I hope they aren’t running late.
My attention is pulled back to the field when Knight takes the pitcher’s mound, and rolling my neck to loosen the muscles, I hear my name being called.
“Kai!”
I look over to my left and none of the guys seem to be trying to get my attention.
“Malakai!”
“Third Base!”
“Number Seven!”
I turn to the stands and there she is, front and center, looking so fucking pretty with her long hair pulled into a ponytail, a Coyotes hat on her head and my jersey. I almost blow her a kiss, but with Gene standing next to her, I opt not to.Okay, I can relax now.I give my family a wave and focus back on the game.
Bottom of the eighth and I’m next at bat. We’re down by two runs and their pitcher’s finally throwing some heat. Gael struck out and so did O’Malley; that’s two outs in the inning. I’m taking a few practice swings when I hear the bat crack and the crowd goes wild! Jackson sent the ball high and long, and he made it all the way to third base before the ball went back to the pitcher.
Fuck, no pressure.
None at all.
“You’re up, Vaughn!”
My walk-up song starts. “Code Red” plays for the fifteenseconds as I run out to home plate and set up. I raise my bat and close my eyes for a second, centering myself. The music stops and my eyes fly open, zeroed in on the pitcher’s arm.
“You’ve got this, Kai!” Jackson yells from third.
I’ve got this.
The pitcher winds back and launches the ball straight over my head.
“Ball.”
Come on. Give me something I can hit.
I step back and set up again as the ball gets thrown to the pitcher.
Let me show my girl what I can do.
Not that Isla doesn’t already know I’m a decent player. She probably knows my stats better than I do. Better than my mom and her dad, for sure.
The pitcher winds back again, and this one has some heat, perfectly centered, and I let it rip. The bat meets the ball with a loud crack, sending it sailing to right field, hitting the wall, and rolling in the dirt. I take off like a bat out of hell, my cleat hitting the corner of first base as I round it. Jackson makes it home and if the crowd’s shouting, I can’t hear it. My heartbeat is thumping in my ears as I hit second base, then head straight for third. I see Isla screaming, motioning for me to keep going, and I do. Hitting the base, I pivot and head for home plate. The catcher is yelling for the ball and I drop to a slide, my shin crossing right as the ball hits his glove and he brings it down to tap my thigh.
“Safe!”
The stadium goes crazy. My first game in the majors and I hit a home run to tie the game. What is this life? The best part about all of it was my girl sitting in the stands watching me do it. I’m on a high like nothing I’ve ever felt before, and this is only the beginning.
Bradshaw walks, Sanford hits a single, and Ward walks,which makes bases loaded; my home run must have shaken their pitcher. Kennedy goes up to bat and strikes out, ending the inning. Top of the ninth, tie game, and it’s almost over. If we keep our shit tight and Knight keeps throwing fire, we’re going to be okay.
“Keep it up, Kai!” Her voice cuts through the noise of the crowd, clear as day.
My girl.
She’s my girl.
I can’t wait to get over the hurdle of our parents and start living our lives in public. Will the media have a shit show with it?Probably.But I don’t give a fuck. As soon as we’re done telling them at dinner, I’ll talk to whoever I’ve got to for the team and go public. All I know is that I’m not giving her up.
Knight strikes out their first three batters without even breaking a sweat and we hit the plate again. Heading into the bottom of the ninth, Monroe is up to bat. He strikes out but Gael hits a single on his first pitch. The Mets change up their pitcher; Emiliano Guerrero hits the mound and their fans in the stands go wild.
