Page 41 of Walk Off

Finally, she turned to look at him, emotion swirling in her eyes. “She deserved to have something of you in her name.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t give her your last name, but I could give her the name of the woman who raised you. A name that meant something.”

He wanted to reach for her, to take her in his arms and wash away all the pain of the last eight years with a hug. He stopped himself at the last second, unsure what that would solve. “Thank you,” he said instead, sincere in his words.

“Let me know when you want to see her again. I’ll make it happen.” With those last words, she opened the door and walked off.

Again.

It seemed he was doomed to have this woman always walk away from him.

Chapter 11

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Kyle

His world was full of fire where everything around him seemed to be going up in flames, but the thing he could count on for some semblance of normal, were his workouts. Thanks to a few phone calls, he was able to use the Strikers’ facilities while he was in town, to keep up with his training.

With spring training only a week away, he had to focus on staying fit and healthy. Not to mention, being in the gym kept his mind off Celia.

Something he desperately needed.

If only he could work out twenty-four hours a day.

Heath had stayed in town, as had Noah Ashe. Noah was the second baseman for the Los Angeles Emperors, whereas Heath was a starting pitcher. Kyle didn’t know him as well as Heath, but he had met him a few times when they’d played against each other. They were both working out alongside him, because just like he needed to train, so did they.

Kyle had just hit mile five on the treadmill when Noah stepped on the treadmill next to him. “Trying to outrun your problems?”

Kyle faltered, almost falling off, but catching himself quickly. “Excuse me?”

Noah hit the screen to start the treadmill. “I’m just saying the only reason a man runs as hard as you are, is to outrun his problems. I’ve tried it myself once or twice.”

Did Noah know about Celia and Jasmine? It wasn’t as if he was going to be able to keep it a secret forever, but they hadn’t talked about what they would say.

“Ashe, shut the hell up and work out!” Heath shouted from across the room.

Noah flipped Heath off as he started jogging. “I wasn’t trying to pry. Just figured you needed to let off some steam.”

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