53. Chapter 53
Chapter 53
Tyler
I stay after baseball practice to get some time in the batting cage and to work off some stress. Coach can tell I'm off my game and I don't dare tell him it's girl trouble. Sara and I have been bickering and I don't think either of us is looking forward to prom anymore. Why did I think it was a good idea to stick this out when it's clear our relationship has run its course? I should have let Sara go after Spring Break and let her find a prom date she would be happy with, but I didn't think things would get this bad. I whiff at the third ball in a row and set the end of my bat down, the handle resting against my legs. I readjust my batting gloves and inhale deeply, trying to let all my stress leave with my exhale.
Coach K walks up to me and crosses his arms over his chest. "Somethin' bothering you, son?"
"I'm just in my own head, I guess," I lie. I mean, I am in my own head, but I don't elaborate.
"Try to clear your mind and just be in this moment. See the ball. And, relax, you look wound-up." Coach walks back behind the screen and gets ready to pitch some more.
"If only it were that easy," I think to myself. I grab my bat, get in my batting stance, and try to clear my head, but I don't think it's working.
To top it all off, Sloane told Billy and me about Ky backing out on prom and it felt like my blood was going to boil over. Swing and a miss. I haven't ever seen Sloane so sad and despondent, and I have to say, it made me want to find the guy and punch him in the face. She was so excited to go to her first school dance and this tool totally ruined it for her. I make contact, but it's a bad hit. Maybe if I pretend like the ball is Ky? I've never seen him before, but I don't need to. I can let my aggression out on the ball.
"Just focus" Coach says. "And relax your shoulders, they're up to your ears!"
I breathe in and out again and feel my shoulders relax. I visualize hitting the crap out of Ky, I mean the ball, and I do. A ding sounds off my aluminum bat and Coach reflexively ducks.
"That's more like it!" Coach is grinning from ear to ear. "Whatever you did, keep doing it."
I feel more settled, and he throws another one. Ding! The force of the hit reverberates through my hands, up my wrists and forearms. This feels better.
"There you go!" Coach hollers with encouragement. He throws some more and I'm consistently making contact. I'm in the zone. After ten solid hits in a row, Coach comes toward me again. "Stay out of your head," he says as he looks at me earnestly. "Whatever's going on up there," he taps my forehead, "leave it off the field, okay?"
"Yes, sir." I nod. "Thank you."
"You got it, Finlay." He smacks my hip with his glove. "Come on, let's end on a positive." He starts picking up balls and I help him, then grab my duffle bag, take off my gloves, and pack everything up.
As we walk to the storage shed, I say, "Thanks for taking the time with me, Coach, I appreciate it." I hand him the bucket of balls I'm carrying and he stows it inside, then locks up and we walk up the hill toward the parking lot.
"Of course," he says. "Anything you want to talk about?"
"Nah."
"Everything okay at home?" Concern washes over his eyes.
"Oh, yeah. Everything's great at home. Promise." I smile at him genuinely.
"Grades are okay?"
"Yes, sir," I nod. I guess this is what he's supposed to do to make sure I'm okay and am on track to graduate.
"Girl trouble?"
Dang, how the heck does he know? I look at the ground and my cleats make a shuffling sound on the asphalt. I look up and feel my mouth twist to the side.
Coach puts a hand on my shoulder. "Look, you are young and high school relationships usually don't pan out. You've got a bright future ahead of you and if you want to go pro, I believe you can, but you'll have to limit the distractions."
I nod. "Yes, sir."
"You didn't get anyone pregnant, did you?"
Oh my gosh, I can't believe he just asked me this. I feel my cheeks burn as I let out a nervous laugh. "No sir, definitely not."
"Good. Keep it that way," he says as he pats my shoulder. "Whatever's troubling you will pass. Just be a good guy, okay?"
"Always," I say with a smile and feel relief wash over me. "Thanks, Coach." He salutes me as he starts walking to his car and I head to mine.
As I throw my stuff into the passenger seat of my truck, I realize why I feel so relieved after talking to Coach. I need to focus on baseball and graduating. I'll talk to Sara after prom and I think she'll be relieved, too. As for Sloane, I just hope she's okay. I would jump at the chance to ask her, but I'm committed to Sara until we go our separate ways. And, there's no way I would do to her what Ky did to Sloane. Maybe someone will take Sloane to her prom, she deserves so much better.