Chapter nine
Grady
My eyes meet Chase’s with laser focus.
I’m not going to let our unorthodox meeting deter me from teaching the kid something about the game.
That won’t even be the last of our challenging interactions.
Eventually, we’ll have to discuss how I’m going to be in his life beyond this season and long after he’s worked off his punishment with me.
But I can’t focus on that right now. I’m eager to see what he can do on the field.
To his side, Trent and Jared snicker, so I shift my focus in their direction, instantly extinguishing their cockiness.
Ryan and I already discussed the incident at the garage, and those two boys are doing their own community service through the sheriff’s department and running extra drills after practice.
Their punishment starts today, so I’m sure their amusement with the situation will diminish considerably by tomorrow.
“You ready for this?” Ryan asks as the boys disperse and Chase and two other pitchers head to the mound with a bucket of balls. The team’s catcher, Franklin, takes his place at home plate, doing a few stretches before he crouches low.
“As ready as I’m going to be.” I’ve pitched in front of millions of people, but the pressure I feel right now is nothing compared to that. This is why I’ve been avoiding coaching.
What if I’m horrible? What if I don’t live up to everyone’s expectations? What if these kids only see a washed-up old man who had his shot at playing professionally and ruined it out of stubbornness?
“You’ve got this. Don’t stress about being a teacher.
Just do what feels natural, and they will learn.
You know the game, so let that speak for itself.
” Patting me on the shoulder, Ryan heads to the other side of the field where the boys are grabbing equipment for their drill.
I take a deep breath before striding to the mound where Chase, Nathan, and Max are waiting.
“All right. Since we haven’t worked together yet, I want to see what you guys have got.
” Technically, this week is Chase’s tryout for the team as well, so I definitely need to assess whether he has the talent to play with varsity or JV.
He’s only a freshman, but we spoke to his former coaches down in Georgia and they praised his talents.
If he can take a starting spot from one of our juniors, it’s going to make his chances of fitting in on the team even harder.
I know from personal experience.
But once they see him play, the boys will shut up quickly if he helps them win.
I know that from personal experience as well.
“Nathan, you’re up first.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I settle into my spot so I can study his movements.
He’s not bad, but he’s not very controlled.
He’s tightening too much in his shoulders, which is costing him speed.
After Nathan throws about a dozen pitches of varying accuracy, I let Max have a go.
Max has more control, but he’s inconsistent.
One pitch is right on target, and the next is nowhere near the plate.
“Let’s see what you’ve got, Chase,” I say as Scottie’s son shoots me a nervous glance before taking the mound. He takes his time agreeing with the catcher’s call, but when he winds up and lets the ball loose, I swear, I see myself twenty years ago.
I clear my throat, not wanting to get too excited. “Again.”
I keep him up there for longer than the other two boys, which they pick up on sooner quickly. After a good fifteen minutes pass, the boys get antsy.
Max chimes in first. “I think you should let us pitch again, Coach. I mean, everyone needs time to warm up, right?”
Chase looks between me and Max, and since I don’t want to ruffle feathers just yet, I agree to let Max have another shot to prove himself.
But he stands on the mound and tries way too hard the second time around, only building up his frustration.
Nathan also takes another turn, but at the end, I think all four of us can agree that Chase has more talent in his pinky finger than the two juniors who probably walked onto this team.
I hear Ryan call his whistle from the other side of the field, requesting the entire team to gather around, so I gesture for the boys to jog over as I start to clean up the balls from the pitching practice. I shoot a text off to Ryan to let him know he has a new starting pitcher.
Once everyone is gathered around, Ryan makes an announcement.
“One thing you all need to remember is that your behavior and choices are not just a reflection on yourselves, but on this team as well. They’re also a reflection on us as coaches.
” He gestures between me, himself, and the other assistant coach, Brad.
“But I want everyone to understand that your spot on this team isn’t guaranteed.
Moving forward, there will be a no-strike policy. ”
“What’s that?” one of the players asks as I take my place next to Ryan, inserting myself into the conversation now.
“It means you get no more chances. You screw up? You’re off the team.
