Chapter 50
Quentin
This is it.
Game Five of the World Series, with us leading the Series three to one. We lost one and won one in Florida, meaning if we win tonight, it is all over.
Not only would we be World Champions, it would be my last baseball game.
Ever.
I’m set to pitch tonight, and while one would expect nerves for such a high-stake game, I feel nothing but peace. Of course there’s adrenaline from the energy of the team, but internally, I’m at peace with whatever happens. Win or lose, I’m already the luckiest man in the world.
The buzz of the fans hums around the stadium as the game is about to begin in twenty minutes. There are rally towels being whipped around already, and I’ve seen the wave go around the crowd a few times. The fans are pumped and ready to see us win and take it home for the first time in ten years.
There’s one fan I care about more, and she’s at home, watching on TV.
I quickly pull out my phone and hit the call on her contact card, needing to hear her voice before the opening ceremonies begin.
“Aren’t you supposed to be playing an important game right now?” she says in greeting.
“In a few minutes. I have some time, so I wanted to talk to you.”
“If I weren’t already pregnant, I would be once you get home tonight,” she nearly whines at the end.
“You’re something, you know that?”
“Yeah, and you love me.”
“I do, very much. This game is for my girls. I hope to make you two proud.” My voice turns hoarse, my emotions threatening to take over.
“We’re already proud of you. Just don’t lose your balance and you’ll be great,” she teases, a callback to when I lost my balance and toppled her and me to the ground.
“I’ll do my best.” I shake my head as a laugh slips through. “I love you, mon coeur.”
“I love you too. Kick some ass!”
We hang up, leaving me with a smile on my face as I pocket my phone.
Ian slaps me on the shoulder as he comes to sit beside me on the bench.
“You ready?”
“More than ready.”
“You seem oddly calm.” He looks at me skeptically.
I roll my shoulders, feeling loose and better than I have in a while. “Because no matter what, I’m already winning.”
Ian throws a hand over his face as he laughs.
“I mean, I’m happy you love my sister, but wow, you sound like a corny asshole.”
“You’ll understand it one day,” I say as I stand and shake my legs out.
“God, I hope not,” he replies, sounding mortified at the idea of being in love.
“Listen, if I pitch as well as you did yesterday, this will be an easy game to win,” I say, taking him by surprise with my compliment.
Ian’s expression turns serious as he stands so that we’re eye level. “I was only trying to be as good as you.”
“You’re already there, kid,” I say as I slap him on the back, then grab my glove and make my way to the field for opening ceremonies.
We’re in the bottom of the eighth inning, with a score of two to zero for us.
Ryker hit a homerun early on in the game, followed by a scoring run by Cole in the fifth. While Florida has struggled massively because I’ve got a no-hitter going currently, which is unheard of.
Never in the time of major league baseball has there been a no-hitter in a World Series game.
It has the fans going fucking wild. The energy was already crazy to begin with, and now, it’s electric.
I focus on doing my job, on what I’ve been good at for the last twenty years of my life. And knowing that if we win, I’m done for good and can just be a dad is what gives me the drive to keep the momentum going.
Pauly signals for a slider, and I give him a nod as I get myself into position. Leaning back slightly, my leg lifts as I wind up and release a killer slider, earning us our first out of the inning.
Two more to go, and we’re champions.
Landon comes up to bat, Florida’s best hitter, and where one would expect nerves to come up, I remain calm.
I know he has a hard time with inside balls, and I plan on serving him nothing but that.
The first one he swings at and misses, making the crowd erupt into shouting and clapping. Not wanting to have him think I’m sending him another inside ball, I release a quick curveball.
He makes contact, sending the ball deep into left field, only to be caught by our fielder.
The stadium explodes at that because it means there’s only one more out until we’re World Series champions.
I smirk as Landon stomps off back to their dugout, knowing this is likely game over.
The crowd is going wild now. The towels are being whipped around, making it a sea of blue and orange.
