Chapter Thirty-Three

Alyssa

“I’m home!” Alyssa tore through the house, looking for her parents. She’d gone straight to Faith’s after her interview, and they’d listened to the game. Kyle had won it for them, but it sounded like Tristan was unraveling. After the game, Kyle had called Faith and told her they had a problem.

And she was the only one who could fix it.

“Where is everyone?”

“In the kitchen!” her mom called, and Buddy tore around a corner to jump on Alyssa’s legs.

“Good boy!” She scratched him but didn’t stop moving. Her parents were sitting at the kitchen table, the remnants of spaghetti on plates in front of them.

Dad perked up when he saw her. “How was the interview?”

“I’m not working there.” She said it with as much force as she could. “I can’t work there. Dad, you do what you need to do, but I’m going to find another job.”

Her dad’s mouth opened, but Alyssa held up a hand. “I know that’s not what you wanted to hear, but it’s what I want. And that’s not why I’m here, anyway.”

“But, ’Dee…you love working cages.” Dad’s forehead was creased with worry. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Very.” Alyssa crossed her arms over her chest. “Now, about that other thing.”

“What’s up, honey?” Mom asked.

If she wasn’t mistaken, there was a hint of pride in Mom’s voice. Did she feel the same way about Top Sports? That was something to figure out later, though. “I’m going to San Antonio with Faith. We’re leaving at four in the morning.”

“Why on earth?” Mom turned a bewildered look on Dad. “Do you know?”

“State baseball championship. Did Suttonville win, then?” Dad asked.

“Yes, but Tristan—the guy I’ve been helping with batting—he’s coming unglued. That’s what Faith’s boyfriend told her. I need to go down there. He needs me, Dad.”

“What on earth? I’m sure he’s fine…” Mom’s forehead was creased with worry. “Tearing off for San Antonio at the spur of the moment isn’t like you.”

“Maybe not, but maybe I want to stop being so practical for a while. I want to be spontaneous.” She threw up her hands. “Dad, you understand what I’m saying, right?”

A little smile played at the corners of Dad’s mouth. “Are you his batting coach or his muse?”

Alyssa mustered the most serious expression she could. “Both. I’m both. The game starts at eleven thirty, and we need to be there in time for batting practice at the stadium.”

Dad picked up a book from the kitchen table. “Have fun.”

“Grant…you’re okay with her tearing across the state on a wild hair like this?” Mom shook her head. “What is going on with you two?”

“We’re living the dream, Mom.” Alyssa kissed her on the top of the head. “I need to go pack a few things. I’m spending the night at Faith’s so I don’t wake you up in the morning.”

As she hurried from the room, she heard her mom ask her dad, “Are you really okay with this?”

“I’m totally fine with it.” Dad chuckled. “Far be it from me to watch our high school lose state because a hitter’s lucky charm is a few hundred miles away.”

Buddy chased Alyssa through the house, wagging his tail and yipping. Her excitement was catching, it seemed, and when she ran into her room, he hopped onto the bed, dancing in circles. Alyssa grabbed him and hugged him around the neck. “We’re going to do this, boy. For once, I’m going to fix something and see it work.”

Alyssa’s heart had been in her throat the entire time she listened to the game on the radio. TV hadn’t picked up the semifinals, but they’d broadcast tomorrow’s championship game. Tristan had only had one hit today, and Kyle’s call from the locker room had confirmed everything she’d worried about.

“He’s a mess,” Kyle had said over speakerphone to the two of them. “He’s sitting by himself in the locker room, like someone gut-punched him.”

“Poor Tristan,” Faith murmured. “What should we do?”

“The only thing we can,” Alyssa said. “Give me a ride to San Antonio.”

Kyle had laughed at that. “Good idea. Batting practice is at ten thirty. That will be the only time he’ll be able to see you before the game.”

So now she was throwing clothes, makeup, and her glove into a bag while her dog bounced on her bed. This was the craziest thing she’d ever done, traveling halfway across the state to see after a boy, but lately “crazy” had been her middle name. And she liked it.

Buddy gave her cheek a lick, almost like he was telling her good luck. “Thanks, boy. Hold down the fort while I’m gone.”

She gave him one last pat, then hurried down the stairs. “I’m going!”

“Text when you get there!” Mom called.

“Tell that kid to shape up!” Dad added.

Alyssa laughed. After telling Top Sports no, a huge weight had come off her shoulders, and she felt light enough to fly. “You bet I will!”

“There are a lot of people here,” Faith said as they pushed through the crowd on the concourse.

“Yeah, and probably some scouts, too.” Based on the sounds of balls being struck by bats, they’d made it to the stadium right on time. “We need to fight our way to the front.”

They found the nearest tunnel and weaved through people standing around chatting. At the end, a grumpy-looking older woman stood with a chain pulled across the entrance. “Seating opens in ten minutes.” Her voice was pinched and sour, like she’d said that a hundred times already.

Alyssa looked helplessly at Faith. “Please, ma’am, our boyfriends play for Suttonville. We just want to say hi.”

“Seating opens in ten minutes.” The lady gave her a flat look. “No exceptions.”

“Ma’am…it’s an emergency.” Faith’s eyes had gone wide, and she was laying a Texas drawl on thick. “See, Alyssa’s boyfriend is having some trouble with his glove. She brought him one from home. We need to sneak in for a sec, hand it off, and we’ll come right back. Promise.”

The woman’s features softened. Faith had that effect on people—Alyssa needed to learn how she did it. She pulled the glove from her backpack, hoping the lady couldn’t tell a softball glove from a baseball glove. “Please?”

The woman rolled her eyes but smiled at Faith. “Oh, all right. Just this once.”

“Thank you!” Faith shot her a dazzling smile, and the chain was lifted away.

A moment later, they heard, “Seating opens in nine minutes.”

“But those girls went,” a man said.

“Emergency,” the woman snapped.

Faith hid a laugh behind her hand. “I’m such a liar.”

“Who cares? It worked.” Alyssa scanned the field. Suttonville was practicing on the third-base side. “Come on.”

Tristan was standing on the foul line, about halfway down from third, talking to Kyle. The girls scrambled between rows, working their way down. If Kyle saw them, he didn’t show it.

Pausing to gulp down a breath, Alyssa smoothed back her hair, then trotted down the last few steps. “Excuse me. I’m looking for a baseball player.”

Tristan froze. “Is there a girl behind me?”

Kyle laughed. “Yes, dumbass. There’s a girl behind you.”

“Okay. I was worried I was hearing voices or something.” Tristan turned, and a slow, sweet smile spread across his face. “Kaplan, what the hell are you doing here?”

She leaned on the wall separating the stands from the field, hoping her skirt hadn’t blown up in back during her wild dash through the seats. “I heard you needed a batting coach.”

In one quick move, Tristan vaulted the wall and wrapped his arms around her. His coach shouted something inarticulate, but Tristan didn’t listen. “I need you.”

Then he was kissing her, and Alyssa knew, just knew, everything was going to be fine.