Chapter 23

"Hey, Jacobs! I paid good money to get on a flight to see you throw strikes!"

I hear the voice shout from the stands, and my eyes start raking over the crowd. I'm with some of the guys in the outfield as we warm up for our only game this weekend.

My eyes snag on the brunette who is wearing a CTU Baseball jersey and cutoff denim shorts while leaning over the right side railing. Her face is half hidden behind the baseball cap she's wearing, but I'd recognize that smirk anywhere.

Raising a finger to my catcher, I gesture for him to hold the ball before I take off in a jog to the stands. With a nod toward the security guard, I wait for him to open the gate before I climb the couple of stairs that lead to the seat. She races toward me, and I catch her as she jumps into my arms.

"Leah! What the hell are you doing here?"

"What? Can't a girl surprise her big brother?" I set her back down on her feet and take in my baby sister standing in front of me.

"Of course you can, but you should have told me you were coming. I would've made sure you had a ride from the airport."

She rolls her eyes, and I smile. God, I missed my sister.

"Don't worry. I got a ride with some guy I met at the airport."

My eyes widen, and my jaw drops. "Leah, you cannot—"

Her laugh fills the space between us. "Relax, big brother. I took an Uber and then stalked your friends on Instagram to get some details."

I glance past her and find Brynn and Quinton in the stands with some more of our friends. Looking past them, I watch as Chloe descends the steps behind them, her eyes watching me talk to Leah. There's a flash of jealousy in her eyes, and I have to say, green looks good on my girl.

Brushing past my sister, I reach down and grab her hand in mine, pulling her behind me. "What the hell, Cody?" she asks, but I'm too busy trying to get to the girl who stole my heart.

We both pause as our eyes lock on each other—her halfway down the stairs and me at the bottom. I rake my hand over my face as I take in Chloe's outfit.

Damn, my Wildflower is pretty.

Standing before me, she's not in her typical outfit of a dress or skirt. Instead, she's dressed more casually in a pair of black leggings that hug her body deliciously and a red baseball jersey that's left unbuttoned exposing a white T-shirt knotted in the front revealing a sliver of her toned stomach. But that's not what steals my breath away. No, it's the gray baseball cap with a longhorn across the front. Because I know that if she were to turn around, my last name would be embroidered on the back.

I can't believe she still has the hat I wore during the summer league.

Her eyes bounce from mine to Leah standing behind me before recognition crosses her face. I chuckle as I watch her body physically relax. We both start closing the distance between us, and I grip her face between my hands before crushing my lips to hers.

She pulls away, her eyes widening at the very public display. Granted there's still time before the game starts, but that doesn't mean the stands haven't started filling up.

"Wildflower, I want you to meet my sister." I turn toward my sister and watch a giddy Leah climb the stairs.

"Oh my gosh, this is her?!" Leah squeals, pushing past me and wrapping Chloe up in her arms.

Chloe's eyes widen, the gesture catching her off guard. Leah pulls back and holds Chloe at arm's distance. "I've heard so much about you."

"Jacobs!" I turn to find Hudson standing on the field with his arms thrown out in a ‘what the fuck' manner.

I turn toward my sister and give her one more hug. "Have fun and behave."

"Don't lose." I shake my head before leaning down and giving Chloe another kiss. "Are you coming down today?"

"You should sit with me!" Leah chimes in. The idea of my two favorite ladies sitting together warms my heart and scares the shit out of me at the same time. Leah isn't afraid to share all kinds of embarrassing stories about me.

A wide smile stretches Chloe's lips, and I know the decision before she even says anything. "I guess I could cover the game from the stands. Maybe work on an angle from the fans' standpoint."

"Have fun, you two."

"Good luck," Chloe says. Giving her a wink, I turn and jog down the steps and back out onto the field.

Nolan tosses me a ball as he squats back down in his catcher's stance. Rotating my shoulders, I tip my head from side to side letting the tension ease as I get my game-day face on.

"You good?" Hud asks, coming up to stand beside me.

"Did you know Leah was coming?" I glance out of the corner of my eye, and I can't read his expression. "She messaged me to make sure she could crash at our house."

I nod before I throw the ball to Nolan.

Fifteen minutes later we are walking out onto the field to line up for the playing of the national anthem. With a glance over my shoulder, I wink at my girl who is watching me before she throws her head back in a laugh, no doubt over something Leah said. It feels good to see my sister relaxed and having fun.

