“You think my strikes haven’t abandoned me forever?”
“Nah.” He rubs my pitching arm, sending tingles up my shoulder. “They’re in here.” As he leans closer, my breath hitches. His fingertip burns my temple with each tap. “And in here. Just take a deep breath and focus on one pitch at a time.”
I swallow. Can I keep doing that? Too soon, the inning has ended, and Colt and I walk out of the dugout together.
“Don’t worry about those runs.” He backpedals away from the pitching mound. “I’m up to bat soon, and I’ll get us back in the lead.”
Unbelievable. I chuckle as he settles behind the plate to catch my warmup pitches. When the first batter steps into the box, I’m tempted to glance at the OSU coach. Instead, I lock my eyes on his. They’re deep and wise and calming from behind his mask. I br
