Page 131 of Payoff Pitch

Five pitches later, there are two strikes and three balls on the batter. A full count. That makes this next pitch the payoff pitch. One of the fathers on the other team even yells about it. I turn and look at Tanner after the man shouts it. His eyes meet mine, and he gives me a small smirk in acknowledgment of the term. God, I miss him. I miss his kisses. I miss the way his body feels on mine. I miss being in his arms. His scent. All of him. I can see in his face that he’s feeling the same. In fact, I see it every time I’m with him. He doesn’t bother to hide it.

Kam mumbles, “Stop ogling Tanner and focus.”

I snap my head back to the game. “Sorry.” I shout, “Come on, Stacey, you’ve got this. No free rides.” Walking this girl would tie the game and put the winning run at third.

She nods as she steps onto the pitching rubber. She winds up and throws the pitch. It’s coming in low. The batter swings and hits a hard ground ball. It’s heading toward the left side of second base. I don’t think Andie can get there, but she proves me wrong. She lays out for the ball, and it skips right into her glove. From the ground, she tosses it up to Harper at second base who secures the first out, plants her left foot, and then throws as hard as her little body is capable of toward first base. So hard that she falls to the ground afterward.

It's a bang-bang play at first. All eyes move to the umpire who signals the final out. Kam gasps. “Holy shit, it worked. Fucking A, they did it.”

Kam and I are hugging, screaming, and jumping up and down in excitement. The girls all start running over to Harper. The parents are all yelling in both shock and happiness.

Kam and I run out to the girls. Harper leaps into my arms and hugs me. “This is the best day of my life, Bails. Thank you. I love you.”

I start crying as I hug her back. “I love you too. I’m so proud of you. All your hard work haspaid off.”

Kam rubs her head. “Harper, you’re a stud.”

She then hugs Andie. “That play was next level, kiddo. I don’t know if I could have made it. Way to get it done.”

Andie has a huge grin on her face as she’s lifted onto Kam’s shoulders. I’m proud of Kam for how far she’s come with these kids this season. It doesn’t come naturally to her, but she found a way to connect with them, albeit unconventional, and it worked.

We briefly join the team pizza party. All the parents express their extreme gratitude for all our time this season. We then head home to get dressed for our night out.

Sulley is dressed and waiting in our living room. I’m looking in my mirror applying my makeup when Kam walks in and asks, “Can we talk?”

I nod. “Of course.”

She plops down on my bed. “I see the way you’re always looking at Tanner and the way he looks at you.”

Tears threaten my eyes. “I know. I’m trying not to, but I can’t help it. It’s hard to explain. I miss the closeness to him. I feel so empty without him.”

She blows out a breath. “I’m not stupid. I know you’re eventually going to end up back in his bed. It’s only a matter of time.”

I’m silent. I’m not sure she’s wrong.

She nods once. “At least you’re not in denial or lying to me. Thank you for that.” She leans back on her hands. “Can I give you a few rules of casual sex that I think would be best for you? I’m not sure you’re capable of it, but if you’re going to do this, I need to at least do everything I can to safeguard your heart from being broken again.”

“Okay. Tell me.”

TANNER

It’s one in the morning and I’m too wired to sleep. I’m still not over what I watched tonight. Harper blows my mind. She’s got more work ethic at eight than most adults ever have. Proud isn’t a big enough word for what I’m feeling for my special little girl.

We all celebrated at a local pizza parlor after the game. Harper then went to Fallon’s. The Windsors are hosting a huge team party at their house next week.

Kam and Bailey only stayed at the celebration for a short time. They said they had plans. It means she’ll be out and about with a line of men wanting to get into her pants.

I hate that the season is over. I won’t get to see Bailey as much. With her own season starting back up again soon, she won’t be able to coach the Snakelets in their summer league, and she won’t be at the house as much. I feel...empty without her.

She’s such a bright, shining light. There’s a dimness and an ache in my chest when she isn’t around. It’s confusing for me. I’ve never been emotionally reliant on anyone, not even Fallon.

I consider going downstairs to pour myself a glass of whiskey, thinking that maybe it will settle me down enough to fall asleep, but then I remember Bailey’s words to me. I don’t want to turn into a man who’s reliant on booze. I’ve cut back a ton since that conversation, trying to only be a social drinker, not a solo drinker.

I can’t get our night in the restaurant bathroom out of my mind. It was so hot. That might have been the hottest sex of my life. I’m not addicted to alcohol. I’m addicted to Bailey Hart.

I’m happily running through each detail of that night when I hear my front door open and then close. What the hell?

In only my boxer briefs, I get out of bed and quietly tiptoe toward the staircase. As I approach the top of the stairs, I see Bailey at the bottom of them pacing. She doesn’t see me at first. She’s mumbling to herself about whether or not she should come upstairs.