Page 131 of The Shake Off

“Shhhh,” added Penn before I could.

“… and ball one is a swing and a miss.”

The first Phillies player up to bat never made it to first base, returning to the dugout for the second player to attempt a better result. I listened intently as he walked to home plate, but that was as far as he got.

Same for the third.

Kit’s head popped between the seats again. “That was quick. Did the Phillies not make base?”

“They didn’t.” Penn shook his head then looked at me. “Your boy had a good first inning.”

My boy. I turned toward the window again so none of them could see my cheeks flush from the little swirls flipping in my belly.

By the time we finally arrived at The Lions Stadium, it was top of the fourth and the Phillies were yet to make it to first base. The Lions were three up. The car screeched around the corner at the executive entrance, and Penn had opened the door before it had ground to a full halt.

“We’ll go to the box. I can’t watch this game from the tunnel if Ace keeps pitching like this.” He jogged through the entrance before realizing the rest of us were trying to keep up with his long strides. Even when he turned you could see he was trying to be polite because he wasn’t sure how far off the shit list he’d made it, but his face was also saying ‘hurry the fuck up’.

“It’s fine, you can go and we’ll be right behind you,” I said.

He gave one look to Lowe for confirmation it was still okay, then sprinted so fast he was out of sight before I’d been signed in at the reception desk.

“Why doesn’t Penn want to watch from the field? I thought Ace was pitching well. The Phillies haven’t scored yet,” I frowned.

“He is. Penn’s nervous. He’d be a nightmare by the field,” Lowe replied, as we scanned through the reception gates and followed the direction Penn went.

I noticed Kit putting her phone away. “That was Murray, he’s staying where he is. The boys are leaving Penn alone while he’s watching, and we’ll meet them later.”

“Okay,” I shrugged. “Let’s skedaddle.”

When we arrived at the box it was the bottom of the fourth, the Phillies still hadn’t made first base, and we found Penn yelling orders down the phone. “Don’t take him off. I want to see how far this goes.”

He slammed the receiver down and rubbed his hands together, smiling at Kit and me before pressing a kiss to Lowe’s cheek and walking onto the balcony without saying another word. We were in the presence of Mr. Baseball again, and it was always better to leave him alone.

“I think we deserve a drink after all the drama today,” announced Lowe, marching over to the bar where one of Penn’s staff was waiting to take our order.

“I’m just going to have a soda water. I need a clear head for when I see Ace.” I glanced up to the television screen, which was showing the Lions TV channel, the exact replica of what was currently on the big stadium screens.

Lux Weston was on home plate, shuffling into place and pulling on the rim of his batting helmet before readying his bat to swing. The ball made contact, flew through the air and bounced in the outfield. The Phillies center field scooped it up and threw it to second base, who caught it a split second too late. Lux was safe.

It only took Parker King one swing to hit the second home run of the game so far. By the end of the fourth inning, The Lions were up two more runs from a single by Lux and a home run from Tanner.

“Here we go again,” mumbled Kit, as Ace walked to the mound during the changeover. “Come on, Ace.”

I glanced at Penn who hadn’t moved from the corner of the balcony he’d been standing in since we arrived.

His first pitch shot from his hand at ninety-eight miles an hour.

His second clocked in at ninety-nine.

His third, and The Phillies batter decided he was going to attempt a swing. The ball hurtled toward the outfield where Stone Philips was running backwards, his hand stretched high. The ball nestled itself in Stone’s glove, and the batter walked to the dugout.

“Two more!” Lowe jumped up from her stool, cupping her hands around her mouth and yelled, “C’mon Ace! Two more!”

She needn’t have worried; the next two batters were struck out.

Ace walked off the field, his face unreadable. He didn’t look at the crowds, he didn’t react to any one calling his name, he didn’t turn to Coach Chase as he was patted on the shoulder when he stepped inside the dugout.

Nothing.

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