Spotlight: Chapter 11

A week into our spring training games and they’re all starting to blur together.

While I warm up, my gaze drifts to the seats beyond first base. The ones where Olivia and her family sat last weekend. She hasn’t been back, but every game I keep checking just in case.

I fire another pitch. It’s feeling good today. I’m locked in and ready to have a better showing than Tuesday, where I had a setback with inconsistent throws. Some days I can’t seem to find that rhythm no matter how hard I try, and other days it comes so easily. Our pitching coach, Wayne, says to give it time, but time feels like the one thing I don’t have. I only get into a game twice a week and the rest of the time I’m sitting on the bench impatiently waiting for my next turn. I know how important it is to get it right when opportunities show up and today feels like one of those moments.

JT stands with the ball in one hand. He lifts his face mask. “Be right back. I think I got something in my left eye. I can’t see for shit.”

I nod and he takes off toward the dugout. I’m in my head, trying to lock in this feeling right now. Turning it over in my mind, memorizing it. What did I eat for breakfast? Which shoe did I lace up first? Without thinking, I glance back to the crowd trickling into their seats and my heart stops.

Olivia.

Her blonde hair is pulled back into a ponytail, and she wears the same Arizona Mavericks’ hat she had on last time. Is she trying to torture me by wearing my brothers’ team swag?

My pulse races as I watch her take her seat. She’s looking at Greer next to her, but I stare long enough she finally looks up at me. My mouth curves into a smile and I lift a hand in a wave. She turns around like she thinks I’m waving to someone else.

I laugh to myself. This girl.

“How’s the arm feeling today?”

The question startles me, and I turn my attention to Earl, the facilities’ guy, as he approaches me.

I look at him, then back to Olivia, who no longer is staring my way.

“Really good,” I say, giving him my attention.

I like the guy. Every time I see him, he has a kind word and a smile for me.

“That’s what I like to hear. My wife’s coming today, and I promised her a good game.”

“That makes two of us hoping to impress a woman.”

“Girlfriend?”

“Not yet, but I’m working on it.”

“Ah, I see.” His smile grows. “In that case, I like our odds. Men tend to do their best work when they’re motivated by a woman.”

JT jogs up to us. He flashes a smile and nods at Earl. “Good to go. Sorry about that.”

“Have a good game today, boys,” Earl says, tipping the brim of his hat to us as he walks off.

As JT and I continue warming up, Earl’s words keep coming back to me. Coach Wayne comes over and watches me throw a few, nodding and giving me a few pointers.

“All set?” JT asks when we’re done and walking toward the bench. It’s almost game time, and I like to have a few minutes before I take the mound to visualize and get my head right.

“Yeah.”

I must look as in my head as I feel because JT gives me a strange look.

“I need to do something really quick, then I’m ready.”

He keeps staring then nods as if he’s pieced it together. “Nervous pooper?”

“What?” I ask, laughing.

“It’s fine. I’ve seen it all. Freddie used to run off the field before the start of every game to vomit. By the end of his rookie season, it finally went away. Eat light and drink lots of coffee early in the day to clean out your system.”

“My stomach is fine, but thanks for the tips.” I clap him on the shoulder and then take off past the dugout to where the tunnel leads to the locker rooms. There’s a stairwell off to the left that goes to the stadium seats. I nod at a guard and pass by him, then quickly make my way up to the first level.

Greer spots me before her mom does. She aims a shy smile at me and says, “Archer’s brother!”

Olivia’s head snaps up and those stunning blue eyes lock on me. Her surprise morphs to amusement quickly.

“Flynn Holland. Watching the game from the stands today?” she asks with a taunt in her voice that makes my body come alive.

“You came!” I try to hold back my excitement, but the smile on my face doesn’t want to relax.

“Was I not supposed to?”

“I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been meaning to stop by the bookstore, but practices and games have been long.”

“Need more Ruby Madison recommendations?”

“That depends. Does she have a book on how to convince you to go out with me?”

She lets out a nervous-sounding laugh. “I can’t go out with you.”

“I know you said you weren’t dating, but that’s just because you’ve been out with some real ass—” I stop myself when I remember Greer is listening in. “Jerks. Let me prove to you that good guys still exist.”

“Are you one of the good guys in this scenario?” she asks all sass but smiling.

“You know that I am.”

“Do I? Because I seem to remember you leaving me all alone in a hotel room.”

“A mistake I won’t ever make again,” I say playfully, but I’m dead serious.

“It isn’t a good idea.”

“Because your best friend is engaged to my brother? Because you know I think I could break them up if needed.”

She lets out a loud laugh and her shoulders relax. “It isn’t because of that.”

“Good because I was lying. Archer is more likely to disown me than break up with her.”

Her smile pulls higher.

“Go out with me, Olivia,” I say. I don’t have much time before Coach realizes I’m missing and mingling with the fans.

She stares at me, a million emotions crossing her face. I can tell she’s conflicted, which means there’s a part of her that wants to say yes.

“You have a game to win.” She looks past me to the field, which probably means people have noticed I’m gone.

“If we win, then will you go out with me?”

She stares at me with an incredulous look, but still doesn’t give in.

Some older gentleman with a bald head and deep lines around his eyes and mouth calls out to her, “Make him throw a no-hitter, honey. I’ve never seen one and this might be my last chance.”

I give him a –

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look and glance back at Olivia.

“You heard the guy,” she says with a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.

“Done. If I throw a no-hitter, then you’ll go out with me.”

“You’re serious?” Her brows lift.

I nod my agreement.

“Do you know how rare those are?” she asks.

Now it’s my turn to laugh. “As rare as meeting a woman like you probably.”

Her jaw drops like she can’t believe I just said that. My brothers would give me so much shit for a line like that, but I mean it.

“Only three in the last three years. None in history for the Mustangs,” the old guy pipes in.

Olivia looks nervous for me. Too late now.

“Do we have a deal?” I ask.

“Sure, Hotshot. You throw a no-hitter, and I’ll go out with you.” The way she smirks I know she thinks there’s no chance in hell I’ll pull it off.

But this is one bet I know I won’t lose.