Page 28 of The Shake Off

“Well, Aaron, would you look at that? The Phillies have got a runner on each base. If Bryce Harper hits big now, the Phillies are going four up in the first innings, and no coach wants that for their Opening Day game.

Ace leaned back, his knee raising up as he pitched his arm. The ball flew out of his hand on the way to where Bryce Harper was waiting.

Crack.

The ball soaredhigh… high… high…through to left field, and into the Phillies home crowds screaming so loudly we could probably hear them from a hundred miles away. The four Phillies players all made their way around the bases and back to the dugout.

The Lions were down 4-0 before the end of the first inning.

Kit reached for the wine and topped up our glasses. “Oh shiiit.”

I blew over my toes and resumed with applying a second coat of polish. “Yeah, happy we didn’t go. There’s no way I’d want to be around Penn and the mood he’s going to be in now.”

“Yeah, it’s definitely safer to be here,” she nodded heavily and picked up another slice of pizza. “If this doesn’t get better, I might have to pretend to be asleep when Murray gets back, then I won’t have to listen to him complaining about either the game or how Penn was steaming with rage all night long.”

The game didn’t get better. By the third inning, the Lions had a home run courtesy of Lux, but the Phillies were up another three. The commentary didn’t get better either.

“I’m telling you, Aaron, if August Chase is sensible, he’ll pull him out. This is an embarrassing start for the Lions, and for Ace Watson.”

“You’re right. There’s no reason for this. I haven’t heard about any injury, but maybe we’ll find out in the post-game press conference, because questions need answering.”

“Something’s got in his head, that’s for sure.”

Kit returned from the bathroom, where she ran off again during the next team change, and dropped back on the sofa with a grin. “That’s you.”

“Huh?”

“You’re the one who got in Ace’s head.”

Rummaging through the box of polishes, I found the top coat I’d been looking for.

“This isn’t because of me.”

Kit’s tongue poked against her cheek as she side-eyed me.

“He’s a professional baseball player. He has to have the ability to compartmentalize, not accounting for the fact he’ll have forgotten our conversation the second he laid eyes on another woman.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” She stretched her arms over her head and yawned. “Okay, well, I can’t watch any more of this blood bath. I think I’m going to go home and get in anactualbath, maybe put a face mask on before Murray gets home.”

“Ooh, face mask. Awesome idea! I’ll do the same; I have one somewhere.”

I followed her to the kitchen, walking as slowly as I could on my heels, so my newly painted toes didn’t smudge before they’d dried properly.

“Thanks for the wine and pizza,” I said and wrapped my arms around her, squeezing her into a tight hug. “I’ll come over this weekend and we can take Bell to the zoo or something.”

“Yeah, she’d love that.” She kissed my cheek as she grabbed her coat and made her way to the front door. “Okay, babe, talk to you tomorrow. Love you.”

“Love you.”

After clearing away the empty pizza box and napkins, I fell back on the sofa and finished the second bottle of wine. I gave up on watching the game after Ace was switched out for a new pitcher, and instead, found a face mask in the bathroom cabinet and settled in for a bedtime episode The Golden Girls.

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing happening was me falling off the couch having been woken by a loud and very persistent banging on my front door, which was more annoying than my alarm clock.

“What the fuck?!” I rubbed my bruised elbow, then winced as my face stung and cracked at the same time. “Fuck, my face! Ouch.”

Bang. Bang. Bang.

“Hang on!” I screeched, “I’m coming!” But instead, I went to the bathroom to wash the mask off my face, which was doing a good impression of dried cement.

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