Page 95 of Stepping Up to the Plate

Is he serious? I should thank him for pegging me? Curious, I ask, “What promise?”

“You’d rather take a 100mph fastball to the gut than ever be the reason Lola cries, right? I made that happen. Consider it a lesson to keep it in your pants. I can aim lower next time.”

“What the fuck, man?” I say, stepping towards him.

“What the fuck to you!” he shouts back. “You hurt one of the most important women in my life. You didn’t think that could go unpunished, did you? She deserves better than your sorry ass.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I treat Lola like a queen. She isthemost important woman in my life.”

Rivera’s eyes narrow as we stand nose to nose, umpires and coaches hurrying towards us. “You have a funny way of showing it. She’s been holed up in my apartment all week. She’s strong, but this almost broke her. You need to get your shit together and grovel your ass off or give her the closure she needs to move on.”

Move on? Is that what she wants? To move on from me? Before I can say anything in response, we’ve been pulled apart. Chicago sends over a pinch runner to take Rivera’s place and the game continues. We pull out the win, but it’s a hollow victory.

ChapterForty-Five

• BRADY •

After the drama of today’s game, there is no getting out of the post-game press conference. Norris called down from the box and all but demanded I make an appearance and be on my best behavior. Reluctantly, I attend no matter how much I want to tell everyone to fuck off.

“Miller, what was going on with you and Rivera? What got the two of you riled up?,” one reporter asks.

“This was an important game for both teams and we got overly passionate in the moment. I respect a player who wants to help his team succeed even if it means ruffling a few feathers,” I say, giving my practiced answer. Molly should be proud.

“That peg seemed personal,” another reporter calls out. “You two were teammates in Triple-A. Any lingering issues from back then?”

“I enjoyed my time as part of the Foxes organization in Springfield. Rivera and I overlapped briefly during his rookie season. We haven’t had any issues in any previous matchups. As I said, we both got a little carried away with the playoff implications at stake.”

“Is it true that Rivera went to high school with your rumored girlfriend? Ex-girlfriend?” A third voice shouts out, causing me to clench my fists.

“I don’t answer questions about my personal life,” I state as flatly as possible. “If there are no questions about the team or the game itself, I think we can call this.”

Without listening to any of their responses, I storm out of the press conference. Stomping towards the locker room, I almost plow into someone lingering in the hallway. As I go to apologize, I realize who it is.

“Lola,” I whisper.

“Hi,” she replies meekly.

“What are you doing here?”

“You said you wanted to talk. This is where you were. Let’s talk.”

“Here?” I question.

She shrugs. “It’s as good as anywhere else.”

Not really, it’s dark, stuffy and not at all private, but I sense I shouldn’t push her on this. If it is the best I’m going to get, I’ll take it.

“How are you?” I ask. From what Rivera said, I’m worried. I run my gaze up and down her body to take her in for a moment. I don’t know what I expected, but she appears okay. She has dark circles from lack of sleep and her eyes are missing the sparkle they normally have. I can’t blame her, I have the same circles and my beard is unkempt.

I have to hold back my scowl when I see she’s wearing a Rivera jersey. I know I don't have the right to demand she wear mine right now, but seeing another man’s name on her annoys me beyond measure.

“I’m…” She pauses as if to consider how open she wants to be with me, and that stings. “I’m alright. I’ve spent time reflecting and have a better grasp on how I’m feeling about everything you told me last week.”

“And how is that?”

“Disappointed. Hurt. Enlightened,” she shares.

I suck in a breath. I expected the first two, but they still suck to hear. It’s the last one that scares me, though. I have no idea what that means. What could she be enlightened by?

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