37. Cat

37

CAT

Walking across the damp grass together, Cleo and I made our way to the field. The Championships were the next day and this would be our last practice for the season.

It was odd to see just how different we were now compared to just a couple of months ago. But as we walked into the dugout, our sneakers crunching the sand under our feet, the reality of the time we'd spent together really set in.

"What the hell?" Cleo gawked as they turned toward the field.

A smile snuck onto my face as I followed their gaze. The field had been freshly made over, new sand had been laid around the diamond. New, bright white bases drew our eyes to each corner of the field.

Cleo whipped their head around to look at me. "Did you do this?"

With a shrug, I sat down on the bench to put on my cleats. "Maybe."

"That's insane." Cleo shook their head as they slipped on their cleats. I'd never seen them move so quickly for anything except getting on base.

Once their shoes were on, Cleo ran out of the dugout, using the metal pole at the end of the chain link fence to slingshot themself onto the field. "How did you get this done without me noticing?"

Chuckling, I followed behind Cleo. But I leaned against the fence post and watched them jog around the field. "I just reached out to the town and asked how much it would cost."

"You paid for it yourself?" Cleo gawked at me as they came to a halt near the pitcher's mound. All of the new sand had been tamped down just right after being put in place.

"Yeah, but I had the town do the work so it'd all be done to their codes." I crossed my arms, nervous that Cleo would hate it. They had been so reluctant to take my help at all over the last few months. "I just knew that the league would never have the money to actually fix the fields. So I thought I'd give y'all a leg up."

Cleo still couldn't believe their eyes as they crossed the field to meet me at the fence.

Watching them get closer to me, I swallowed hard. "Besides, this way, New Winford has the best field so everyone will want to play here."

Once they were close enough, Cleo threw their arms over my neck and whispered. "How sexy, less drive time."

"I think so." I winked as I pulled their waist closer to me, letting our lips meet. "We should get practicing." Luckily, it was a Friday which meant the paparazzi who had finally caught on to our early Monday morning sessions had no idea we'd be out here.

After a moment, we separated and grabbed our equipment from the dugout. Cleo put on all of their catcher's gear including the black pad that covered their entire torso. When we'd first started training, my throws weren't strong enough to warrant wearing the entire set. But now, I was nearing my old professional speeds.

We walked out onto the field, both of us taking our places. Stepping onto the brand-new pitcher's mound made my chest tight. It felt like a pro field, the closest I'd been to one since my injury.

I put my old, worn glove on my hand. A far better fit, the glove was much easier for me to use. I knew I'd have to get a new one eventually if I had any hope of preserving whatever was left of this one. But for now, the familiarity – just like having Cleo catch – was more valuable.

Starting with a few warm-up throws, I felt my muscles loosen with each throw. I'd made a point to go back to the gym and strengthen my body. It was a luxury to spend all of my days trying to get back to my peak physical shape. And standing on the mound today, I felt like I had succeeded.

With every throw, I felt my abs supporting every movement, my thighs holding my knees in the correct spot.

"Ready?" Cleo nodded as they prepared to crouch down.

"Yes, ma'am." I smiled as I took my position on the strip of new rubber.

Squatting, Cleo settled into themself and held up their glove for my throw.

I took in a deep breath, settling my lungs as I tried to stay in this moment. It was easy for my mind to think about the next day, to try and predict how the Championships would go and what would happen after I proved my skills again.

But that wasn't why I was here. Instead, I watched Cleo's glove and turned my body forward, holding the leather close to my chest. I felt the stitches of the softball in my right hand, letting my calloused fingers remember the ball's weight.

Starting my wind up, I lifted my arm overhead while stepping forward. As the ball and my arm dropped down my side to my hip, I released the ball. Following through, I dragged my right leg behind me to finish the throw.

I watched the ball fling toward Cleo, who kept their glove just below their chin.

Clap . The ball met their glove as a cloud of dust rose from the leather.

In one fluid motion, Cleo grabbed the ball from inside the glove and stood before throwing it back to me. "You can do it faster."

"It was my first pitch." I rolled my eyes as I lifted my glove to catch the incoming neon ball.

"When did you start making so many excuses?" Cleo winked under the metal face guard.

Scoffing at them, I got back into position. I knew I could always count on Cleo to bring the sass. It's why I'd asked them to help me to begin with, a little bullying went a long way.

Each throw grew faster than the last as we kept practicing. It wasn't until I was consistently throwing faster than sixty miles per hour that Cleo allowed me to stop. The idea of throwing something that fast at a recreational league's Championships made me laugh.

"You're going to have to turn it way down at the game." Cleo shook their head as they changed out of the catcher's gear.

"No kidding," I teased. "But we can go all out for warm-ups and between innings."

Stepping closer to me, Cleo sighed. "Plus, all they're really looking for is progress. They want to know you're doing better and back to your old self. Even if your pitch is a little off, you're still the best in the pros."

Clicking my tongue, I met their blue eyes. "Aw, you really think so?"

Cleo rolled their eyes before putting their palm on my neck and tugging me closer. "I know so. And this is the only time I'll say it."

I closed the gap between us and kissed them again. Their lips were soft, a light, salty sweat lingering just above their mouth. Wrapping my arms around them, I felt my heart begin to race. We'd spent far too much time in each other's beds to be this excited still.

But I felt like I'd unlocked a passion that had been buried for the last five years and I wasn't about to cage it again.

Just as Cleo's breath grew ragged with anticipation, they pulled away. "We still have to work on your batting before we do… this." Their eyes wandered up and down my body.

Of course they were right, but I hated admitting it. "Fine."

With a wink, Cleo took their glove out to the pitcher's mound. I watched their ass sway with each step, wanting to run out there and throw them down on the grass. But instead, I grabbed my bat from the dugout and headed for home plate.

After tomorrow, there would be plenty of time for that. But for now, I was on a mission, and I was running out of time.