A bittersweet feeling passes through me at the sight, knowing I’ll never see it from this point of view again.
I give Pauly a signal for a sinker, one the hitter makes a connection with, but sends it flying back into the stands, counting as a foul ball.
The crowd grows louder, making it so that I can’t even hear myself think. My entire body is vibrating from the energy, and when I release a changeup, the crowd goes silent as the ball is hit into center field.
I turn and watch in trepidation as the ball flies over me and my right fielder jumps to make the catch before it hits the ground.
Game over.
And the crowd goes wild.
I nearly black out as bodies slam into mine, the boys shouting and going nuts as they celebrate.
Once the dog pile disbands, I remain on the mound, soaking in the crowd for one last time.
I wave to fans around the stadium as they scream my name, saying my goodbye. On the mound for the last time, I take a bow. When I move back upright, the energy has changed. Instead of fans losing their mind over us winning, there’s a slow clap that’s started and everyone’s chanting my name.
I think they’ve caught on, and this is their send-off.
Putting my glove over my heart, I take it in as they cheer my name.
As I walk off the mound, I wave around to fans until I reach the dugout where I expect the guys to be getting rowdy with champagne. But I don’t. Instead, what I find is my teammates lined up, looking forlorn.
Coach Tran is the first to speak, having been the only person I told. “Hell of a last game.”
“Thank you, Coach, and for everything.”
He nods as he grips my shoulder.
“It’s been an honor to watch you play, Quentin. Thank you for what you’ve done for this team.” Coach Tran puts his hand out, and I shake it.
I make my way through the team, hugging and talking as I go down the line until I reach Pauly, Cole, Ryker, and Ian.
“What the fuck, Q? You wait until we win to tell us? Now I don’t even want to celebrate,” Cole whines, being dramatic.
“Well… I’m still going to party hard, but I am pissed off. Why didn’t you say anything?” Pauly grumbles.
“Yeah, what the fuck?” Ryker says as he crosses his arms.
Ian remains silent, waiting for me to respond.
“I didn’t want you guys to worry about anything but playing. No one else knew besides Teagan and Coach.”
“This is why kids ruin everything,” Cole mutters, earning a glare from Ryker and me. “I’m kidding, relax.” Cole throws his hands up.
“I’m proud of you, brother. That’s a hard choice to make, but if you feel like you’re done, then go out on your terms,” Ryker says, and his support means a lot.
“Yeah, Ryker’s got a point,” Pauly chimes in. “Let’s go get drunk now. We’ll be sad about Quentin leaving later,” he says to Cole, who agrees, and they make their way to the locker room.
Camille appears from the same hallway, running right into Ryker’s arms. “You did it!”
Ryker kisses her and I look away, giving them their moment.
And fuck I wish Teagan were here so I could do the same. But knowing she’s home and resting is almost better because her and the baby’s safety is everything to me.
“And you,” Camille says, making me turn to face her. “You’re retiring? Since when?”
“Everyone knew my time was coming. I could maybe play a season or two more, but I wanted to choose it. Not be forced by injury or declining skills.”
“Well, I’m proud of you. You’ve had one hell of a career, big brother,” she says, her eyes welling with tears. “And you’re going to be one hell of a dad now.”
Now I’m getting emotional, batting my eyes to fight off my own tears. “Thank you, sis. I learned from taking care of you.”
We hug for a moment, and then Camille is off to take photos of the team celebrating in the locker room.
I go to leave when I notice Ian sitting on the bench, looking worried.
“I’m not ready for this,” he murmurs.
“You are, kid, and that’s another reason I did this. You’ve changed and become a part of this team now. The ace spot belongs to no one else but you.”
“I’ll try to make you proud.” Ian stands tall, determination in his tone.
I put my arm around him on our way to the locker room and say, “You can make me proud now by having some fun tonight.”
Ian smiles. “I’ll do my best.”