Turning my attention back to the mound, I shut my mind off and get focused on the game ahead of us. A guy with a TV camera is coming down our line, but I don't pay him any attention.

As the anthem ends, we all clap before turning back to the dugout where we jog to get our gloves.

It's time to play ball.

With a deep breath, I head out to the dirt-covered mound. My gaze snaps to each one of my teammates who take their spots behind me. This is it. We are in the top of the ninth inning up five to nothing as I get ready to pitch in the last inning of the game. We are three outs away from me pitching the best game of my career with the chance to end this game with a no-hitter. Typically at this point in the game, I'd be pulled out with our closer in, but Coach must feel the same thing I do.

This is my game to break records.

The section in the right-center field has boards of backward Ks attached to the wall, and I cannot believe how well this game is going.

Nolan jogs from his position behind home plate to where I'm standing on the mound, kicking the dirt just how I like it.

"You've got this, bro. It's just me and you behind the plate." I give him a tight nod as he taps my shoulder with his glove before heading back to his spot.

The crowd is loud as claps and cheers ring out in the stadium as the first batter steps up to the plate. We are back to the top of Loganville's batting order, which means their top hitters are looking to get a hit off to end the streak and my chances of a no-hitter.

Adjusting my hat, I look ahead and wait for the batter to get into position and quit his whole pre-hit ritual. Resting my gloved hand on my chin, there's only a small gap between it and my hat, but it's enough for me to narrow my eyes and wait for Nolan to give the pitch call.

The music cuts out as the batter takes his stance. I watch the bat go up and down as he awaits the pitch. With one last inhale, I start the pitching process. Digging my foot in the dirt, powering through the step, and letting the ball fly out of my fingers, the last thing I feel is the rough texture of the stitching.

I watch the bat come around and miss the ball. The loud "thwack" of the ball hitting Nolan's leather causes the crowd to erupt.

The next two pitches go the same. One out, two to go. I turn my back to the plate and take a few slow strides away from the mound while I wait for the next batter. Turning I walk back to the mound, bouncing my shoulders up and down. My adrenaline is pumping, and I can hardly stand still.

But I have to.

I have to focus on the next pitch. Eyeing Nolan down, I watch him move his fingers in a sequence to call out the pitch. He calls for a slider, and I shake my head. He taps the side of his leg before giving a new sequence. Curveball inside? I nod.

The pitch is in the air, and I wait, unable to breathe, as I watch the batter step forward and swing. Somehow the ball grazes right over the metal bat just missing a connection.

Tipping my head to the side, I let out a long exhale as I crack my neck. Nolan tosses me the ball back, and I resume my position.

These are the moments where all of the hard work and dedication pay off. All the long days throwing in the backyard. The years of traveling to play endless games.

Throwing up a hand, the batter calls for time as he steps out of the box to talk to his third base coach. I take the moment to step off the mound, and without thought, my eyes find Chloe in the stands. She's standing in between Brynn and my sister with her hands folded under her chin where her head rests. Her lips are moving, but I can't make out what she's saying. I opt to give her a wink. She catches the movement and smiles before sending a wink back to me.

Damn, I love that girl.

Love? Yeah, it's safe to say I love Chloe Mariano. I have since our summer together.

Since I'd pick her up after her shift at the diner, and we'd spend all day together before she'd come to my games. Chloe would look so pretty in the stands in her infamous sundresses, hair braided down her back, or in pigtails with my hat perched on top of her head. For some games, she'd sit with rapt attention watching pitch after pitch while some days she'd sit with her nose stuck between the pages of her latest book. It never bothered me when she would rather pay more attention to her novels than to my game. There was a comfort that would wash over me when I'd look up and find her in the stands.

It's the same comfort I feel right now.

I shake the thoughts from my head, reining in my inner thoughts and focusing on the job at hand. Bending at the waist, I wait for my pitch call.

Standing, I go through my motions and fire a fastball right down the center causing the batter to whiff. The next pitch has the same result. And just like that, I'm one batter away from pitching the game of my life.

A no-hitter.

But the next guy to step up to the plate has the hair rising on my arms as dread pools in my stomach.

