Page 136 of Honey Pot

“Unnecessary.” His tone was stern. “It’s about time we start doing some good around here. It’s what she would have wanted.” Silas swallowed roughly. I hadn’t missed the fact that it wasn’t the Shore family behind the foundation. Only Silas’s name was in the announcement. He rolled back his shoulders and forced a smile to his face as he took the microphone back from me.

“Now for the bad news.” Silas straightened out but gave me a proud smile, and my Dad approached from behind us to stand on the other side.

His green eyes narrowed under the lights, and for a second, I could have sworn they were glossy as he excused me back to the line-up. “One more time for Cael Cody,” his rough and strangled voice said over the mic.

I fell back in line between Dean and Van. Mitchell nudged my shoulder with a smile and Dean’s hand found my wrist with a tiny squeeze I hadn’t expected from him. I watched as my Dad discussed the game, nearly boring the crowd into a coma.

“As you all know, Arlo King is moving on from starting pitcher and captain of the Hornets, we’re fortunate enough to announce that he’s staying in Harbor and will work with Nicholas King as our new assistant pitching coach.”

Everyone cheered as Arlo stepped forward with his award-winning fake smile and waved.

“He was an incredible captain and we’re sad to lose him at the helm of the Hornets team. After much discussion, and a few sleepless nights we have decided to name Dean Tucker as the new captain of the Harbor Hornet’s baseball team.”

Dean tensed beside me, all the slack excitement was quickly replaced with panic as Dad turned to him with his arm out. “Dean has consistently shown that he has what it takes to lead the Hornets into our next chapter and all of the players will agree that there is no one else we’d trust.”

“This is the part where you step out and wave.” I leaned over and pushed on his lower back with my hand. “Big smiles,” I encouraged as he forced a bright, nervous smile. “You can do better than that,” I whispered with a laugh and pinched his ass.

“Aye!” He swatted me away and turned the motion into a wave as he plastered on a confident smile for everyone.

It was clear to the team that Dean hadn’t been warned before the announcement, but everyone huddled around him as he stepped back from the mound. They shoved him roughly around, laughing and smiling as they embraced their new captain. Congratulations filled the air and across the huddle, he caught my eye.

“I’m proud of you,” I mouthed and he rolled his eyes.

Dean winked, and relief washed through me.

For all our trouble, we would figure it out.

We had to.

Dean took the coin toss with shaky hands and tense shoulders, but he won and we were set to bat first with a few tiny yips of eagerness. We flooded into the dugout, shoulder to shoulder, shoving each other around as we worked ourselves up for the game. God, I missed that adrenaline rush, the feeling that rushed through my bloodstream and got my heart pumping faster. I was home surrounded by the sounds of cheering and air horns, the smells of popcorn and sand.

For the first time in seven years.

I didn’t want to be anywhere else.

There was no distance to count, no pain to measure. The grief subsided and the clouds opened up and the stars shone down on me. Even as the lights went back up I could feel her there in the stadium. Dad stood on the stairs, watching us with a smile on his face. Giving everyone a few moments longer to revel in the excitement and joy before he clapped his hands together and brought the focus back to the game.

I grabbed a bat and made my way back onto the field to stretch, looking out over the stadium as I swung my arm in a loose circle and let the weight of the bat gently pull the muscles. I could feel Ella watching my every move with herconcerned brown eyes. She had given me the go-ahead, but I could tell she was still extremely nervous about today.

Weeks in the batting cages with her, proving her suspicions wrong, led to this moment. It was my first game back since the accident, and everything was on the line for my future, whatever that may be.

“You know,” Ella leaned over the padded fence that separated the dugout from the field and squinted at me, “you did an amazing job putting this together.”

“Silas did. I was just there to make sure Grandpa didn’t die sitting at his computer.” I ignored her soft smile and deflected her praise.

“Hey, grumpy!” A ball hit me in the shoulder, and I turned to see her with a scowl on her face. “I’m sick of this pity party.It’s boring,” she mocked, her brows knitted together, and her jaw tensed. “You did this, so be proud of yourself.”

The sight of her being mad made me laugh. I scooped the ball up from the sand and rolled it between my fingers until my skin felt gritty. I was trying, I really was. It was hard to navigate a twice-over heartbreak, but that time, being older and understanding the reasons why it was better this way…

Rolling out my neck, I stopped on her gaze and asked her, “Did you know about Dean?”

“Silas and I were asked a few things but that was before the decision was made,” she said, “He earned it, and he’s going to be a perfect fit for what comes next.”

“I couldn’t agree more, Peachy.” I smiled at her. “I’m sorry I’ve been a downer recently,” I apologized. “It did turn out pretty good.” I looked up and over the stadium as the Ump called us to start.

“Something to remember for next semester.” She winked at me. “I need to go grab some things, just breathe,” she reminded me and slipped back into the dugout, leaving me to stew over her suggestion.

I finished my stretches, my mind skipping around in terrified circles. I had never been scared to play ball, but I was horrified to step back up to the box and swing the bat.

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