Page 164 of Off Pitch

Cole now strides over to the batter’s box, taking a few practice swings to loosen up.

“Oh God,” I say, covering my eyes. “I don’t know if I can watch.”

Rory peels my hands from my face. “Watch your brother, Lo. He’ll be pissed if he gets a hit, and you didn’t see it.”

I groan and agree. Even though I’m unbelievably nervous, I keep my eyes on the game for Cole.

And when he knocks that first pitch right into the stands of left field, I’m so fucking glad I did.

“Cole!” I shout as Rory jumps and yells beside me.

“We’re fucking winning!” she yells as she runs over to hug my parents.

I grab Sage, who has no idea what’s going on but is excited by all the dancing, and spin her around as we all carry on our excitement after Josh strikes out, ending the eighth inning.

When the Stars take their places for the top of the ninth, I’m elated to see Knox return to the mound.

“I see he’s going for the complete game,” a man beside me says before turning to me. “I don’t believe I introduced myself yet. I’m Matt Trelon, VP of Marketing for Axis.”

“Oh, it’s so nice to meet you!” I say, extending my hand to him.

“You as well, Harlow,” he replies, taking my hand and shaking it. “I’ve been talking with Simon a lot recently. We both agree that you seem to be very good for Knox.”

“Oh,” I blush. “I think I’ve just helped him become more open.”

“Well, whatever it is you’ve done,” Matt says, “you’ve completely changed how people see him. His attitude has progressed so much through the season.”

“Like he said to me a couple months ago,” Simon chimes in, walking up to stand on my other side and shooting me a soft smile. “He just needed a reason to be happy.”

My blush is deeper now as I feel it creeping down my neck and across my chest. “That’s all I want for him.”

We fall into silence as we all watch Knox rear back for his first pitch of the inning, a foul ball the Thunderbirds’ second baseman hits to the left. He connects on pitch number two, sending the ball shallow in the outfield. The Stars’ right fielder, Neil Mansfield, is quick and catches it on a dive.

Out number one.

The next batter is the Thunderbirds first baseman, Ari Morgan, one of their strongest batters. And when Knox sends him back to the dugout with a three-pitch strikeout, the crowd is reaching insanity.

Out number two.

The Stars are one out away from the World Series title.

Rory slides in beside me with Sage on her hip. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous,” she says.

“Fucking tell me about it. My brother and my boyfriend are one out away from winning the damn World Series.”

“Cole’s played such a great game,” she says aloud, but not to me, more as though she’s just stating a fact. With her bright smile and slight flush to her cheeks, it’s obvious why she’s focusing on my brother to anyone paying close enough attention.

“He has,” I respond, grabbing her hand to ground myself so I don’t start pacing again.

The silence that falls over the crowd is deafening as Knox gets into position for his pitch to the Thunderbirds’ left fielder.

He rears back with the pitch he’s most well-known for and sends a knuckleball down the middle. The bat connects, but the hit is shallow, soaring up high but not traveling far.

The cheers start early as Cole gets in position, glove up under the ball falling toward him. And when his glove closes around it, the crowd erupts.

My dad runs up behind me and scoops me up as we all start screaming. We’re jumping and yelling and celebrating almost as much as the guys on the field.

The Stars justwonthe damn World Series!

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