Page 171 of Chasing Headlines
Chapter Forty-Nine
Olivia POV
Imoved toward the group just as a sea of ballplayers stepped forward. Like the whole team suddenly realized all at once—one of their own was down. Coach Schorr emerged from the dugout with Remi. She and the guy from the stands hurried toward . . . where Breslin had fallen.
A hand on my elbow pulled me to a stop. I glared at Tanner over my shoulder.
“Coach'll send everyone away. There's nothing we can do. Butyoucan help the team be excited about the win. Instead of anxious about Coop.” Tanner's voice was deep and smooth as he breathed beside my ear.
I sucked in a breath. It burned all the way down. But what could I do?He's right, I'll be in the way. And playing 'the girlfriend' isn't what we agreed on. Just the coaches.My stomach churned. “How?”
“Interviews. I hear that's something reporters are good at.”
I fought the churning heat inside me. The way he took that hit to his jaw? And he'd still been struggling with symptoms . . .Oh God, I need to text Dotty.
“Liv?”
I sucked in a breath. I didn't want to be rational. I didn't want to be tough. I wanted to know he was OK so I could kick him in the shins and yell at his smirky face that he can't hide the fact that he's hurt . . . from people who care.
Air caught in my throat and I gasped.It's what he's been doing all along:pushing us away—because he hurts. That's why . . .
“So who is he really?” I glanced at the swarm of players.You already know the answer: the guy who wants to be out in front, leading the team—not holding them back.
Schorr emerged from the dugout, both hands in the air. “Just go on home.” The clump of players parted and slid back. Behind him, Coop rose to one knee. A hand on his forehead and bared teeth. He lifted himself to his feet. Remi stood a few feet away, arms crossed and shaking her head.
“Good game tonight. More work to do, but take the win,” Schorr said in a loud voice, addressing the team. “Monday, we start the real grind. So go.”
No one moved. Even Coop stood rooted to the ground. He looked like a human-shaped blade of grass the way he wavered on his feet. One of the guys from the stands leant him a shoulder. He matched steps with Coop, helping him walk . . . mostly under his own power.
“You ready?”
Damn you, Tanner. “Yeah.”Breslin wouldn't want them worried over him.I straightened, squared my shoulders. My heart squeezed. “Just thinking, you know, strategy.” My attempt to hold onto my game face was probably pretty pathetic. “If I start with Antonio, we could make a big enough spectacle. Get more of the team interested.”
“By all means.”
I heaved a sigh, un-rooted myself and found my unsuspecting new partner in crime. “Hey, Mr. MVP.”
Antonio turned and gave me less than his usual megawatt smile. “There's our reporter chica.”
“Helluva game, right?” I smiled probably a bit too wide as I gave him a playful nudge. “Got time for an interview?”
“Ehhh.” He rubbed the back of his neck and scrunched up one side of his face. “I dunno, I?—”
“Can't turn in much of a story without talking to the guy who drove in the winning run. I mean, such a dramatic, come-from-behind victory. Whaddya say? Just a teensy little quote?”
He glanced toward the dugout and grimaced. “But . . . I can't leave him.”
“Coach sent these guys home. If he comes back out here, and sees them basically disobeying orders, he's probably going to be pissed. And then your victory ends on the sour note of punishments you'll all be facing on Monday.” I began ticking off some of Schorr's favorites. “Ten extra laps, three minutes of burpees?—”
“But Coop?—”
“Was up and walking, has a trainer and two coaches looking him over. Someone needs to calm these guys down. Come on, help your favorite reporter chica out?”
He ducked his head and shook it. “They're not kidding. You really don't let up.” He huffed out a breath and straightened. “Ok, let's do it. Fire away.”
I clicked the 'record' button on my voice recording app and held up my phone. “For the record, what was going through your mind when you stepped inside the batter's box?”
“Hm. What was in my mind? Ah, just that we needed to get, I needed to find a way to get my guy home. You know?” He tapped the shoulder of a nearby teammate. Eddie Dereks spun around. “Right, man?”