The Changeup (Men of the Show) (23 page)

Some feet stopped in front of him, but he didn’t look up. Since they were white sneakers rather than cleats, he knew it was Coach Brooklyn.

“You’re not done, so don’t get too comfortable.”

“What?” he asked as he looked up in disbelief.

“You’re not done. You started this game and you’re going to win it.” His coach turned and eyed him speculatively. “Unless you tell me that you’ve got nothing left.”

Chase thought it over. He was tired and he felt it in his shoulder and his arm. The competitor in him was up to the challenge, but he didn’t want his competitiveness to lead him into making the wrong decision. He had to do what was right for the team, not for him, but he felt he could do more. He wasn’t ready to throw in the towel yet. “I’m good.”

“Okay. Then let’s do this.”

Just then, a loud smack echoed throughout the stadium, and he stood up as the ball soared out and into the stands. The stadium erupted in cheers as the Rockets took another lead and they were still cheering when the last hitter got out.

He grabbed his glove. “Let’s go, boys!” he yelled as he stepped out onto the field at the top of the ninth inning. The crowd erupted when they saw he was still their pitcher. Stepping onto the mound, he set his shoulder and took a deep breath as he closed his eyes and took in the sound. It would take everything he had to get through these next three hitters.

Luckily, the first hitter was hitless for the game, as he’d managed to get him to strike out and groundout twice. He was able to continue the trend by getting him to pop out to right field. The next hitter gave him a little bit of a fight, but eventually he got him to line out to the first baseman.

By the time the third hitter had stepped to the plate, the whole stadium was standing and shouting. He couldn’t even hear himself think. He was running on emotion now. His arm ached and his shoulder burned, but he pushed it from his mind and willed himself to reach back and use whatever he could. He only had one more out to get and it would be over. Setting his shoulders, he took a deep breath and heaved the ball toward the plate. Somehow, he still broke 99 mph and the hitter fanned at it. The crowd got louder. Taking another deep breath, he waved off the fastball sign from Matt and went for the breaking ball. It broke too soon and hit the dirt, but Matt managed to stay behind it and the hitter swung and missed. Tossing the ball lightly into his glove as he walked around the mound in order to calm himself, he tugged on his belt and took a deep breath. This was it. He was going to get this guy out; he could feel it.

Chase set himself and nodded to the fastball sign. He was going to throw the ball right by the guy. Reaching back, he gave it all he had and threw the ball. When the bat cracked at the contact, he jerked upright and watched as the ball sailed high above his head and into the outfield.

“No, no...” he murmured.

At the last second, the center fielder jumped up at the fence and somehow managed to get his glove on the ball pulling it back over the wall, saving the home run. He held up the ball as he ran into the infield, and Chase yelled as he threw his glove in the air. He and his teammates all rushed together and jumped into a big pile on the field as the crowd went crazy and roared its approval.

* * *

Maddie and Bree jumped up and down in their own seats, screaming at the top of their lungs as they watched the celebration on the field. Maddie turned first to Rick, who pulled her into a hug, beaming with his fist in their air, and then to Anne, who was crying tears of joy. When she turned back to the field, she froze in midyell. Chase was running over to them with a huge grin on his face.

When he reached them, he leaned over the railing and grabbed her, pulling her into his arms and onto the field with him. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he squeezed her hard.

“You were awe...” she started to say, but was cut off by his lips. He pulled her back into his arms as his mouth moved eagerly over hers. She was breathless when he finally pulled away, oblivious to everyone and everything around them.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” he said. “This is the best.”

“I’m so glad I could be here,” she said with a smile, but then it fell a bit. “I was worried you’d be upset.”

Chase shook his head as he smiled. “Not at all. I knew all along you’d be here.”

“I’m so sorry, Chase. I was so stupid...” she started, but stopped when his words sank in. “Wait, what? You knew I’d be here?”

“Yep, all part of the plan,” he said with a crooked grin.

“Plan?” Maddie asked with a frown as she looked back at Chase’s parents. She was the one with the plan, not him. “What plan?”

“Does it matter? You’re here and that’s all that matters. I’m sorry I was such an ass. I said some things I should haven’t.”

“You? You were only reacting to the unfair situation I’d put you in without any explanation. I’m the one who was an idiot. I really hope you can forgive me.”

He stood back and pretended to contemplate it. “Well, that depends.”

She looked worried. She was almost afraid to ask. “On what?”

He reached over the railing and pulled Bree into his arms. “Give it to her, Bree.”

Bree reached into her pocket and retrieved a small box. Maddie’s hand shook and she refused to take it from Bree, making Chase grab it and place it in her hand. “Chase...” she said, but couldn’t get herself to finish as her eyes watered and her lips quivered.

“Open it,” he said.

Maddie shook her head as the tears rolled down her cheeks and she dropped it in his hand as if it was on fire. “No, I don’t deserve anything. I was horrible.”

“Oh, jeez,” he said as he put Bree down. Going down on one knee, he opened the box and held out a very large diamond ring. “We have a lot to talk about, a lot to work out, and I mean a lot,” he said giving her a knowing look, “But we’ll figure everything out. I believe we can do it. I’ve been miserable without you and Bree, and I don’t want to be without you guys anymore. Ever. Marry me, Maddie.”

The crowd erupted as everyone watched Chase’s proposal play out on the giant screen above center field. His teammates whooped and hollered.

Maddie was stunned. She was only hoping that he would forgive her and give her a second chance. Nothing like this had ever occurred to her. She looked at his parents standing with their arms around each other, their faces glowing as they watched with anticipation. She looked down at Bree, her arm around Chase’s neck, eagerly watching her mother. Finally, she looked at him and saw everything that she was looking for—someone who wanted to be a father to her child and someone who wanted nothing more than to be with her. He was everything she wanted and everything she was looking for. Her own stupidity had made her push him away in the beginning and give up so quickly when things got hard. She wouldn’t be stupid and make the same mistake a third time.

Pushing his hand aside, she plowed into him, throwing her arms around him as she buried her face into the side of his neck and nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes I will.”

He stood up and wrapped his arms tightly around her, pulling her up off her feet. He whooped and carried her over his shoulder toward his teammates as Bree followed behind, skipping. “We’ve got more to celebrate, boys!”

They all jumped up and down and hollered as Maddie and Chase stood in the middle of them. Everything seemed to move around them in slow motion. He smiled down at her. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Never do something stupid like that again,” he teased.

“I don’t plan on it.” She laughed as she put her arms back around his neck. “That would be three strikes against me. Three strikes and I’m out, remember?”

“I’ll give you four.”

* * * * *

About the Author

After years of writing one mind-numbing technical document after another, Rhonda Shaw decided to combine her love of writing with her love of reading romance. At the end of a long day, Rhonda can’t wait to tap in to her creative side and lose herself in the telling of a great love story.

Born in California but transplanted to the Midwest, Rhonda is a warm-weather girl to the bone and loves nothing more than a balmy summer evening. Residing in Michigan, she and her husband are die-hard fans of all Detroit sports. Rhonda received a degree in human resources development before making a drastic career switch into computer technology where she began as a website developer before moving up into management. She was a lifelong dancer before her body told her she needed to come down off her toes and wrap it up. Rhonda loves all animals and wishes she could have almost any animal as a pet. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America.

Rhonda loves to hear from readers, so please visit her website at
www.rhondashaw.com
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ISBN-13: 9781426897733

THE CHANGEUP

Copyright © 2014 by Rhonda Shaw

Edited by Kerri Buckley

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