Chapter 51
Alfie slapped his hand to Caleb’s as the Infernoes first baseman jogged toward the dugout. There was still a runner on second, but they were almost out of this inning.
“That was amazing,” Alfie said. “Absolutamente increible.”
Caleb shrugged one shoulder. “Couldn’t let them get it into the outfield. This guy would have scored.” He jerked a thumb to the runner at second.
“Would have been just fine with me, Throckmorton,” the runner called from where he stood, one foot still on the bag.
“Exactly why we couldn’t let it happen.” Caleb moved back into position.
Alfie smacked his hand into his glove as he settled in next to third base.
Brad Tanley walked up to the plate, and the runner took a few steps away from the base.
Alfie kept part of his attention on him.
If Brad made contact, that runner would try to get to third.
He definitely wanted to keep that from happening.
He glanced over toward the dugout, where Rhys stood at the rail. Their gazes met, then Rhys sent a grin and a thumbs up. As if that would wipe away all Alfie’s worries about what was going on with Rhys.
He was in pain. Alfie knew that to be true. Not just from the shoulder injury. Something else was going on with him, and he wouldn’t talk to Alfie. Surely there had to be something he could do to make that happen.
Right at this moment, they had a game to win.
He could not let his focus drift from that.
Especially not when he heard the crack of the bat.
Sure enough the runner sprinted toward third base.
No way could Alfie get to the ball and tag him out.
As he scooped up the ball, he took another step to make sure he had his feet under him then tossed it across the field to first. Brad might not be the fastest on the Infernoes, but it was still going to be a close one.
Ryder stretched out, keeping his foot on the bag, but from this angle, Alfie couldn’t tell if the ball reached him before Brad’s foot touched the base. It had to have been a close one. The umpire brought one arm up over his shoulder and cried, “He’s out!”
Brad threw his hands up, but the manager didn’t come out of the dugout to challenge the call. Caleb grinned as he came over and slapped his hand to Alfie’s. “Talk about incredible,” Caleb said. “That was a great play. Barehanded and everything.”
“You would have done the same,” Alfie said, though he could feel his face warm.
“But, I didn’t,” Caleb said. “You’re the one who saved the game for us.”
Alfie wasn’t so sure, but he was heading into the dugout, where Rhys still sat on the bench. Alfie worried for a moment, but Rhys was smiling when he looked up. “Nice out.”
Mierda. Had someone turned the heat on in here? What was wrong with him? “Just doing the job.”
“And getting it done.” Rhys slapped his shoulder. “It was amazing.”
That might be taking things a little too far, but Alfie didn’t shrug Rhys’s hand off his shoulder. He wished it could stay there even longer, but they did have to get back into the clubhouse and change to go back to the hotel.
He thought Rhys would suggest going out to celebrate their win, he was usually the first to bring something like that up, but he was unusually quiet as they headed into the locker room.
Alfie wanted to ask him what was going on, but any other time he made that attempt, Rhys always shut him down.
Or he’d make a joke out of it. Alfie wasn’t sure he wanted to deal with that right now.
So, he grabbed a towel and headed for the shower.