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49

BODHI

“That was a strike!”

“The scoreboard didn’t think so, Ace,” I tell Cal right after he misses the most beautiful pitch a mechanical machine can give.

“This is bullshit.”

I chuckle, throwing my batting helmet on and securing my gloves. “Maybe this is a sign, man. Not all pitchers should be in the batting lineup.”

Cal turns to me like he’s gonna peg me with a fastball, and hell if I don’t think about running—and quick. With Cal being one of the best pitchers in the Major Leagues, I’d be a fool to be caught in the crossfire of his ninety-five-mile-an-hour fast pitch.

The dude throws heat.

“Save it. My turn,” I tell him, insisting he stop his bitching and get out of the cage.

It’s been longer than I can remember since Cal and I have just hung out. Although, I sense his intentions for today are not to hang out and bust each other’s balls over our batting stats.

I take my place on the man-made plate and wait for the reader to signal my first pitch. I can do this shit in my sleep.

I can’t wait to be back on the dirt.

“So, Poppy called Dakota last week,” Cal says.

My head lifts. “Oh, yeah?”

I didn’t tell Cal that I texted Poppy to tell her that now is not a good time for me to date. It’s not his business, but I figured it was worth him knowing at some point, given that she’s friends with Dakota.

“Said you weren’t interested in seeing her anymore.”

I nod. “Yeah. Just wasn’t feelin’ it.”

I adjust my speed on the machine reader and swig my Gatorade before getting into position.

Cal stares at me intently. “How so?”

I turn to face him. “I don’t know. We just didn’t click. She’s a cool girl, though.”

“She’s textbook for a beautiful and cool girl, B.”

I don’t know what he wants me to say. I’m also not sure why it matters. I handled it like a gentleman. I called her and respectfully made sure she understood where I was coming from and knew she wasn’t the problem.

“I’m not gonna force something that’s not there, Cal.”

He hums and I know that’s him agreeing to disagree with me before changing the subject.

“You ready for spring training?” Cal asks me as I take my first pitch.

Ball.

“If I had it my way, there would be no offseason Cal, you know this.”

He laughs. “It’s addicting.”

It is—the most potent drug an athlete could find.

That’s one thing Cal and I immediately meshed on—he loves the game as much as I do.

Is the offseason nice for a break? Yes. Traveling and staying in different cities every few days is fun at first but gets exhausting after a while. I’d trade that out more than anything, but I won’t because if it weren’t for our gruesome schedule, I wouldn’t be able to play the game I love six days a week.

It’s never been about fame for me. The game is my outlet.

It always has been and always will be.

I credit the game for keeping my head on straight after I was released from prison. I can’t let myself think about where I would be now without baseball.

“Yeah, it is addicting.”

I swing, sending the ball flying into the outfield net. “That’s how you hit a strike, my friend,” I tell Cal.

He flips me off. Good guy.

“It’s good to see you happy, man,” Cal says nonchalantly, throwing me off guard, but I don’t give my surprise away.

“Oh yeah? What makes you say that?” I ask, short of breath, sending another dinger flying.

“I can just tell. You’ve been different.”

“I’m seeing someone,” I admit.

“Like a woman? Or a man—I’m not judging,” Cal asks, holding his hands up in surrender.

I shake my head and laugh. “I meant a therapist. I have been for almost eight months now.”

“No shit,” he says in what looks like bewilderment. “B, I’m so fucking proud of you. It seems to be working, then, right? Helping you, I mean.”

I nod. “My head hasn’t been this clear in years. Since everything.”

I swing at my final pitch, sending it flying before exiting the cage to find a seat on the bench by Cal.

He pats me on the back. “That’s great, man. That’s really great. You deserve it.”

I should tell him about Navy. I know I should. I can’t keep my feelings for her at bay any longer, and if I want the chance to maintain my friendship with Cal, I need to own up to it.

“Listen, man. There’s something I wanted to ta?—”

“You’re in love with my sister.”

Well, shit. He beat me to it.

I look at him in question. “How did you…?”

