Page 144 of Stolen Bases

I easily strike out the first batter. The second batter gets a piece of my slider and pops up behind home plate. Lucky for me, Romero saves my ass again and catches the foul ball.

Two outs, one to go.

The last batter steps up, digging into the dirt. Nico signals that he’s ready, and with an exhale, I let it rip. My opponent is a fast ball chaser, and he does exactly what I want him to, missing three strikes in a row.

Game over.

I did it. No one has pitched a perfect game in years. I’m speechless.

The crowd goes insane.

All I care about is looking for my dad, and I swear I can see him wipe a tear off his cheek as my mom jumps up and down. Pride and so much love shines back at me as he grins, clapping and cheering his head off.

I couldn’t be more grateful that he was here to see me play on the greatest day of my career. All of this wouldn’t have been attainable without him by my side. I point at him and tap my chest. I watch as he returns the gesture before I am tackled to the ground by my teammates.

The only thing that would make this moment better would be my girl sitting in the stands next to my parents. I can’t wait to celebrate with her tonight.

When I stand and the celebrations have died down, I come face to face with Nico. He spits fire as he steps in front of me and places a hand on my chest, gripping my jersey in his fist.

“Why the fuck is there a picture of you and my sister in your hat?” he shouts in my face.

My stomach drops out my ass. That earlier sense of dread comes back full force and blooms into full-on panic because now I know for sure he saw inside my hat. “Calm down, Nico. It’s not what you think.”

This is the worst possible time for him to find out about me and Talia. Having this conversation in front of the entire team, sports news camera crews, and fifty-five thousand cheering fans is a terrible bad idea.

Coach called it. I’m about to get punched.

“What I think is that you’ve been fucking my sister behind my back.”

“Don’t,” I warn him, clenching my fists at my side.

Reed walks up and pulls my shirt from Nico’s grasp. “Dude, chill the fuck out. There are cameras around.”

Romero throws his head back in maniacal laughter. “You want me to chill the fuck out?” He points at me and says, “I want this guy to stay the fuck away from my sister.” He jabs his finger into my chest.

“What the hell is going on?” Our first baseman, Lance Taylor, grabs the collar of my jersey and yanks me back.

“Nothing. Stay out of it.” I shrug him off and face Nico.Take your lumps.

Nico turns to Lance. “I’ll tell you what’s going on. This piece of shit is fucking my sister.”

“Whoa. Cam, what the fuck?” Lance’s eyes bug out of his head.

McKay steps in front of Nico. He looks me in the eye. “Tell me it’s more than fucking.” I nod. “Alright, I got your back, bro.”

Lance is still fighting to hold Nico back as I step forward and ready myself for the inevitable. “I won’t stay away from her, Nico. I love her.”

Nico’s face turns fire engine red, and he breaks free from Lance. He rears his arm back and punches me square in the jaw. My lip bursts with a pop, and blood spurts everywhere as stars blur my vision. He lands another one on my ribs.

Before Nico can land a third punch, Taylor wraps his arms around Nico’s chest and pulls him back.

Romero fights harder against Lance, trying to break free. “Let me go,” he screams. “I’ll fucking kill you, Miller. Why’d you doit? This some sick sort of revenge? You get off on fucking your teammates’ sisters? Get your fill then toss her aside like every other cleat-chaser you fuck?”

“Now you’re just trying to piss me off. I said don’t fucking talk about her like that.” I rein in the fury that burns in my veins, rearing for the fight Nico wants.

“I can talk about her any way I want,” Nico taunts. He lifts his hands and beckons me to hit him. He wants to have it out.

I refuse to give him what he wants. Talia would be pissed, and the last thing I want is to hurt her.

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