Page 16 of Rescued Heart

Scout shifted his stance and dropped his bat onto little shoulders that resembled his grandmother’s more than the boy cared to acknowledge. But size didn’t disprove the ability to endure hard things. “Come on, Scar, let Preacher-man pitch. Eli knows how.”

Debatable. Eli knew less than Eddie about baseball, and Eddie hadn’t ever touched a ball until Houston had organized the team and gotten Macon involved last year.

Eddie shouldered the extra equipment bag from the bed of his truck. “Why aren’t you guys all warming up?”

None of the boys on the bleachers looked up from Tank’s phone. But Will, the freckle-faced boy with more shadowed circles under his eyes than bases on the field, said, “Hold on, Tank’s got a new girl, and he says she’s hot.”

Will looked nothing like his dark-complected father, Joe. Nearly blond, and blue eyes to match.

The only boy on the team who claimed to like books—Jacob, on Tank’s right—twisted his baseball hat around. “Except he magically can’t find her picture anymore.”

Ned, the wannabe comedian, leaned down by Tank’s ear. “Probably ’cause he made her up. No hot girls go to Southview Middle School.”

Tank rammed his elbow into Ned. “She’s real. And way hotter than your butt-ugly g?—”

“Hey now.” Eddie dropped the bag on the ground in front of the boys. Dust floated up, covering Eddie’s tennis shoes. “Is our appearance the most important thing?”

Will rolled his eyes. “Gotta be to you. Your new girlfriend’s hotter than a Carolina Reaper pepper.”

Hotter than…Eddie rubbed his forehead. This practice was going horribly wrong, but what came out of Eddie’s mouth wasn’t quite the top priority. “I don’t have a new girlfriend.”

Didn’t have time to even try to locate the right kind of girlfriend. One he might have an actual future with, who believed in what he did. His last girlfriend had claimed he was only the fun kind of man. Not the forever kind.

That wasn’t him anymore, though. Thankfully, God had straightened out his priorities.

“Sure you do.” Will reached for Tank’s phone. “Tank can find one ofherpictures online. She’s everywhere.”

Eddie opened his mouth at the exact moment Scout, over in the batter’s box, hit a ball that thumped against his bat.

A second after, Eli groaned, grabbed his shin, and fell onto the ground.

Scarlette’s eyes bugged. “Uh, Coach?”

Eddie sprinted for Eli.

Eli held up a shaky palm. “I’m okay…I think.” He reached his hand out, and Eddie pulled him up to his feet.

Eddie steadied him. “Want to go sit in the dugout?”

As Eli nodded, Eddie helped him to the home team side dugout, where the other equipment bag sat, still zipped up. “Boys, the last one on the field runs laps after practice.”

“You can’t make us…” Jacob closed his mouth as the others ran to the gear bags and grabbed out baseball mitts.

Tank pulled out a ball. “I’m throwing with Will.”

Will shrugged. “As long as I’m not with Scarlette.”

Scarlette stuck out her tongue. “At least I can catch?—”

“Everyone, three laps around the bases. And if I hear whining, it will be seven.” Eddie eased Eli onto the bench. “Then make two lines at second. Scout, you get a ball and cover first and throw grounders to one line while…”

Another car pulled into the parking lot. A black car that looked like it belonged to Zack.

Finally, more help.

Scarlette waved her hand in the air as she ran past third base. “I’ll go to third.”

Eddie shook his head. “You’ll take some grounders. Tank, you’ll take third.”

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