Page 107 of The Shake Off

He raised his arm, twisted his little body, and threw the ball. It was only from stretching my arm out high and jumping a couple of feet in the air that I managed to catch it.

Blake and his coach had been correct, he wasn’t very good, but he had power.

“Awesome! You’re strong, and you have a powerful throw,” I grinned at him. “Has anyone taught you how to pitch?”

He shook his head. “Not really. I learned just from what I see you do. Coach tried, but he got mad at me.”

I didn’t tell him that I was beginning to get mad with his Coach. He sounded like a douche.

“The first thing you need to remember is to keep your eye on where you want the ball to go, right? So don’t be looking over my shoulder, you need to look right at my glove. You got that?”

He nodded, and I went back to where I’d been standing.

“Try again.”

This time, the ball went straight into my glove, and I tossed it back, only for it to fall between his hands, and he ran after it as it rolled away. “Good work. Do it again.”

Every time he threw the ball, it got better. Every time I caught it, his grin widened. I didn’t have kids, didn’t know anyone who had kids outside of the team and my eldest brother, Coby, but his was still only six months old, so hadn’t mastered the throw and catch yet, but this was fun.

Watching Chester’s face light up with happiness made my chest puff a little.

“Nice work, bud.” I walked over and held the ball out to show him. “Now see how I’m gripping it, my fingers lined up with the seam here.”

He nodded. I placed the ball in his hand and twisted it so it was positioned correctly. “Now try. And don’t forget to look at my glove.”

This time the throw was almost perfect from a – I took a closer look – maybe seven-year-old. I tossed it back. He got better at catching too.

“How long have you played baseball?”

“Two years. We have junior sluggers at school.”

“And what’s your favorite bit about baseball?”

He held onto the ball and thought for a second. “I love watching you and Parker King warm up.”

“Oh yeah? So if we’re your favorites, who’s your third favorite?”

“Lux Weston,” he replied without missing a beat. “I love when he climbs the walls. Maybe you could come and watch me in my next game.”

I grinned at him. “I’ll make you a deal. You come to one of the Lions games, and I’ll come and watch you pitch.”

His eyes widened like he’d witnessed Santa climbing down the chimney. “Oh yes! I can do that! Can I bring my mom and dad?”

I nodded.

“Can I go tell them?”

“Sure,” I laughed, and he took off again.

I removed the glove, placed the ball inside and put it down on the garden bench. I guess we were done for now. I was about to sit when a shadow crossed my path, and I looked up to find Payton standing there.

My breath caught, and my chest thudded hard.

Fuck me, she was something else.

“Hey.”

“Hey!” I shifted up on the bench to make room for her, and she sat. The air around me filled with the sweet scent of roses.

---