Chapter Seventeen
Razor’s focus waned as Courtney replayed the footage for the fifth time. Summer, slumped over in her chair, telegraphed she was experiencing the same problem. Razor stretched and did her best to stifle a yawn, but it sneaked out and drew the attention of Courtney and Ashton in the front row.
“Bored yet?” Courtney teased.
Razor groaned. “Absolutely.”
“Not at all.” Summer’s response came over hers, which garnered a couple of laughs.
“It’s understandable,” Nancy chimed in from the back row. It was the most she’d said since they’d arrived. “At least you don’t get queasy from all the back and forth of the playback like some people do.”
Courtney shook her head but smiled. “You promised never to bring that up again.”
Razor turned and caught Nancy’s smirk. “I don’t know too many people who need to take Dramamine just to watch a simple video.”
“Luckily, we’re close to wrapping up, so no Dramamine required,” Courtney said.
“In fact, we’re coming up on the main reason I wanted Summer and Razor here.
” She punched the play button on the remote and the video resumed.
“This is the Comets’ most valuable player, Ashley Diaz.
She has a batting average of .350 and doesn’t let a pitch beat her twice. ”
“What does that mean?” Summer asked.
“She can adjust in the middle of an at-bat,” Ashton replied, pushing her hair behind her ear.
The simple movement caught Razor’s attention, and she was mesmerized by how the strands flowed and how Ashton’s lips pinched around her pen in concentration.
Razor forgot about the film, forgot about the Comets, as images of a different sort played in her mind.
Images of her running her fingers through those same soft strands as she leaned in and captured those same lips with hers.
A sharp slap on her arm jerked her back to the present, and she turned to see Summer sporting a sly grin.
“We’ve picked up on a slight hitch in her swing,” Courtney continued, “which means…What?”
“The changeup won’t be effective,” Razor replied.
“Yes!” Summer cheered. Razor slapped her arm in retaliation. “Ow! What was that for?”
Razor nodded toward Nancy in the back row. Summer turned three shades of red, then whispered, “Sorry.”
Razor expected Nancy to blow up or at least make a sarcastic comment. Instead, she calmly said, “It’s okay. In this case, Razor is correct. The hitch allows her to adjust midway through her swing. That’s probably why she’s so efficient.”
“Exactly,” Courtney confirmed. “That’s why we need a plan of attack specifically for her.”
“I don’t want to walk her,” Summer said.
“I agree,” Razor replied. “What is her batting average, broken down by pitch?”
Ashton flipped to the stats page. “Her lowest average is .199, and it’s on the curveball.”
Razor winked at Ashton. “That’s your specialty. Care to jump in and help us this week?”
“I’d be happy to.”
There was an exchange of smiles, and a heat began to build in Razor’s core. Courtney slammed her pen on the desk, effectively cooling everything off.
“Then this is what we’ll do this week. Ashton will work primarily with Summer to get her curveball up to snuff.
Nancy, while I know you’ve been working with Summer and Razor almost exclusively, I’d like you to work with the rest of the pitching core.
Hone their strengths and build up the pitches that have been lacking recently. ”
Nancy nodded. “Whatever you say, boss.”
Courtney resumed the video, going through the entire Comets roster and highlighting each player’s strengths and weaknesses. They were near the end of the starting lineup when a small vibration rumbled through the seats. Everyone looked around confused until Ashton reached for her phone.
“Everything okay?” Razor asked.
She stood and exited the room without a backward glance.
“Actually, let’s wrap it up. I think we have a good foundation in place,” Courtney announced.
They packed up their things, and Courtney shut down the projector.
Nancy was the first to rush out. Summer left soon after, and with Ashton still missing, Razor decided to grab her stuff along with her own.
With a quick good-bye to Courtney, she walked out to the hallway.
When she didn’t see Ashton right away, she pulled out her phone and texted Jimmy.
She hadn’t spent a lot of time with him recently outside of Slugfest business, and with Riley scheduled to close today, having a beer with Jimmy sounded like the best way to catch up.
She was texting a reply to meet at her place with a six-pack when a commotion from the lounge grabbed her attention.
Curious, she rounded the corner and saw Ashton pacing back and forth, talking animatedly on her phone, looking excited.
“Thank you so much for calling me, ma’am. You have no idea how relieved this makes me.” She paused when she saw Razor and waved at her excitedly. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll get right on that. Thank you again.”
She disconnected the call and squealed.
Razor laughed as she walked farther into the room. “I’m guessing you got some good news.”
“The best news. Remember I told you about my proposal that I submitted to the IRB?”
“Yeah.”
“That was my chair—the board approved all my materials, so I’m allowed to move full steam ahead with my study.”
She jumped up and down and practically leapt into Razor’s arms. It caught Razor off guard, and she reacted reflexively and wrapped her arms around Ashton’s waist. Ashton laughed in her ear and pulled Razor closer.
She smiled, a wave of happiness washing over her, and squeezed Ashton tighter.
She smiled wider when the hug was reciprocated.
When they finally pulled apart, she expected Ashton to look embarrassed by her spontaneous gesture. But she didn’t. She backed away slowly, like giving Razor a hug was an everyday occurrence. Then she started pacing and verbalizing her to-do list.
“I have so much to do now. I need to post flyers in the psychology building, print off the contracts for the participants. Find a space to use to conduct the study. I can probably find a room to rent on campus. But where?”
The joy turned frantic in a second, and Razor knew this was her time to step in. She positioned herself in Ashton’s path and gently grabbed her arms.
“Ashton, relax. You have time to figure all this out.”
Ashton focused and smiled through a deep breath. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just so excited to get started, and—”
“I get that,” Razor said, “but the first thing you need to do is celebrate.”
Ashton hesitated. “I don’t know.”
Razor stepped even closer, clasped Ashton’s hands loosely, and looked her straight in the eye. “Ashton Sharpe, you have worked your butt off to get this approval. All while coaching, studying, teaching—not to mention, helping me with my stuff. You’ve earned the right to take a moment for yourself.”
“You know what? You’re right,” Ashton said, finally agreeing. “I worked my ass off to get this. I should celebrate.”
Razor held up her hand, and Ashton eagerly slapped it.
“And since you’ve done all the work up to this point, let me carry the load and choose a celebratory activity.”
Ashton shrugged. “I’m good with that. Did you have something specific in mind?”
Razor grinned. “Do you still want to learn how to hit?”