Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
And as I crouch behind the plate, scanning the field for the next pitch, I feel the usual rush of satisfaction. There’s nothing like being in the thick of a high-stakes game—rules, tempers, and all. This is baseball, and I’m here to make sure it’s played fair.
If that means facing off against Ripley “Riptide” Johnson, so be it. Because I might sweat in this summer heat, and I might get screamed at by managers and players alike, but there’s one thing I never do: I never compromise the integrity of the game. And if Riptide wants a fight, he’ll learn soon enough that I’m not the type to back down from a challenge.
2
Ripley
I’m still riding the high of our win as I stride into the locker room, cleats clacking against the concrete. The place reeks of sweat and sports drinks, but for me, it smells like victory—despite the fact that the new umpire did everything in her power to sabotage me. Okay, maybe not everything, but she sure as hell handed the other team a free run with that balk call. If we’d lost, I might’ve lost my mind.
I drop onto the bench in front of my locker and start unlacing my cleats. Fenway’s the first to wander over, a lazy grin on his face. “Hey, Riptide. Nice job out there, minus that hiccup.”
“Hiccup?” I glare at him, but I can’t help smirking. “That ‘hiccup’ almost blew the game for us.”
“Dude, we won!” Fenway says, slapping my shoulder. “Way to bounce back.”
Mike, toweling off his hair, jumps in. “And you can’t blame the newbie ump for calling it like she saw it. Maybe you should have made your move less… questionable.”
I huff. “Questionable? Come on, that was a clean pick-off attempt. She just—she didn’t see it right, that’s all.”
Jace, never one to miss an opportunity, laughs. “Or maybe she saw it fine and you’re just salty.”
“Shut up, Jace,” I grumble, which only makes him laugh harder. I roll my eyes and change the subject. “By the way, did any of you notice who was under that umpire’s mask? I mean, she pulls it off, and—bam.”
Fenway wiggles his eyebrows. “So Riptide did notice. Thought you only had eyes for the strike zone.”
“She blindsided me,” I admit. “I wasn’t expecting someone who looked… well, like that. Didn’t mean I appreciated the call. But still.”
Mike whistles low, clearly amused. “I sense a little tension in the air.”
“Yeah, the tension of me wanting to never deal with her again,” I say quickly, trying to rein in my thoughts. She may be beautiful, but still. I shrug and push up from the bench. “Anyway, I’m out of here. I gotta pick Juniper up from my sister’s place.”
“Give the kid a high five from me,” Fenway calls.
“Sure thing,” I say. “If she’s still awake.”
I swing by Hattie’s place around nine. She lives in a cozy little house in a cul-de-sac with a big oak tree out front that Juniper loves to climb—at least, whenever Hattie lets her. The moment I knock, the door flies open, and Juniper barrels into me, nearly knocking me off my feet.
“Daddy!” she squeals, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I heard you won your game!”
“That’s right, Junebug,” I say, ruffling her curls. “We pulled it off. Barely.”
Hattie appears behind her, hands on her hips. “Barely, huh? I was watching the highlights online. Looked like you gave everyone a heart attack.”
I roll my eyes and lead them back into the living room. “The new umpire—Kali something—decided to call a balk on me. A balk!” I throw my hands up dramatically. “Totally unnecessary. She’s brand new, and she’s already going rogue.”
Hattie snorts and plops down on the couch. “So, is this ‘rogue’ umpire also the one you were staring at when she pulled off her mask?” she says, arching a thin brow in a way that suggests she’s heard rumors. “I think everyone noticed.”
I feel heat rush up my neck. “I—I wasn’t staring,” I protest, dropping my duffel bag near the coffee table. “I was surprised, is all. I thought she was just another guy behind the plate. Didn’t expect…” I realize Juniper’s eyes are on me, big and curious. “Never mind.”
Hattie laughs. “Oh, come on, lighten up. So you had a balk called on you. Did your buddy Fenway have anything to say about it?” Her eyes dart nervously around.
It’s no secret my sister’s had the hots for my best friend, Fenway. I’d just never allow it. I mean, it’s weird, right? I choose to ignore her lame attempt for more information about him, and simply answer her question.
“Fenway was telling me to calm down,” I grumble. “He’s a rookie, but he’s not wrong. Anyway, I kept it together—for the most part. Don’t want to make it easy for them to toss me out.”