Page 19 of Caught Stealing Your Heart
“Prepping you to bat.”
She swiftly shook her head. “Oh, no. I’m not coordinated to do this.”
“Trust me, I got you. I’ll guide you on what to do.” Hesitantly, Leilani agreed. I led her to the batter’s box and lined her up. “Keep your feet like this and keep the bat up. Don’t let it drop on your shoulder, or your swing will be too late. I’m about to start the machine, but don’t swing yet.”
“Okay.”
I jogged back over to the machine and turned it on. The speed was much slower than what I was used to, so I sat back and watched the balls a few times before going back over to Leilani.
“You see how the ball is coming straight down the middle, right over the plate?” I asked, standing behind her with my body pressed against hers.
“Yes.”
“To hit it, you must keep your eye on the ball and swing when it’s close. Timing is everything. Form is everything. Confidence is everything. I’m going to help you the first few times, then I’ll let you try after that.”
“Okay.”
I positioned my hands over hers, correcting her placement. “When I tell you to swing, swing. Hike your front leg up and drive with your hips. That’s where you’ll get your power from. Ready?”
“Ready.”
“Swing.”
Leilani swung as I guided her, and she connected. We did it a few more times before I backed away to let her do it on her own. The first five swings, she swung too late and the next five, she swung too early. Her pretty face was red and scrunched. She was about to take the helmet off, but I stopped her.
“Don’t do that. You can hit it, Leilani.”
She stomped her foot and huffed like a child. “No, I can’t, Banks. This shit is hard.”
“It is but listen to me. I’ll guide you step by step. Give me five more swings, and if you don’t hit it, you can stop.”
Leilani kissed her teeth and rolled her eyes while getting back in position. I timed the machine in my head and instructed, “Swing.”
Too early.
“Swing.”
Too late.
She was off by a hair, so I adjusted my timing. “Swing.”
The sound of the ball cracking against the bat filled the air. Leilani turned around and peered at me with wide, surprised eyes before jumping up and down. She ran out the cage to me and leapt into my arms.
“I did it! Did you see that?” she exclaimed.
“Hell yeah. You whacked it, for real. All you had to do was get your timing right.”
“It’s a lot harder than it looks. I don’t see how y’all do it, for real. It was frustrating and fun.”
“Want to get back in and do it again?”
I chuckled as she dramatically wagged her head from side to side. “I’m good. I’ll leave that to the pros.”
“You cool if I get a few more in?”
“Go for it. I’ll be cheering you on outside of the cage.”
With a quick peck to her lips, I took the helmet and went back inside the cage. After adjusting the machine and getting some good hits in, I finally decided to answer Leilani’s question. “Our situation has been heavily on my mind.”
