The Perfect Game(83)

“Why not? Now that we’re not having a baby, you’re going to leave me? I can see the headlines now…‘Jack Carter Leaves Heartbroken Wife After She Loses Baby.’”

I winced. “Calm down, Chrystle.”

“Say you won’t leave. I can’t handle you leaving on top of what I already lost.” She sobbed, her face flushed.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I conceded.

I woke up the next morning, my head throbbing as if I’d drank too much the night before. But it was the ache of loss that ripped through my skull. I glanced at Chrystle, her arm possessively clasping mine. She whined as I removed it from her grip and flipped over, but continued sleeping as I crawled out of bed.

I brushed my teeth, splashed water on my face, and started to head downstairs. “Where are you going?” Her needy voice stopped me in my tracks.

“I’m just heading to the gym. Go back to sleep.” I took two steps toward her before changing direction and running down the stairs.

I sat in my car, turned the ignition, and powered on my wireless headset. As I drove away, I dialed Dean’s number.

“Hey, bro, it’s early.” Dean’s voice was raspy. Apparently I’d woken him up again.

“Shit. I always forget the time difference. Sorry.”

“No big deal. What’s up?” He yawned into the receiver.

“Chrystle lost the baby yesterday,” I said as my emotions whooshed out from me.

“Oh God, really? I’m so sorry.” I heard him shifting around in his bed. “Are you okay?”

“I will be.”

“So what now?” he asked, the same way he always did when we were kids.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’ll get a divorce, right? You’re not going to stay with her now that there’s no baby?” He practically shouted in the phone, causing me to pull mine away from my ear a little.

“I can’t leave her right now, Dean. She’s devastated. She can’t stop crying.”

“So what? She’s a bitch. I’ll fly out today and help you pack.” His voice was serious.

“Even I’m not that heartless,” I commented with a snicker.

“Does Cassie know?” I heard his question and my mind drifted as the trees in the neighborhood rushed past my window.

“No.”

“Are you going to tell her?”

“Not right now,” I admitted.

“Why not? What is going on with you? Leave Chrystle and come make things right with Cassie!”

“Not yet.”

“What are you waiting for?” He sucked in a gulp of air. “You’re not in love with Chrystle, are you?”

My hands gripped the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white with the force. “Are you fucking crazy? I don’t even know how to love anyone other than Cassie.”

“Just making sure.”

“I’m gonna go. I just wanted to tell you. Can you tell Gran and Gramps, please, and tell Gran I’ll call her soon. Don’t tell Cassie. She shouldn’t hear it from you,” I demanded.

“Fine. But you better tell her soon.”

I arrived at the clubhouse gym to find three of my teammates already working out. Coach sat in his office, the phone in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. I smiled when he placed down his coffee and reached for a donut, shoving part of it in his mouth while he tilted the phone back behind his shoulder. His eyes darted out the window and met mine before his head nodded in time with his moving mouth. He put the phone down, stood up, and wagged his finger. “Carter.”

Anxiety shot through me as I walked into Coach’s office, my stomach dropping.

“I just got off the phone with the head of the organization. You got the call, kid. They’re moving you up for the playoffs. Pack your stuff, grab that wife of yours, and get ready to leave tonight. You start playing with the team tomorrow.”

My feet wouldn’t move and my ass felt like it was super-glued to the chair I was sitting in. “What?” I asked like an idiot and he laughed.

“Get outta here, Carter. Your flight leaves at ten tonight. We’ll messenger the tickets to your house. Congratulations, kid, you’re a hell of a pitcher.”

“Thank you, Coach. Thank you so much.” I stood, my hand shaking as I reached for his.

I throttled the gas, a million thoughts racing through my head, the most prominent one being how badly I wanted to share this moment with Cass. After everything we’d been through, she was still the first person who came to mind when I had news to share. It made me fucking sick to think I wouldn’t be moving her to Arizona with me. When I dreamed of the future, this had always been part of it. Getting to The Show was the foremost thing on my mind. But Cass at my side went hand in hand with that vision.