Page 114 of Wild Catch
I bark a harsh laugh. “When the hell did you become an expert about me?”
“Since I have to see your ugly mug up close every damn day, you prick.”
“First of all, my mug is not ugly,” I grouch, which only makes his eyes crinkle with a smile. “Second, if I was really as off as you say, Beau would’ve benched me.”
“He can’t see what I see.” Starr shrugs.
“What do you think you see?” I ask in a mocking way.
“A guy who is screwing things up with a girl who is perfect for him.”
That lands like a bucket of cold water and it feels like an entire age goes by without me being able to process a breath into my lungs.
Finally I shake my head. “How the hell is this supposed to walk me off the edge before the game?”
“Oh, so you admit it? Because that’s the first step, trust me.”
“I’m done entertaining this topic.” I clear my throat but it’s not enough to relieve the sandpaper like feeling. I’m so damn glad that the one who is mic’ed up tonight is Machado and not either of us. “The Riders have shaken up their roster pretty deep since we last faced them. You need to be careful with inside pitches when?—”
“Logan,” he says in a much too serious way, which momentarily derails my train of thought. We don’t really do the whole first name basis thing even after the BBQ at his place. “I want you to know that I trust you even on your bad days, but I’m just worried about the dark circles under your eyes today. That’s all.”
Boos are starting to sound all around because we’re taking long in starting the game. They don’t even filter into my brain.
“If you do then—” I punctuate every following word by jabbing his chest with my finger. “Stop trying to get in my head.”
“Aye, captain.”
“Careful with the inside pitches, use your control.”
“What else?”
“Stop looking at me with pity.”
His eyes crinkle again. “I only accept briberies for pizza.”
“Field properly. If you make an error I will personally dismember you.”
“Much encouraging, very leadership,” he says in mockery.
Sarcastically, I add, “And don’t break a nail.”
“Oof, don’t jinx me, man.” Starr shudders.
“Focus,” I command.
“No,youfocus.”
“Ugh.” I give up and turn around to head back home.
The umpire has some words for me for delaying the start but it’s not like we’re out of regulations, so I ignore him.
That sets a pretty shitty tone for the start of the game. The umpire makes a bad call that makes us walk the Riders’s leadoff, and I’d have left it alone if it wasn’t because the guy steals a base and we tag him, but instead of calling the out it’s deemed as safe.
“Really?” I take off my mask and stare down at the umpire. He doesn’t like it because he’s a full head shorter.
His face reddens. “Don’t give me lip, Kim. You don’t want this going even worse for you.”
Lip? He calls that lip?
