“Hey, I can do a lot of things. You shouldn’t act so surprised.”
“Ok, it’s one to nothing, with no outs,” Justyn announced from the mound. “You ready, G?” He was pretty sure he could strike her out, but he didn’t want to embarrass her in front of Reid. Things had been a little tense between those two.
Maggie walked past Reid, who was flushed from his run around the bases. “Get ‘em, tiger.” He playfully slapped her on the butt as she approached home plate. Justyn wasn’t sure if he actually saw that.
“Bring it, Justyn,” Maggie taunted.
“Whoa, Reid, do you hear her?” Justyn spun the ball in his palm.
Reid walked up behind Maggie. “I know you’ve got this. Need any pointers?”
“No. I can hit a ball, thanks.” She stepped forward and away from him.
Justyn smiled at his cousin. “Looks like I’m not the only one being challenged.” He laughed.
“Just throw the damn ball, cuz.” Reid walked backward.
Justyn lobbed the first pitch in her direction.
“Strike one,” Justyn called.
Maggie wiggled her feet in place along the baseline. The second pitch whizzed past her.
“Strike two.”
“Yeah, we can count.” Reid held up his hand toward the pitching mound as he approached the batter. “I know you said you don’t need my help, but try this.”
Reid’s arms encircled her frame.
“You see, grip the bat a little higher up, and when you pull it back, you’ll have a better angle on the ball.” Just like that, Reid released her from the coaching position and stepped away from the plate. Justyn didn’t know if any of Reid’s coaching would work. Maggie looked flustered whenever he was near her.
“It’s coming your way, Maggie.” Justyn hurled the ball toward home base.
Maggie reached back farther with the bat, and twisted her body, sending the full force of her shoulders forward. The ball took off on the ground.
“Run, run, run,” Reid cheered her on.
She had hit the ball just inside third base, but with no actual infielders, Justyn scrambled for the ball. Maggie headed for first base and laughed as she crossed the leather bag.
“Woohoo! A single!” She jumped up and down.
Reid shouted from home plate, “Maggie, I’m sending you home—get ready.”
Justyn glanced over his left shoulder. Maggie was crouched forward on her toes, ready to run as soon as Reid hit the next pitch. He couldn’t let her make it to second, and definitely not home.
He hurled the ball toward his cousin. Smack, he heard the bat make contact with the ball and saw Maggie take off for second base. Reid was urging her forward. “Right behind you. Keep going,” he yelled at her.
Maggie sprinted across home base only to be picked up and tossed in the air by Reid a few seconds later. He was laughing, and holding her close against his chest.
“Man, Justyn’s going to be pissed.” Reid smiled and placed Maggie back on the soil.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Stop all that celebrating, you two.” Justyn pulled the brim of his ball cap farther over his eyes. “I need to confer with my team for a second.”
Blair sauntered toward him with her hands on her hips. “So, how do we come back from this? We’re already down 3-0. And here I thought you were the big time college pitcher.”
Justyn winked. “Don’t you see what’s happening over there?” He looked over his shoulder. Reid took the cap from his head and placed it over Maggie’s curls.