Mark Daniels is one of the top hitters in the league. The weight of this game lies solely on his shoulders. He's a tough competitor, one I've been facing since high school where he played on the rival team. Throughout our years, we've had quite the duel between us. I've learned his quirks, but he's also learned my cues.

He lines up at the plate, his eyes staring me down. I don't let him see that I'm worried. I'm not, but I'm also not not worried.

Nolan gives me the sign, and I deliver the pitch as a crack pierces the air. I whip my head in the direction of the outfield and watch the ball in the air.

Go foul. Go foul. Go fucking foul.

"Foul," the outfield umpire shouts, and I could drop to my knees with relief. Fuck that was a close one.

Coach steps out from the dugout, calling time as he makes his way to the mound. He better not be pulling me out of this game.

"Jacobs, you doing okay?" Coach asks, standing in front of me while the rest of the infield circles around us. The circle gives us a little bit of privacy.

Nodding my head, "Yeah, Coach, I'm good. I've got this."

"I know you do. Just wanted to come out here and calm you down. We've got your back, Jacobs."

"We got you," the guys say as they swat me with their gloves.

Everyone jogs back to their positions, including Coach who stops at the steps of the dugout. The stadium starts clapping as everyone shows their support before quieting down as Daniels and I get into our positions.

Ripping the ball through the air, it's low, but not low enough to be called a ball.

"One more to go, baby!" Billings shouts from third base.

One more.

Nolan gives a sign, and I shake my head.

He gives another sign. I give him a tight-lipped expression and shake my head.

Nolan's eyes go over to Coach who is giving him a sign that he translates into our sign. A small smirk finds my lips, and I nod.

Powering off the mound, the ball flies through the air. I watch as Daniels steps forward, rotating his hips. He's swinging, but the ball changes up speed and dies down. Daniels misses the ball as Nolan catches it in his mitt.

"Strike three!"

The crowd erupts as the guys race toward the mound.

Holy shit. I just pitched a no-hitter.

I can't keep the smile from erupting across my face as the guys start jumping on me, and if I'm not careful, we're going to end up in a dog pile, and I'll be underneath them.

"Hell yeah, man!" Nolan says first.

"Dude, you called the pitches."

"Yeah, but you threw them, fucker!"

Hudson chimes in next. "You fucking did it!"

Yeah, I fucking did it!

I turn to head toward the dugout, but my feet plant like I'm stuck in cement as my girl stands just outside the dugout. She's holding a camera to her face as she clicks away, her wide smile shines from behind the lens. My heart stops as I take her in.

I love watching her in her element. I know this isn't the assignment she was hoping to have, but she's crushing it. I'm in awe of her talent. Not only does Chloe have a way with words, but she has an eye for photography. I'm also selfishly glad she got assigned to cover our team. It was the push we both needed to mend our shattered past.

Before I have a chance to go to Chloe, my sister is flinging herself at me. I'm able to catch her before she tackles me.

"Bub! I'm so damn proud of you!" Leah screams as she wraps her arms around my neck. I squeeze her back.

"Thanks, sister!" I set her back down on her feet as I wrap my arm over her shoulders. The two of us make our way over to Chloe.

"Now let's go celebrate my birthday." She tosses the words out so casually over her shoulder. Spinning around, she gives me a wink before adding, "Oh, and I guess we can celebrate the best game of your career."

Chloe sidles up next to me, and I bend down wrapping my arms around her waist and lifting her off her feet. Our lips find each other for a brief moment before she pulls me back. "Put me down, Cody."

Rolling my eyes, I do as I'm told. "I'm so proud of you. That game was insane."

"Thanks, Wildflower. I saw you up there freaking out."

She scoffs. "I wasn't freaking out. I was just praying to the baseball gods to let this be your big game."

"Well, it paid off."

"It sure did." She bumps my shoulder as I step down into the dugout.

"I'm taking your sister with me to the house, and then we'll head to your place."

"Be careful."

"I'm always careful."

Leaning down, I can't resist the urge to kiss her one more time. "I know you are, but Leah is…well she's a troublemaker who isn't under my dad's roof this weekend."

She smirks before turning and walking away from me.

Some of the guys stop her at the top of the dugout. They say something that makes her head tilt back in laughter and a pang of jealousy runs through my veins.

She must sense it too because she finds me watching her and gives me a wink.

With a wink back, I turn to make my way through the door that leads to the hallway where our locker room is.

It's time to celebrate.