Chapter 7 -Torrin
“I don’t know why you think this will work, man. I can’t seem to get out of my head and just hit the damn ball.” I grumble at Atlas as we walk across the parking lot to the ball diamond.
I shove a hand through my hair in frustration.
Scouts are coming to the game this weekend.
This could be my shot at getting picked up for a pro team.
Playing ball in the majors is all I’ve ever wanted to do but it’s all in jeopardy if I can’t get out of my head and get my swing back.
Atlas's big hand clamps down on my shoulder.
“You just have to trust the process, Tor. We’ll keep at it every night this week until it’s too dark to see the ball. We’ve got your back.”
The other guys are already on the field when we step through the gate and I’m surprised to see Luna there too, tossing a ball back and forth with Gage. I’m a little surprised at the strength and accuracy of her throws.
“Your sister plays baseball?”
“Yeah, she’s been a pitcher since she was ten. This is the first year she didn’t play. She wanted to come see if she could help. You don’t mind her being here, do you?” He asks.
“No, I’m already embarrassed as it is. What’s one more witness?”
He scoffs and gives me a shove before jogging out.
“Yo, Moon! Send it!”
Luna catches the ball Gage sends her way and then pivots and fires it at Atlas who snags it easily in his glove.
Luna looks my way and frowns and then jogs toward me.
She looks really cute in her white spandex shorts and a long, loose baseball jersey.
Her hair is pulled up in a high ponytail that bounces until she comes to a stop in front of me.
“Hey, Ballboy. Atlas said you’re struggling with your swing?”
I give her a one-shoulder shrug, not really wanting to talk about it. She squints her green eyes at me and shakes her head.
“It’s a lot of pressure, isn’t it? What used to be fun now has a load of weight on your shoulders with the scouts coming and all. That would mess with anyone’s head. Stop being so hard on yourself.”
I blow out a breath. “It’s not that simple. I don’t have a backup plan if this doesn’t work out. All I’ve ever wanted was to play in the Majors.”
She turns to stand beside me so we’re both looking out at the others and gives me a light shoulder check.
“I get that. But… you aren’t playing in the Majors today and there’s no scouts watching, so why don’t you set all that aside and just have some fun with us?
Sometimes you have to clear your head and hit the reset button for things to start making sense again. ”
She jogs away from me and waves the guys all in to huddle up. I turn my back on them and get my glove and bats out of my bag. Fun… sure.
Twenty minutes later, music is blaring from one of the dugouts and I’m howling with laughter as Atlas does some weird ninja move to get around Reid, who’s trying to tap him out between first and second base.
Atlas goes low, flips Reid over his shoulder, causing him to drop the ball, and then carries him to second base where Luna throws her arms out and yells, “Safe!”
I’ve almost forgotten about the scouts when she yells at me that I’m up next to bat.
All the enjoyment drains out of me as I walk to grab a bat.
Mars runs past me and drops into the dugout as I head to home plate.
I square up and get into position but there’s no one on the pitcher mound to throw me a pitch.
Before I can ask, Mars runs over and drops something in front of me.
It takes me a few seconds to process what it is.
“What the fuck is this?”
Luna’s the one who answers as Mars runs back to third base.
“It’s a T-ball stand! Don’t you remember how much fun it was back when you played T-ball?”
I kick the damn thing out of the way. “I’m not using that thing!”
Luna stomps forward from her short stop spot with a huge eye roll.
“F-ine! Oh my God, don’t be so dramatic.” She climbs the mound and holds up the ball. “No bitching about my pitching, then.”
I shake my head but square back up and wait for the pitch but instead of overhand, she tosses me a soft underhand lob that anyone could hit.
“Seriously? Come on, Luna.”
She cocks a hip after catching the ball that Gage throws back to her.
“Seriously? Come on, Torrin.” She mimics me in a baby tone and sends another underhand toss my way that I let go by.
“Strike two!” Gage yells from behind me with a laugh.
I drop my bat as a grin starts to pull at my lips at how stupid this is. It overtakes my face as all the guys start yelling trash talk at me. I can’t help laughing when I square up again and look at Luna.
She sends me a wink before her face goes deadly serious and she yells, “Torrin! Hit the fucking ball!”
And then she snaps a perfect fastball straight down the middle at me.
I don’t even have to think about the swing; my bat comes around and connects and I feel how perfect the hit is through my hands.
In that split second when it connects, I remember why I love this game so much.
My grin starts to widen but then falls away as I track that hardline hit straight to Luna’s chest. It blows her back off the mound and out of sight.
“Fuck! Fuck, Moon!” Atlas yells, and then we’re all running to the center to get to her.
She’s lying flat on her back with her glove clutched against her chest and her eyes closed. Atlas and Gage both drop to their knees on either side of her.
“Fuck, Luna, open your eyes. Open your eyes, Moon!”
We all hold our breath, waiting. I want to tell her how sorry I am but the air is trapped inside my chest. Atlas brushes her hair back from her face and she scrunches up her nose with a groan.
“Ouch.”
When her eyes flutter open and land on me, that trapped air whooshes out. Atlas and Gage help her sit up, still holding her glove against her chest.
“Ummm, Tor? I think you got your swing back.” She tells me with a wince and then cocks her head and grins.
“But you’re still out.” She opens her glove and lets the ball she caught roll out of it.
“Ok, now go do that like ten more times with someone else pitching because I’m going to need an ice pack for my hand. ”
Atlas belts out a laugh as he hauls her to her feet.
Gage pulls her glove carefully off her hand and winces at how red her fingers are but Luna’s still grinning at me.
I stare into those gorgeous green eyes of hers and feel something I’ve never felt before flutter in my chest. I can't stop looking at her back as Atlas drags her away to get an ice pack.
Gage steps between us, blocking my view with a frown, and gives me a light shove back toward home base.
“No, don’t even think about it.”
I start walking backwards, a smirk on my lips at the flash of jealousy I see in his eyes. Looks like I’m not the only one who can’t stop looking at our best friend’s little sister.