Quit Your Pitchin' (There's No Crying in Baseball 2)

Meaning I couldn’t smash my phone like I so desperately wanted to do.

I walked stiffly back to my seat and practically fell into it.

“George?”

I looked down and over at Wrigley.

“Yeah?” I croaked.

“Was that about the reporter?”

I nodded.

She blew out a shaky breath. “Please don’t hate me.”

I moved before I was even conscious of doing so.

“I could never hate you,” I promised fiercely.

A tear slipped down her face. “It was my fault. I should’ve had Lucy.”

“If you’d have had Lucy, there’s a good chance that she would’ve been right there with Micah. Trust me, baby. This is not your fault. None of this is your fault.”

She looked down at her hands, which were clutching onto my shirt so tightly that her knuckles were white.

“I’m so scared.”

I pulled her in tight to my body and squeezed her hard enough to cause a squeak to pop out of her.

“I’m scared, too.”

She blew out a breath against my neck.

Then she melted into me.

We both waited.

So long.

It was hours later when the doctor finally came out, and we both rushed to our feet.

Somewhere in the interim, the waiting room around us had filled.

My teammates, the coaches. Hell, even Diamond was there.

She was sitting farther away from everyone else and trying not to look or make eye contact with anybody, but she was there.

And I was glad.

She’d been avoiding life for way too long.

I just hoped that she was here to stay longer than us to only get a glance.

My intention when I’d asked Wrigley not to have her sister live with us anymore hadn’t been to alienate her or kick her from the family. It’d been due to the fact that I wanted her to get help, but to also keep Wrigley, Micah, and myself safe.

She wasn’t well, and she needed help.

And the only way for her to realize that was to have her find her own way.

But, after leaving our place, she hadn’t found help. She’d been holed up inside her place, refusing to come out.

She was at work long enough to get a decent paycheck, and then she was back at home, refusing to let anyone in.

“Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman?”

I helped Wrigley stand, even though by the time I’d given her my arm she’d vaulted off the seat.

She clutched my hand tightly, though, her eyes zeroed in on the exhausted looking doctor.

“Your son is doing well.”

There was a cohesive whoosh of air that was expelled the moment those words were uttered. Every single man and woman in the room breathed a collective sigh of relief.

“Thank God,” I whispered.

“His prognosis was what we expected. All of the broken bones I mentioned to you earlier have been repaired. He’s doing well and in recovery right now. In about half an hour, they’ll move him to a room on the fourth floor.” At both of our nods, he continued. “When they have him situated, they’ll let you know. We ask that you don’t see him in recovery until we’re able to remove his breathing tube,” the doctor murmured. “Do you have any questions?”

“Is he…will he be able to walk normally?” I questioned.

“Yes, I don’t see why that wouldn’t happen. Him being young means he’s resilient. I would be surprised more if he had a problem recovering,” the doctor replied with a small smile.

The moment he left, my teammates made their way to me.

“Glad he’s okay, man,” Rhys said, throwing his arm around my shoulder and pressing a kiss to my head.

I snorted and pushed him away. “I’m not your child, Rhys-O.”

Rhys winked. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call.”

And so it went.

As each man said goodbye, more and more strength returned to me.

Then, there was only one.

Diamond.

Who hadn’t gotten up or said a single word while my teammates took their leave.

Wrigley looked like she hadn’t noticed, but I sure had.

“You okay, Diamond?”

I saw her swallow quickly, and then she nodded.

“Something snapped in me today,” she said softly.

That caught Wrigley’s attention. The moment she heard Diamond’s words, she whipped her head around and stared at her sister.

“Dodger called, and he said that Micah had been hurt. I rushed around finding my stuff and headed for the door, and while I did, I asked him if he was coming.” She swallowed. “He said no. No, Wrigs.”

Wrigley’s lip trembled.

“I hate him. He’s the worst brother ever,” she replied. “I don’t know why he is the way he is, and I’m sorry for my part that I played in your and George’s divorce. I’m sorry that y’all fought over me.”

Wrigley opened her mouth to say something, but Diamond shook her head. “No. If there was one thing I realized today, it’s that life changes in a split-second. It’s time for both of us to learn that.”

Wrigley stood when Diamond did.

“Diamond, wait…”

Diamond shook her head. “It’s time for me to do something, Wrigs. I love you, and I don’t want to watch you throw your life away. Not like I did.”