” He shoots his glare at Chase’s accomplices to the break-in at my shop.
Their eyes find the ground as the other members of the team murmur amongst themselves.
I remember what it was like to be in high school—rumors spread like wildfire.
And with cell phones now? I can only imagine how many people in town and beyond know about the mess these boys got into.
“With that being said, I would like to announce that the newest member of our team, Chase Warner, will also be the starting pitcher in next week’s game.”
Nathan and Max instantly tense up, but Chase stands tall next to them. It’s good to know he’s aware of the talent he possesses. His mom would be proud, especially since she always advised me to own mine.
“Now, Chase, Jared, and Trent, you boys are staying after, but the rest of you, take three laps around the field and then we’re done for the day.”
The boys take off to rush through their run, while Ryan and I stare down at the three delinquents in front of us.
Ryan rubs his palms together with a pleased smile on his face. “Now, there’s nothing I love more than serving punishment, especially when it’s due. You three have no idea who you were messing with.”
“Oh, we knew,” Jared mutters under his breath.
“Say it so we can hear you, son,” I bark, reminding myself that he’s a minor and I can’t touch him.
But cocky boys like him—I remember them well.
His insecurities are lurking right underneath the surface and that’s why he convinced Chase to do what they did.
He felt threatened, and with good reason, it seems. But it doesn’t excuse his behavior.
“It was nothing,” Jared replies, avoiding my eyes.
I take a step closer to him, his eyes widen, and then I lower my voice when I say, “It’s not too late for me to press charges.
I hope you realize that. I’m trying to do you a favor, so if I were you, I’d shut your mouth and do what you’re told for the next hour and remind yourself never to do something like that again. ”
He visibly swallows. “The next hour?”
Ryan chuckles. “Oh yeah. We’re not stopping until each one of you pukes.”
Huh. Maybe this coaching gig might be a little fun after all.
***
“Scottland Warner?” The nurse calls out from the door that separates the waiting room from the office and exam rooms. My knees haven’t stopped bouncing since I sat down, but part of that is because I’m at my kid’s first doctor’s appointment, and the mother of my child still isn’t here.
“Scottland Warner!” She’s louder this time, peering around the room.
I raise my hand like a kindergartener. “Um, hi.”
The nurse looks me up and down. “No offense, Grady, but I don’t think you’re the pregnant woman I’m looking for.”
I chuckle as I stand from my seat and move closer to her. Lowering my voice, I say, “I’m the father. Scottie isn’t here yet and she’s not answering her phone.”
“I see.” She peers down at her chart. “Well…”
The door chimes as the woman in question rushes into the office, swiveling her head around chaotically before her eyes land on me.
“Oh my God! Sorry I’m late.” Blowing her curls out of her face, she strides up to the nurse and me in a business-style dress that hugs all of her curves, stealing the breath from my lungs and making my dick harden in seconds.
I’ve seen Scottie in a uniform on the pitching mound and dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt, but I’ve never seen her like this.
Just the sight of her dressed like she’s in charge makes me want to get sent to the principal’s office so I can see what kind of punishment she can dish out.
Or better yet, let’s reverse the roles and I can punish her for denying what’s between us all these years later.
Focus, Grady. You can revisit that little fantasy later.
“Well, let’s get you back here then.” The nurse gestures for us to follow her, but I hold the door open so Scottie can go ahead of me.
“Thank you.”
“Of course.” As she walks ahead of me, giving me the perfect view of her ass in that tight dress, I remember what that ass looked like bent over in front of me all those months ago.
I wonder if that instance was the time that did it, the one that knocked her up—because my memory likes to venture back to that night frequently, and how that orgasm felt like my soul was leaving my fucking body.
Perhaps that was the moment when our souls were creating a new one.
The nurse stops us in the hall to take Scottie’s vitals. I watch her cringe as she steps on the scale and takes in her weight, rolling her eyes when she steps off and slides her heels back on to continue down the hallway.
“Here we are.” The nurse opens a door to an exam room and motions for Scottie to take a seat on the bed. “We need you to undress from the waist down and cover yourself with the sheet.”