Page 86 of Imperfect Player

“Back the fuck off already,” I tell him.

“Just making sure my pitcher can actually pitch,” he says.

“You worry about your base. I’ll worry about mine.”

I’m on the mound. Sweating. It’s hotter in Denver than I remember. Either that or the alcohol is finally working its way out of my system.

Just like I have been doing, I focus. Everly, home plate, pitch.

The ball makes contact with the bat and sails into left field.

Fuck.

Next batter, same thing. Only his hit makes it all the way into the stands. Home fucking run.

Shit.

Maddox is glaring at me, mouthing the words “World Series” as if I don’t know the significance of what we’re trying to do here.

What I fail to do here.

The score is ten to two.

Railcats lose.

Chapter 24

Everly

I’m on the edge of my seat as I listen to the play by play of the Railcats game while I work. I’m busy putting together some details for the photo shoot with Active All-Stars.

Tripp placed the project in my care when Linnie got the call that her mother’s condition has worsened.

Despite my own workload, I’m happy to help. Tripp is more than my boss. He and Linnie are friends. So when he said that he needed some time away, that he needed me to cover things, I took the reins and shooed him out of my office.

The batter walks to first base, a satisfied smirk on his face.

It’s been like this all game. The last two games too.

There’s something off about Ethan. I knew it when he texted me the other night, the plea for sexual gratification. Had he been playful, I wouldn’t have thought anything of it. Just another step in our relationship. A look into what away games will be like.

He wasn’t playful though. He was short and demanding. He was the man that opened the door after the Pink concert.

He was drunk.

I’m the queen of worst-case scenarios, so my head automatically goes to that. Ethan’s an alcoholic. The drinking is his problem. The demon.

None of which I can confirm considering I only know with certainty of one actual instance of him drinking.

Still, I know something is wrong. Each and every time I ask, inquire, try to be there for him, he shuts down. Disappears. Ghosts me until the next day.

The game ends. Railcats lose.

Again.

I send a text to Ethan. One that if the past few days are any indication, he’ll ignore. At least for several hours.

Worried as I am, I have work to keep me busy. Including the walkthrough with Yolanda for the photo shoot that’s scheduled to take place a few days from now, once Ethan’s back in town.

---