Page 26 of The Perfect Catch (Tennessee Terrors #3)
GUNNAR
Two Years Later
It’s the top of the ninth inning with bases loaded in the final game of the Championship. I can’t help but feel the sense of déjà vu from last year when we lost to Colorado in game six. We were riddled with injuries for most of last season, but managed to scrape by to get into the postseason. For the most part, everyone had recovered and was healthy for the playoffs but even with our strong effort, we lost. It left a bitter taste in all of our mouths. I worked my ass in the off-season to make sure I was in the best shape of my life, as did a lot of the other vets who were still on the team and experienced that devastating loss. This season, our team has been on the road to redemption and we’re one out away from getting it. The noise level in Music City Park is electric with excitement and anxiety. If a run is scored by the visiting team, we go into the bottom of the ninth tied and have to rely on our offense to not only get us another run, but pray the other team makes some defensive errors.
As the next batter walks to the plate, Tripp and I jog up to Carter on the mound. He’s in his head after the two walks he just gave up and the bullpen is warming up in case he walks another batter. He’s one of the best closers in the league, so I have full confidence that he can get this win for us with a strikeout. Murph started the game great, but a couple of home runs in the 7th inning were given up and he was pulled. It’s been a duel and I’m ready for this shit to be over with and the trophy to be ours.
“Listen to me,” I tell Carter, demanding that he looks at me and not at the ground. “You’ve got this, Carter. You hear me? Get out of your head and just focus on throwing down the center of the plate. Don’t think about if he hits it or not, we got you if he does. Strike this motherfucker out like the champion you are.” He nods and I tap his chest with my glove before walking away.
I go back to my position and briefly look up at my suite. I see my family and friends standing on their feet in anticipation of what’s to come. Izzy is holding her signature game day sign with this one reading: “My Daddy Hits Bombs.” I touch two of my fingers to my lips and point to them. Cassie does it right back to me and knowing I have her love, support and encouragement fills me with determination.
I focus my attention on the batter and study him intently. I watch how he scans the field and mentally picks where he wants to hit the ball. He ends his assessment by looking straight at me. I know he’s visualizing hitting the ball right over my head. It would be the perfect spot to for the ball to drop and allow them to get one run in if we don’t try to throw the runner out at home. His coaches are yelling encouraging words at him and both teams are on their feet in their respective dugouts. The runners on the bases are ready to run their asses off. Both teams are on high alert and the tension is thick in the air.
I call after Chase at third base and Eric at second base and signal to them to be ready. I turn around to alert Evan in left field that the batter might hit the ball in our direction. I squat down and get ready, praying that my intuition isn’t wrong. Either way, everyone is lined up right where they should be.
The batter steps into the batter's box, holds up his hand for the umpire to know he’s not ready yet, and positions his feet to get into his stance. The umpire puts his hand down to let Carter know he can proceed. Carter takes a deep breath and nods at Tripp’s signal. He focuses on the strike zone before kicking up his leg and throws a bullet straight down the center. The batter swings and misses.
Strike one.
“You got this, Carter!” I yell out to him, even though I’m pretty sure he can’t hear me above the roar of the crowd. The fans are on their feet, chanting Carter’s name. I stand to my full height to shake out my legs before squatting back down.
Carter gets into position again and throws a slider. The batter doesn’t swing and watches the ball fly straight into Tripp’s glove.
Strike two.
He looks at the umpire incredulously, not believing it was a strike. They exchange some words and the batter steps out of the box for some practice swings. Carter steps off the rubber and shakes off his arm. He looks over at me and I nod at him, knowing he’s mentally getting himself ready for this next pitch.
We’re one strike away from being the champions and the pressure is on him.
He places his foot back on the rubber and waits for the batter’s stance. Carter will be throwing either a fastball or curveball. The goal is to confuse the batter and have him swing and miss. Carter gets into position, kicks up his leg and throws. The batter swings and barely misses the ball.
Strike three.
I toss my glove up in the air and rush towards Carter, throwing him off balance when I fling myself at him. “You fucking beast! You did it!” I shout at him over the deafening decibels of the fans cheering in the stadium.
“ We did it!” he yells back right before Tripp and all the other players converge upon us. We form a circle around Carter, jumping up and down, dancing and screaming for joy that we are the new world champions.