Cal smirks. “How did I know you’re madly in love with Navy? I could ask you the same thing, B. How are you just now realizing you’re in love with my sister?”

What the hell is happening? Is this reverse psychology or something?

“I haven’t been obvious about it,” I defend myself pathetically.

Cal throws his head back and erupts in laughter. “Are you delusional? I’ve seen the signs since before Kodi and I were even dating. Dude, you’ve got it bad for her.”

“That was forever ago, Cal.”

“Okay, hold my beer.” There is no beer.

He continues, “You’ve offered her a place to stay countless times, helped her move, and helped her through a horrible breakup with no questions asked. You couldn’t keep your eyes off her at my wedding in Fiji. You prepare coffee for her every morning. You almost murdered Briggs when you watched her leave for their date, and don’t even get me started on the gala.”

Son of a bitch. This smart fucker has known all along.

I’m not ashamed, but I am unsure why he never called me out on it before, especially after he did everything to ensure that I knew to stay away from her.

“Why didn’t you say anything? You never think twice about calling people out, Cal. If you knew, why not make it known? Or beat the shit out of me, at least.”

He laughs. “Just because I knew doesn’t mean it would have been right of me to say something. You had to come to terms with your feelings for her on your own. Not gonna lie, B, eight months ago, I was real worried about you.”

I know what he means. I was worried about myself.

That’s why I sought help.

“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for what you’ve been through. But I will say, the guy you were then is not someone I wanted to be with my sister. Although Navy never listens to anything I say and has always done what she wants, it just didn’t sit well with me.”

“You know I tried to stop it, right?” I ask him.

“Yeah, I’m sure you did. And how did that work out for you?”

I laugh under my breath. “Impossible.”

Cal pats me on the back again. “Navy always follows her heart. If she chose you, then that means something pretty extraordinary.”

Fuck. He’s a good dude.

“But after everything you did for me when I was locked up, man. I could never betray you like that. You were there for Penelope when I couldn’t be, you helped me get my spot back on the team, and you visited me every week. Not to mention the way you advocated for me with Leggins and the media. You saved me a lot of extra strife. You don’t know how much that meant to me, man.”

I remember as soon as news broke that I was accepted back on the team, keeping my contract intact—insanity happened. Every news reporter in town wanted to get the scoop on the “professional ball player turned jailbird.”

Cal hired a team of security and paid off every news station in town.

He nods. “And I would do it again. Just like I know you would do the same for me.”

In a heartbeat.

“You’re okay with this?” I ask him, reconfirming before I make Navy my whole damn personality.

I fucking hope he is.

Cal nudges my side. “I have been, man. I was waiting for you to grow some balls, that’s all.”

We chuckle and I feel so goddamn light.

The feeling of Cal’s acceptance is freeing. He’s been the obstacle in the way of making Navy mine in every way imaginable, and to have his blessing means everything.

It means a happy fucking future with the woman who I can’t wait to make coffee for every morning.

The woman who is the eye of my storm.

I’ve put in the work on myself and finally see the reward from it.

“She means everything to me,” I tell Cal honestly.

“Have you told her that?” He grins.

“Not how she deserves, but I will.”

“So I’m guessing that means things didn’t work out with her and Briggs?” Cal asks me, ready to see his life flash before his eyes.

I snarl. “Fuck no. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

“Try to behave,” Cal says, looking at me like I’m gonna do something stupid.

I have no intention to.

Briggs is, was, my friend.

Maybe he still could be once I get the thought of him kissing Navy out of my head. But for now, I don’t see that happening any time soon.

“I’m a saint,” I tell him like he needs convincing.

“Not when it comes to the ones you love. You’re a feral motherfucker.”

“She’s worth it, Cal.”

“She is. But don’t risk losing it all for a guy who never stood a chance, man,” Cal tells me.

“I’ll behave on the field, maybe even in the clubhouse too.”

He shoots me a look of doubt. “We’re a team, B.”

“I know. He’ll be at the pool party on Saturday. You’ll see how much of a saint I can be. Watch.”

“Whatever you say. Whatever you say…”

We’ll be fine as long as he keeps his hands to himself.