42. Cleo

42

CLEO

"Out!" The umpire called, ending the top of the seventh inning.

The Teal Steals ran into the dugout, excitement bubbling. We'd managed to hold off our opponents from scoring a single point, meaning we were still tied. With one at-bat left, all we needed was a single player to cross home plate to win it all.

Marla read out the batting order and our first batter got out onto the field, swinging her bat as we waited for the Dangers to start the inning.

I sat on the bench next to Cat, my leg shaking with nerves.

"I thought it was just for fun." Cat winked as she put a reassuring hand on my leg.

"Well, it is… but winning is the most fun." Wiggling my eyebrows, I nudged her shoulders as I watched our batter step up to home base.

Everyone in the dugout leaned forward as the ball went into play. Our eyes were peeled on the action, unable to look away. But that didn't stop anyone from chatting.

Bri, standing on deck, looked at Cat. "I hear you rented a place in town. Tired of being a leech on your brother?"

"Pretty much. I thought I might need more of a base here." Cat put her arm on the back of the bench, not quite touching me but letting me know she was there.

Nodding, Bri walked out onto the field as the umpire called an out. "That's what I like to hear."

I leaned over to Cat. "Don't let her bother you. She was in a love triangle with Sarah and a billionaire like two months ago."

But before she could answer, Bri stepped up to the plate and the dugout went quiet. It was a nail-biter but on the first pitch, Bri managed to hit a ball into deep left field and get to first base before the softball was back in the pitcher's hand.

Our next batter went out onto the field, ready to go. I nudged Cat to get up, she was next up. Grabbing her bat, Cat started breathing heavily, nervous about her last performance. There was a chance she would be the difference between us winning and losing.

She swung her bat slowly a few times, testing out her shoulder after a long game. Before she could get too much practice in, the umpire called another out.

"Shit," I muttered. Two strikes. One more and we'd have to go into an extra inning.

Shaking her head, Cat put on the bulky batting helmet and headed out to the field.

My body wouldn't allow me to stay seated, instead, I stood from the creaky bench and laced my fingers into the chain link fence. I watched as Cat pulled on her leather batting gloves, tightening the velcro around her wrists.

My leg shook as she stepped up to the plate. Looking down at her feet, she squared them with the plate, letting the bat sway in her hands as she settled into position.

The pitcher straightened her cap, knowing how important this play was.

Cat was watching this time, ready to evaluate the pitch before taking a swing. So when the first ball came hurtling toward her, she kept her bat in place.

"Strike!" The umpire hollered.

Good work.

Cat stepped back from the plate while the pitcher reset, her forehead wrinkled with tension. When she got back into place, a light scowl covered her face. I spotted her low elbow but just as I was about to call it out, she met my eyes through the fence.

Without a word, she smiled and lifted it before turning back to the pitcher.

Not wanting to give Cat more time to consider what she'd throw, the pitcher started her windup, the neon yellow ball flying toward home. This time, Cat was ready. She swung just as the ball reached home.

Crack . The bat resounded as the ball zipped past the pitcher's right and to the shortstop. Without hesitating, Cat took off for first. Her hands pumped vigorously like she was being chased by a horde of zombies. She kicked up dust with each pound of her feet.

The umpire's arm stretched out her entire wingspan as Cat ran past first base, her foot thumping against the rubber. "Safe!"

"Yes!" I cheered from behind the fence, watching as Cat doubled over to catch her breath.

"Cleo, on deck." Marla nodded to me, ending my celebration a little early.

Our next batter stepped up to the plate, nervous about the weight of the game being on her shoulders. But she took a deep breath and stepped up.

I grabbed a bat from the edge of the concrete wall of the dugout and took a few practice swings while watching the bases. Bri was on second and Cat was on first. All we needed was for one of them to push it home.

If we can just drive the ball far enough out, one of them can make two bases.

With a gentle dink, the batter tipped the ball to the space between the pitcher's mound and the catcher. Taking advantage of the pair's hesitation, Annie took off to first and so did Bri and Cat.

By the time the pitcher and catcher got themselves in order, the bases were loaded – a teal shirt at every corner of the diamond.

"All you, Cleo." Marla smacked my back as I headed out onto the field, throwing the sweaty batter's helmet on my head.

Sighing, I laughed as I walked to home plate. I was never much of a batter, long ago I was a bit better than Cat but that wasn't saying much. But I knew all I had to do was get it as far out as possible. I just needed to give Bri a chance to make it home without getting out myself.

I nodded to the umpire as I stepped up to the pentagon, dusty from all the gameplay.

Lifting my arms and the bat into place, I took a deep breath. It's just a game. Behind the pitcher's head, Cat watched me closely. A smile played at her cheeks, eager to watch one more play on the field with me.

As the pitcher wound up, I prepared for a fastball. But this time, I wanted to surprise her. I wasn't going to wait to learn her pitch, I'd already figured her out.

So when the ball left her palm and soared toward me, I pulled my arms back and took a swing. I felt the ball lift off the metal bat before I heard the loud ding of the leather being forced out into the field.

Tossing the bat to the sidelines, I took off. The crowd roared, standing to their feet as the ball kept growing farther and farther into the outfield. Watching it, my pace slowed as my jaw dropped. No fucking way.

Bri, Cat, and Annie moved toward their next base, all eyes on the sky as the neon yellow ball started to sink down. The left fielder sprinted toward the back fence, making a desperate attempt to catch the ball and keep the game tied up. But as the ball crashed to the ground just past the chain link, their hopes were dashed.

Bri and Cat cheered as they jogged around the bases. Like a performance, Bri danced on home plate as she passed over it. Cat rounded third base, shaking her head as she watched me move to first.

She crossed home too, with the crowd erupting behind the backstop.

Knowing I'd locked in the game, I laughed and kept jogging. I rounded second base and lifted my arms, taking in every chant and cheer from the watching crowd. As I made the rounds, the Dangers stuck out their hands for me to high-five.

By the time I was turning from third base to home, the entire Teal Steal had come out onto the field. At the front of them, Cat hooted and hollered with arms. I grinned from ear to ear as I joined my team at home plate. As soon as my foot hit the hard rubber, the team swarmed me and wrapped me in their arms.

"Cle-o! Cle-o! Cle-o!" They screamed.

As the group separated into smaller groups, Cat held my arms and shook her head. "Cleo Fontaine, you are a wonder." There, in front of everyone, Cat's hands met my neck as she pulled me in for a kiss. Our lips pressed together, as the field lit up with excitement.