Page 67 of Rain Delay

“I’m not. I heard what you said. I’m going to miss you too, but I know you’ll kick ass today.”

I nodded. “Hell yeah. I’ve been waiting for this Detroit series. Got some unfinished business with the starting pitcher.”

“Over that bullshit in college? C’mon, Wy. That was years ago.”

I look up at her as I shove my face full of food. “This food is fucking fantastic, baby,” I say with a mouthful, changing the subject. “Didn’t peg you as a chef.”

I’ve had beef with a handful of players throughout the years, but the one that didn’t seem to fade away was with the ace for Detroit. I hold grudges, and when he nearly fucked up my chances of being selected for the draft my junior year, I haven’t let him forget it.

It shouldn’t have affected me the way it did. During a live batting practice, I don’t know what was in his head when he nails a pitch towards my feet, trying to drill me in the ankles. If I was out with an ankle injury, I would’ve missed the deadline for declaring for the draft. I would’ve had to wait an entire year to go through the process again. I wasn’t going to let that prick ruin my chances of going professional.

I made sure to remind him in subtle ways whenever I would see him throughout the season. We play Detroit more than once, and I’ll have to face him at least twice, so I made sure he’s well aware of who actually is thriving out of college.

“Can you chew and swallow your food before you talk?” She asks, taking a bite of her food.

I let out a laugh, nodding as I finished my plate, pushing it in front of me. I stood up, moving over to her and kissed the side of her head. “I’m gonna clean up my dishes and then go shower.”

Ellie looks up at me and gives me a nod. “I need to get ready, but I’ll come see you before I leave.”

I give her a kiss before ascending the stairs to jump in the shower.

As much as I tried to mask it, I was really anxious to hear how today would go with her parents.

I remember how her dad was when we first told him that we were boyfriend and girlfriend at just twelve-years-old.

He tried to tell us that we were too young, we didn’t know what love was. Though, he also gave me the look like if I fucked anything up with his little girl, he would be the first to chop my dick off.

I’ve always wondered how they felt when they found out I broke up with her. I never spoke to them again after that happened. Not even to apologize, not even to see how she was doing, nothing. I ghosted them and I know that left us on a sour note.

I didn’t even think about the consequences the breakup would have on my relationship with them. I was only thinking about myself.

I hate that I couldn’t be there with her today, but I had a job to do, and winning the game tonight was the main objective.

I needed to try and stay focused. However, I knew my mind would be reeling the entire night until I found out how everything went. I couldn’t let it distract me, especially since this series was a big one for me.

“Hey, I’m leaving,” Eliana says as she walks into my room. “Good luck today, and know that I’m proud of you.

I smiled at her, walking towards her and wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug. “Thank you, baby. Have fun today. Don’t stress, and I’m only a call away.”

She just nods, giving me a kiss before she steps back. “I’ll be fine. Don’t you worry about me. I got this.”

“Damn right, you do.” I give her a gentle squeeze before I pull her back in for one more kiss before I let her leave.

* * *

IT WAS AN OFF NIGHT FOR THE TEAM. Liam had struck out twice, Miles made a defensive error, and I wasn’t locked in on either side of the plate.

The starting pitcher was on one tonight – He kept giving me looks whenever I would take my spot at the plate, and the couple of times I caught myself looking over at their dugout, he was right there, leaning on the railing like he had nothing better to do.

I adjusted the Velcro straps on my gloves as I walked to the plate for my third time tonight. We were finally getting through, starting to score some runs. In the time I had waiting for my turn, I watched some film from previous innings – trying to pinpoint what I could fix for my next plate appearance.

The crowd was loud as hell; it was almost too hard to even focus at the plate. I just needed to get one hit. I needed to get on base and get the momentum going.

Pitch one: Ball. I could see the frustration on his face when it went outside, slightly outside the strike zone.

He dials up again, his shoulders relaxing as he deals a cutter, and I take a slice at it. I swing right through, looking back at the umpire as he yells his count.

Focus, Wyatt. You know what you need to swing at.