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“I don’t blame you, calm before the storm and all that.” With a sigh, I grabbed my equipment bag from the entryway. My metal bat poked out of the top. It was heavy with shoulder tape, two gloves, and my cleats. I was prepared to have the worst game of my life.

As I reached for the doorknob, Meredith waved for me to stop. “Catherine.”

“Yes?” I looked at her.

“Be careful.”

“I’m going to take it easy, can’t risk another injury.” I winked.

Shrugging, Meredith looked at me the way only a mother could. “But with your heart too, okay? We want you to be okay beyond all of that.”

Something in my chest tightened. But I nodded. “Yes ma’am. I’ll see you later.”

Pulling open the front door, I made my way to the Mercedes parked at the front of the driveway. She made a good point. The last time Cleo broke my heart, it started a downward spiral I was still recovering from.

I had to tread carefully.

I was one of the first people to arrive at the field for our recreational game. But it gave me time to warm up and lace up my cleats. Once Cleo arrived, they started introducing me to all the other players.

It wasn’t long before Bri was rolling up to the dugout. She dapped me up and patted my back. “I haven’t seen you in like a decade.”

“No kidding.” I rubbed the back of my neck, knowing I wouldn’t have answers to any of the questions she might lob my way. My life was largely directionless right now and that wasn’t super comforting to someone trying to protect their best friend from heartbreak.

“So, Cat…” Bri started.

But she was quickly interrupted by the umpire blowing the whistle for the game to start.

Cleo nodded toward the field. “You’re starting in the outfield.”

“Works for me.” I got my ass moving, trying to avoid an interrogation. Walking out onto the field with a team of women I'd just met was a new feeling. But I introduced myself to as many of them as possible.

By the time I was taking my position in right field, I had met most of the women in my vicinity.

Even from the outfield, I could see Cleo behind home plate in their catcher’s outfit. The bulky equipment shouldn’t have been sexy, but with Cleo inside, they looked hot.

The first inning moved slowly, the other time still finding their footing at bat.

By the time we switched to batting, our team was feeling good. While we sat in the dugout, Bri leaned over to me. “Cat, when are you heading back to the big leagues?”

“We’ll see how this fall goes. I’m hoping to make spring training next season.” I nodded, watching Cleo’s reaction from my periphery.

Shrugging, Bri laughed. “You’ve got some work to do if that’s your plan.”

I tried not to roll my eyes, knowing how important Bri was to Cleo. But she was being a dick. Ultimately, I couldn’t blame her. She’d seen us together since high school, she knew every dirtydetail of our breakup and probably hoped Cleo wouldn’t bother with a loser like me again.

“Collings, on deck.” The coach hollered down from the dugout’s field entrance.

With a nod, I stood from the bench and leaned over to Bri. “Still further than you went, Shaw.”

“Cheap shot.” Bri rolled her eyes as she faked a huff.

Grabbing my bat, I headed to the small patch of sand just outside the dugout. The chainlink between the field and the dugout allowed Cleo to keep an eye on my practice form from the bench.

As I took a swing at the air, gentle on my shoulder to prepare it for the intense motion, I tried to breathe.

“Elbow up, it won’t hurt you,” Cleo called.

“Right.” I nodded as the current batter’s ball soared through the air.