Chapter 10
Quentin
“Kelly is on fire tonight,” the athletic trainer to my left says, making me stifle an eye roll.
Sure, we are teammates, so I should be happy that he is pitching great in tonight’s game. But all it did was remind me that when my time is up, he’ll be taking over.
In baseball stats, he’s the right guy for it, as he’s a talented pitcher.
For instance, his stats are looking good tonight. He nearly had a no-hitter, meaning no one has gotten a single hit or been on base tonight from the opposite team. Until the fifth inning when the Cincinnati Badgers hitter finally got one past our second baseman, safely getting to first base.
“Yeah,” I mumble in agreement.
I’ve thrown three no-hitters and have won two World Series titles in my career, and yet this invisible game between us is the one I want to win the most. Baseball has been the only thing I’ve been really good at in life, and selfishly, having this asshole kid be my replacement doesn’t sit right with me.
He’s cocky and has never been much of a team player.
If I leave this team to someone, I want to be able to trust that the next player will carry the legacy I built here.
We’re up two to one right now, a close game as we come to the top of the ninth inning with two outs.
This might be a regular season game, not a playoff or World Series game where losing can mean the end of our season, but every game counts.
We’re nearly halfway done with our regular season before the playoffs start at the end of September.
If our overall stats are good, we’ll be able to qualify for the playoffs and hopefully take us to the World Series.
I’m hungry for another World Series win. I need one more to go out on a high note. I want to be at the top of my career, not the bottom.
The crack of the ball hitting a bat makes my heart tighten in my chest for a beat because if it’s a home run, then it becomes a tie game. Ryker saves the day, though, making a leaping dive to his left from third base as he catches the ball.
Game over.
The crowd erupts as they stand to cheer and clap, while the boys all run to Ryker to clap him on the back.
My sister emerges from the dugout, hands wrapped around her work camera as she catches the moment.
Even from here, I can see the wide smile on her face, and it makes me immensely proud that she’s doing what she loves.
She’s the head of social media for our team, capturing moments and having the team do viral trends for our accounts online.
Camille started out by doing this for the men’s baseball team at RLU, where she met Ryker.
She sky-rocketed their socials and eventually got a position with the Detroit Panthers.
“All right, time to go.” Coach Tran signals as he taps the wall. “Let’s go debrief.”
We all head to the locker room after shaking hands with the other team. Coach keeps it short and sweet, like he always does before letting us decompress in our own ways from the game we just had.
Coach Tran has been my coach since I joined the Detroit Panthers, and he’s the best I’ve ever had.
He’s brought us two World Series championships in my time with him and has a coaching career total of seven, which is the highest in the history of the MLB.
He’s a straight shooter, getting right to the point, and doesn’t put up with bullshit.
He’s hard on us, but we respect him and do whatever he says.
Once he’s done, I stick around and chat with some of the guys for a bit when we hear, “You’re pregnant?” from someone shouting behind us.
All of our heads spin and find Ian sitting in his cubby with his phone pressed against his ear. His brows are furrowed and he doesn’t look pleased at whoever’s on the other end of the line.
While I normally wouldn’t care about any of Ian’s situations, and I probably shouldn’t eavesdrop on what looks like a private conversation, my curiosity gets the best of me, and apparently, the rest of the guys too as we all quietly make our way to our cubbies to eavesdrop.
“Jen, be serious. This isn’t a prank?” Ian asks, sounding shocked, then says, “What about your—”
Whatever Jen says makes him shut his mouth as he shakes his head and wipes his hand over his mouth. I wonder if they’ve been together long or if it was a one-night accident.
“I’ll help you with whatever you need, but let’s talk some more after, okay?” Ian says, his tone softer. “Yeah, okay, bye, love you.”
The locker room is silent, making it clear what we were all doing. It’s hard not to when he drops that bomb out loud. Ian throws his phone in his bag, quickly changes, and slides it on his shoulder as he turns to face us.
“Not that it’s anyone’s business, but that was my sister,” he clips before anyone can comment and shuts the locker room door behind him on his way out.
Ryker scratches his chin. “Never knew he had a sister.”
“The man keeps his personal life so tight-lipped, how were we supposed to know?” Cole shrugs as he unbuttons his jersey.
“I wonder if she’s anything like him,” Pauly wonders out loud.
“Dude,” Cole groans. “She’s pregnant. She probably has a man in her life.”
“I didn’t mean it like I’m interested in her. I just meant, does the apple fall far from the tree kind of thing,” Pauly defends himself.
“And do you seriously want to get involved with Ian Kelly’s sister?
Imagine dinner at Christmas with him glaring at you across the table?
You don’t want any part of that,” I tell him, cringing for the poor man who’s going to get what I imagine is the biggest cold shoulder from his future brother-in-law.
Cole shivers as he removes his jersey. “My God, imagine your brother-in-law being the most arrogant yet quietest person you’ve ever met. Such a weird contradiction.”
“Not our problem,” Ryker replies as he takes off his shoes.
It’s not, but man do I feel bad for the future brother-in-law whose problem it’s going to be.