Page 51 of Stealing Home

“Yeah, it won’t. I’m pissed now, so I think we’re good.” I angrily state.

I turn, walk to the batter’s box and dig my cleats into the dirt. Taking the first three pitches, two were strikes and one ball. The fourth pitch is on its way to me, right down the middle of the plate. Swinging, my bat connects with the ball just out of reach of the shortstop. The ball drops into shallow left center. Dane Rivers comes into score and now we are up four runs.

The next batter strikes out while the following hits a line drive right back to the pitcher.

Hunter Knight is the closer to tonight’s game and strikes each of three batters that come up to bat. We high five each other before we head into the clubhouse.

We’re all looking for Dean as we walk towards our own lockers, but he isn’t in sight. The trainers and team doctor aren’t here either.

“Great game men. I’m sure you’re all wanting to know about Dean. They took him to the hospital, and I just received the call with his prognosis. He’s out for at least three months with a broken ankle. No surgery luckily as it was a clean break, but he’ll be around for physical therapy until he can get back out on the field. He’ll be heading home once released from the hospital. He said "don't worry about him and go celebrate the win.” Coach Brian tells us.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad Dean’s okay, but this fucking sucks. We have guys that can play his position in left field but they aren’t guys that can do it day after day. The goal is always to win as much as we can, as often as we can, to work our way to the championship finals.Fuck.

“Alright guys. Let’s honor Dean’s wishes. Let’s get cleaned up and we’ll make a plan back at the hotel.” Ty tells the team.

We all move into motion to get showered and dressed. I just want to go back to the hotel to hangout with Adriana but I guess that’s not happening. Hopefully, the ladies will join us.

Thirty minutes later, we’re all loading up on the bus. The drive back to the hotel only takes us twenty minutes and is uneventful. As soon as we walk into the hotel lobby from the bus, we’re greeted by Heather and Adriana.

Of course, Ty walks straight over to them.

“Hey babe, we’re all going out, including the two of you. You can thank Dean next time you see him.” Ty says to the girls.

“Hey you.” I say to Adriana as I give her a hug.

“Hey Casanova. You played great today.” She tells me, returning my hug.

“Thank you. So since you are the native here, do you know of any good places nearby?” I ask her opinion.

“Actually, I do!” she tells me.

“Care to share with the class?” I ask her. Chuckling at her excitement.

“It’ll be a surprise. Just tell everyone to hang out while we change, then we can go.” She says as she grabs Heather’s hand and they walk off to the elevators.

“Well. I guess let’s tell the guys.” Ty says to me and turns around to go talk to the team.

What did we get the team into?

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Adriana

Heather and I walk out of the elevator and into the suite to our room.

“You can dress comfy tonight.” I tell her so she doesn’t overdress.

“Where are you taking us?” she questions.

“A karaoke bar.” I say with a grin.

“That is fabulous!” Heather says while she is cracking up with laughter.

“It’s close by and it was a favorite place of mine to go hangout.” I inform her.

“You know for a fact that I will bring your ass up on stage with me, right?” she asks me. But really, Heather is telling me.

“I figured.” I say, laughing with a roll of my eyes.

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