I lose track of time as the whole team goes through the motions of celebratory hugs, back-slaps, and high fives between the players, coaches, and the rest of baseball operations staff. Camera crews have descended upon us, following our every move and getting into our personal spaces. League operations staff starts handing out championship shirts and hats for us to wear. We all start putting them on so we’re ready for the trophy ceremony. I see some children running on the field and I’m staying in one spot so my family can find me.
I look through the crowd and find Gavin running toward me. “Fuck yeah, Gunnar!” he screams before crushing me in a bear hug. “You guys did it!”
I don’t pay any attention to the camera crews that are circling around us and I squeeze my brother right back. “I love you, Brother. Thank you for being here with me.” Tears of joy stream down my face as it hits me that I really just won the championship—and it will be my one and only since I plan on retiring after tonight. It’s not public knowledge yet, but I’ve talked it over with Cassie, my family, Declan, and Billy. I’ve fulfilled every dream I’ve had for myself professionally in the last fifteen years. It’s time to start enjoying life and be more of a present dad and partner, which is what Izzy and Cassie deserve.
“Where’s Aly?” I ask Gavin when we’re done hugging and I don’t see her around us.
“She’s up in the suite with everyone else waiting for you to come up to celebrate.”
I look over Gavin’s shoulder and see my parents with Cassie and Izzy heading toward us. Izzy’s eyes are wide with apprehension, but also excitement as she takes in the confetti that is raining down all over everyone.
I first gather my parents in a group hug, listening to them tell me how proud they are of me and the career I’ve had. “I wouldn’t have had any of this if it wasn’t for the sacrifices you two made when you saw I had the potential. Thank you for believing in me,” I tell them before kissing their cheeks. I let them go so they can wipe away the tears that are streaming down their faces.
I reach for Izzy and hoist her up on my hip before grabbing Cassie with my free arm and pulling her into my side. The three of us hug each other tightly and I get choked up thinking about what an incredible support system and partner I have in Cassie. I keep my arms around my girls but pull back so I can kiss Cassie on the lips.
“God, Gunnar, I’m so ridiculously proud of you,” she gushes, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “What a storybook ending.” She side-eyes the cameras that have surrounded us and I know she’s trying to choose her words wisely without accidentally announcing anything publicly. The team wants to do a press conference, so we are keeping my retirement under wraps until the official announcement.
“How does it feel to have all of your professional dreams come true?” she asks and I rest my forehead against hers before giving her another kiss.
“Incredible because I have you by my side,” I tell her, watching her eyes start to water with emotion. “But there’s one more thing I have to do.” She gives me a quizzical look as I put Izzy down. “Isabear, go stand by grandma.”
Izzy does as she’s told and I grab Cassie’s hands before getting down on one knee. Her eyes grow as round as saucers and she gives me a look as if to say I’m crazy.
I am crazy…crazy in love with the woman of my dreams.
“Gunnar, what are you doing?” She starts pulling on my hands to try to get me to stand back up, but I’m stronger than she is and her efforts are moot. “Get up.” She looks around and almost hits her head against a camera that is positioned over her shoulder. “Everyone is staring at us.”
This was not how I was planning on proposing to her. The ring is back home at the new house we bought last year, tucked in my safe in my office. We have plans to go to Italy and France this off-season with our whole family and I was going to do it at the villa I rented with Lake Como as my backdrop. These past two years together have been better than my wildest dreams. With the high of the win and this being the end of my baseball era, I can’t think of a better way to start this new chapter of my life off right than with a proposal.
“Cassie Warner, you painted color back into my life when it had become black and white. You are the most supportive, loving, and caring partner and an incredible mother figure to Izzy. I can’t imagine my life without you. I’m done being just your boyfriend—I want to be your husband for eternity.” I squeeze her hands while tears cascade down her cheeks. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and putting up with my older, cranky ass who might gain a pudgy dad-bod due to your delicious baking?”
She laughs and nods. “Yes! Of course I will marry you!”
I stand back up, pull her into my arms, and crush my lips to hers. When we come up for air and hug, she whispers to me, “I love you so much, Gunnar McNeer. I’m yours forever.”
Cheers of joy erupt from not only everyone around us, but the fans in the stands as well who were able to hear the entire proposal when it was broadcasted on the Jumbotron. We pull apart and bask in the warmth and happiness from our family and friends who take turns hugging and congratulating us.
I look at my new fiancée and smile. I can’t believe this incredible woman has agreed to spend the rest of her life with me. I used to not be a big believer in a higher power, but there’s no denying that fate brought me my perfect catch.
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