Spotlight: Chapter 26

The first month of regular season games goes by in a blur. When I’m not pitching, I’m sitting on the bench antsy to get back out there. Working with the coaches here has been good. Between them and little tidbits I pull out of Earl, it’s made a difference. I’m finding my way and starting to be the pitcher I knew I was capable of being.

Unfortunately, my performance hasn’t kept us from losing. We’re coming off back-to-back losses on the road and I desperately want to get us another win at tonight’s game. It’s a big game for a lot of reasons, but for me it’s the first time I’ll be facing the Twins since they let me go.

I get to the stadium hours before the game starts. I take my phone with me to the training room. The trainers are here, but I’m the first player to arrive.

I tip my head to them and move to a corner of the room. The game is late tonight, so Olivia and Greer aren’t making it. Archer and Brogan will be in the stands though. They come to every game they can. Knox and Hendrick too. Knox even made it to see me in Texas. He had a race the next day nearby. I appreciate them and the way they always show up for me. I don’t know what I would do without them.

The more time I’ve spent with Greer, the more I’ve thought about that. I know my brothers have a hard time with my relationship with Dad, but the truth is I didn’t feel his loss the same way they did because I had them. I didn’t need a dad because I had them, but I still one.

I click on his contact to call him and then put the phone to my ear. He answers on the third ring.

“Hel-lo.” He always says it that way, emphasizing each syllable. The background is noisy with lots of people talking.

“Hey. Where are you?” I ask him.

“Took a little drive up to Sedona.”

I guess that answers my question if he’s coming tonight. He still hasn’t been to a game this season and it’s starting to get to me. I know it’s early in the season, but it seems like he could have made it to at least one. Last season he was at nearly every game. I don’t get it. What’s changed?

“Oh.”

“You still there?” he asks, and the background is quieter now, like he moved away from people.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“Did you need something or just calling to check in?”

“Both. I haven’t heard from you in a couple weeks. Everything good?”

“Yeah. All good here. How about you? Couple of tough losses last week. Your team isn’t giving you a lot of help. Someone needs to figure out how to swing a bat over there.”

I feel defensive of the guys, especially because JT was feeling down yesterday about his batting average this season. Baseball is a tough game, and everyone is fighting either to get on top or stay there.

“Hoping to turn things around tonight,” I say, suddenly feeling like I’m giving a publicity quip instead of talking to my dad.

Things are weird between us lately and I don’t know why.

“What did you need?” he asks, pulling me back to the conversation.

“Your birthday party. It’s all set up for June 10 It’s a Saturday. Hendrick agreed to host it at The Tipsy Rose. Feel free to invite Terri and whoever else you want.”

He’s quiet for a beat and I really hope he isn’t going to bail. My brothers will never let me forget it.

“Okay.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “You’ll be there?”

He makes a grunt of agreement. “I’ll be there, but no mention of the number sixty.”

“Done.” A small smile tips up the corners of my mouth. This is going to be so great. I know it’ll be awkward for him and my brothers, but hopefully it’s the first of many family get-togethers.

“All right,” Dad says. “I better get back out there before someone drinks my beer. Have a good game tonight.”

“Thanks.”

We hang up and I go through my normal warm-up routine. The rest of the team starts to trickle in too.

Gunnar and Bo arrive together. I give them my usual nod of greeting and go back to warming up, so I’m surprised when they head toward me.

My first reaction is nerves. We’ve reached a mutual understanding, and they’ve stopped excluding me outright, but they don’t usually seek me out to chit-chat.

“We’ve got your back tonight,” Bo says.

Confusion tugs my brows together.

“You strike them out and we’ll make sure we get on base.” Gunnar holds out a beefy hand like we’re going to arm wrestle.

Hesitantly, I put my palm in his. He grips my hand tight and then pulls me in to his broad chest.

“Pitching arm,” I remind him.

“Right.” He eases up and I step back, still not sure what to make of the change in them.

As they wander off, I rub my right arm protectively. Earl walked in at some point, and he smiles as he watches Gunnar and Bo retreat.

“Big game tonight,” Earl says.

“Yeah,” I agree.

“How are you feeling about facing your old teammates?”

He remembered. To be honest, half the reason I’d called my dad was because I wanted someone to talk to about the extra pressure of tonight. My first time going up against my old team. I don’t hold any grudges against them for letting me go, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be at my absolute best tonight.

“Barely feels like they were my team anymore,” I say. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m enjoying being a Mustang. The things I didn’t like about it in the beginning have become quirks that make this place unique. From the weird smell in the showers to the vending machine that routinely steals money, I don’t know, this place feels more like home than other teams did.

“Still, I’m sure you want to show them what they’re missing out on.”

“Yeah.” I don’t deny that.

It feels like good timing honestly. My pitching is the most consistent it’s ever been and now that I’m getting that under control, I should be able to start throwing harder.

I nudge Earl with my forearm as I prepare to change the subject. “You were right. I had JT start watching my front foot. It’s made a big difference.”

Earl grins proud but then smooths it out, almost like he’s embarrassed to have noticed it all. “Someone else would have noticed eventually.”

“Maybe.” I shrug. “But they didn’t. You did. You ever think about coaching again?”

“I’m too old for that. I had my time. And who would keep this place up?” He waves a hand around the room before giving me a face that tells me he thinks it’s a ludicrous idea.

“You’re good at it. A lot of guys could benefit from your eye. You see things other people don’t.”

“I appreciate it, kid, but I’m happy where I’m at and the team has plenty of coaches with a lot more experience than me.”

I can’t tell if he’s telling the truth or not about being happy, but I decide not to push. At least for now.

JT walks into the room and moves to his usual warm-up spot. When I catch his eye, he grins wide and gives me a thumbs-up.

“Looks like your teammates are ready to help you show the Twins what they’re missing out on,” Earl says with a small chuckle.

“Yeah.” I return the thumbs-up at JT and then look off in the direction Gunnar and Bo disappeared. Is that what earlier was about? No matter the reason, I’m glad they’re ready to play tonight.

“I need to do my rounds, but give ’em hell out there.” He pats me on the shoulder.

“I will.”

I go over to JT and fall back into stretches next to him.

“You ready to do the damn thing tonight, Holland?” he asks me, his head bobs to the music playing over the speakers.

“Yeah. I am.”

He glances at my right arm. “Any soreness or pain?”

“Nah, man, I’m good to go.”

“Need an early pep talk?”

I laugh. JT is by far the best catcher I’ve played with. Not only is he great at correcting me during the game, he’s also just a good guy. He knows my quirks and patterns. He reminds me to take my time when I rush or notes differences in my mechanics that cause bad outcomes. I’m at my best when I’m feeling somewhere between playful and competitive. If I try too hard, I get in my head. If I’m too mellow, then I can pull back. JT has strung together the best pregame playlists and warm-up pep talks to keep my mind right.

“I’m good,” I say. “You need anything?”

He lunges to the right side, stretching his quads and hips. “That depends. You know any good pep talks?”

“No. Just a warning. I’m going to throw hard tonight.”

“That’s the best pep talk I’ve ever heard.” His expression softens and his eyes crinkle at the corners with a smile. He holds out a fist to me and I bump mine against it.