“It was on the cash,” Victor mentioned. “So was mine. He simply beat us.”

“I nonetheless bought it,” I mentioned, twirling a finger within the air.

“All proper, properly, whenever you’re executed consuming filth, you’ve one out left and three runs. No extra ghost runners after that play,” Graham mentioned, at all times the one able to retaining rating in his head. He may not have been nice at math at school, however the man might deal with 5 completely different baseball scores, ghost runners, strikes, balls, outs, and the rest associated to baseball simply.

I nodded and compelled myself to my elbow. One thing twinged in my shoulder, however I ignored it. I typically had bother with that shoulder when doing bodily stuff. It damage, however not that badly. A pair Tylenol and a shot of whiskey ought to make it positive.

Not less than sufficient to get via the ceremony.

“Right here we go,” Graham mentioned. “I’m not enjoying round anymore.”

He was strolling again to the mound, and I struggled to my toes, searching for the bat I’d flipped whereas jogging to first earlier than I turned on the jets. I discovered it rolled up in opposition to the caged dugout and meandered over to select it up, taking my time so I might catch my breath. Once I bought again within the batter’s field, I knew I had little or no in me, and I half-heartedly swung at two pitches, making an attempt my greatest to make contact with them and lacking. Graham was on a mission to strike me out, and he did so, simply.

After the out, I tossed my bat and helmet to the plate, giving up my spot for Victor to return in and take his shot. Ryan was already on his approach to the infield, biking nearer to the plate for his subsequent at-bat. As he handed me, Victor tossed me his glove, and I slipped it on, heading into the outfield. I used to be barely on the quick grass when Ryan referred to as out my title.

“Huh?” I requested.

“I mentioned are you all proper?”

“Yeah, I’m positive, simply drained from operating,” I mentioned.

“No, not that,” Ryan mentioned, jogging over to me. We each glanced at the remainder of the fellows. Graham was stretching his arm, Mark his legs, and Victor was simply becoming the helmet on his head. We had a number of moments to kill.

“I’m good,” I mentioned. “Nervous. However good.”

“Nervous in regards to the wedding ceremony or being married?”

“The marriage, I feel,” I mentioned. “I’m extra excited than something to be married. Kristen is… man, I’m in love with that lady.”

Ryan smiled and smacked me on my shoulder. The twinge inside bought a bit of louder, however I attempted to not let on to it.

“I understand how that feels,” he mentioned. “All of us have been speaking the opposite day about how a lot you’ve modified this 12 months.”

“For the higher, I hope,” I mentioned. Ryan nodded.

“For the higher,” he mentioned. “Not as finicky and gruff on a regular basis.”

“Hey now.”

Ryan put his palms up, the glove comically bigger than the opposite hand.

“Simply saying,” he mentioned. “We’re glad to see you cheerful for as soon as. She’s been good for you. We’re simply blissful for you, bro.”

“Thanks, Ryan,” I mentioned. “I respect that.”

“All proper, sufficient with the sappy bullshit,” Ryan mentioned. “We’ve bought two hours earlier than we’ve got to get you again to the ranch and get you prepared for the marriage.”

With that, he trotted again towards second base, and I took up place in middle left. Victor was right-handed, and from childhood had been a reasonably dependable pull-hitter. If he bought one thing to the outfield, it was more than likely getting into left.

Certain sufficient, the primary pitch he noticed, he cracked deep into left subject, a floater with plenty of airtime. I took off towards the ball, optimistic I had a bead on it and was going to get a simple out. However the nearer I bought to the ball, the farther away it appeared. Because it dropped, I turned on the jets as greatest as I might, however I used to be nonetheless going to overlook it.

Except.

I dove, laying out utterly and watching the ball land simply into the tip of my glove. It smacked into the webbing, and I pulled it tight to my chest as I attempted to show in mid-air. Defending the ball, I slammed into the grass, laborious, and felt a direct white-hot, searing ache go over my shoulder and down my arm.

“Fuck!” I cried out as my physique stopped sliding, and I rolled over onto my again, clutching my arm.

“Shit,” I heard somebody say, after which there was the pounding of cleats coming towards me with mumbles of voices behind it.

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