quivered ever so slightly, betraying my attempt to keep a neutral expression. My jaw clenched.

“Maybe we should take a step back,” she suggested. “Right now, I have things I need to focus on.”

“Right,” I agreed, his voice husky.

We simultaneously averted our gazes, desperate to find an escape from the emotional whirlwind threatening to consume us both. I focused on the nearby fence, tracing the wooden planks with my eyes as though it were the most fascinating thing in the world. I fiddled with the cuff of my shirt, fingers twisting the fabric nervously before shoving my hands in my pockets.

“Look, I know this is difficult for both of us, but I can't pretend these feelings don't exist. And I don't think you can either.”

She bit her lip. “Can we just... take it slow? Get to know the new versions of ourselves. I can't promise anything, but maybe we can try to rebuild our friendship first, one step at a time.”

A small, hesitant smile tugged at the corners of my lips. “I think I can live with that.”

As we stood there, facing each other amid the sprawling ranch that served as the backdrop for so many shared memories, I was taking a risk. But perhaps, with time and patience, we could overcome the ghosts of the past and find solace in the love that still burned brightly within.

“I need to get back to repairing the broken fence post near the edge of the property.”

“Need a hand?”

“Sure, I could use some help.”

They had been working on repairing the posts around the property for a couple days and honestly the faster it was done, the less chance of losing any of the livestock.

“Looks like this old post just couldn't take it anymore,” I said, tapping the damaged wood gently. “But don't worry, we'll have it good as new in no time.”

Together, we worked, bodies close but not quite touching. As she held the new post steady, I swung the hammer with precision, driving it into the ground with each powerful strike.

“Remember when we used to fix fences together back in high school?” I asked, pausing for a moment and wiping the sweat from my brow. “Feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?”

She laughed. “It does. But it also feels like nothing's changed.”

“Except now we have a few more wrinkles and responsibilities, huh?” I teased.

“Speak for yourself. I'm still waiting for my first gray hair.”

As we continued to work together, our movements fluid and in sync, it was difficult to deny the connection that still lingered. The way our eyes met and held, the subtle smiles playing across our lips, and the ease of the conversation all pointed to something deeper than mere friendship.

“Almost done here,” I said, driving the final nail into place. “There, good as new.”

“Thanks, Brett. This would have taken me much longer to do by myself.”

“Anytime. You literally pay me so, just let me know if you need anything specific outside of my normal tasks.”

As we stood there, sharing a moment of understanding and appreciation, it was clear that working together on this ranch had rekindled a flame that had never quite been extinguished. And though the future was uncertain, one thing was undeniable – the chemistry between us was stronger than ever.