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Throwing on my shirt, I wrapped the bandage around my fingers and palm, a tradition that had been with me since I was a little kid. I’d tried to stop, but my hands felt so bare without it whenever I was about to play.
Do I even want to play?
Rubbing my shoulder, I banged my head against the locker as I heard Naomi’s name pop up again, this time coming from Aaron—the little boy who possibly might have had a crush on her. He always followed her around like a lost puppy, offering to take her to lunch, or to bring her lunch whenever she couldn’t go to lunch.
He once said something about them being childhood friends. They grew up together, and he absolutely knows everything about her—she was special, apparently.
“Yeah, Naomi has always been special.” See? “Whenever I would run over to her house after fighting with my brother, she would listen silently and offer the best advice. She’s always been naturally a great listener.” Hmm-hmm. Go on, Aaron, praise her! You might reduce your already-one-session to half.
“What do you think about her services, Alex?” one of the guys asked me, and I lifted my head from the door.
“What services?” My voice came out hard. I didn’t want to participate in this conversation. “I didn’t know she offered any.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“We mean, how are you finding the consultation sessions with her? Seeing how you’ve bagged two in a week now.” He chuckled, and the others joined him in their snickering.
“Oh yeah, I just cry and admit the deepest issues of my virility to her. Works like a charm. I’m currently gunning for three sessions a week now.” I smiled, giving them two thumbs up, and they kept quiet.
“You’re just an ass, man.” Aaron laughed as he closed his locker. “Naomi is really great. Give her a chance.”
“Really?” I put my hand on my chest and pouted. “I’ll buy her carnations then.” Although she really deserved wild roses—she only represented pain in my life.
“You’re an asshole, bro.” Leo snickered as he stood next to me.
“If I don’t take on the role, none of you will.” I smiled kindly, and he rolled his eyes as he walked away, laughing.
“I think you just bagged yourself four sessions instead of two,” Aaron said as he followed the other guys.
“That would be wonderful!” Fuck, she really brought out the childishness in me.
Should I just skip practice today? I don’t really feel like doing it, and my shoulder has been acting up.
Sighing, I talked myself out of skipping practice and made my way to the field. Coach gave his regular instructions and motivation.
Willpower. Dedication. Repetition. Mastery. Failures get more fitness. Really does wonders to the soul every time—, I feel so encouraged!
“Seth, you better hurry your ass onto that field!” Coach Anderson shouted as I strolled leisurely onto the field.
“Yes, coach,” I drawled as I made no efforts to increase my speed. He shouldn’t have called me Seth—that annoying traditional name.
“Boy!” he threatened, and I chuckled as I smiled at him, jogging lightly to the pitching mound. Ahh, the rush is gone. Had this space that I’d stood on thousands of times always been so dull? It felt so unfamiliar. “That better be the last time I warn you!” he shouted, and I blew him a kiss.
Coach Anderson and I weren’t that far apart in age—just about ten years—and he was the older brother I never had.
“You better stop pissing off Anderson, Alexander. Fitness is already hard.” Leo laughed as he jogged past me to his spot on the second base.
“I’ve been in my spot, Leo.” I chuckled as I threw the ball up. “The only person getting more fitness will be you.”
“Yeah yeah, let’s get going.” He laughed as he clapped his hands.
“Play ball!” the umpire-in-chief called out once Aaron stood in the batter’s box. Rolling my shoulders, I took a deep breath in and leaned back on my foot, sort of a force to keep me going as I moved forward and pitched the ball.
Aaron kept his eyes trained on the ball, and just like that, he hit it. I watched him as he ran past Leo, who shouted for the other fielders to catch the ball. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see movement where the coach stood, watching us with an attentive eye.
What is she doing here?
As I focused on Naomi, Aaron easily made it to the home plate and the guys on his team clapped their hands. Coach brought his hands to the corner of his mouth, framing it as he yelled at me. “More gusto, Seth!” As if that would help. Stop calling me Seth already. It just pissed me off, like that girl standing next to him.
This is exhausting.
