Behind the Plate (The Boys of Baseball #2) - J. Sterling Page 0,128
pressed a kiss against my lips after each sentence. “Like I’m dating a hotshot,” she said, and I bit out a laugh as I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her tighter.
“Do you know where their farm teams are located?” I teased because I knew she had zero idea.
Her expression grew serious. “Where? They’re not actually in New York, are they?”
I looked at her, watching her grow distressed with each second that ticked by. “They’re in some city in Florida; Binghamton, New York; and Syracuse, New York.”
She slapped my shoulder. “Shut up, babe. Seriously?”
“Seriously. So, what do you say? Will you come with me?” I asked because I had to. Even though we’d already decided to move together, I still wanted to ask.
“I’d go anywhere with you,” she answered before giving me another kiss.
And she would.
Epilogue
Mac Davies
It was stupid, and I was being an idiot. Here I was, back in my and Chance’s shared hotel room, feeling sorry for myself. I was happy for him. I’d always be happy for him because he’d deserved to get drafted, but I wanted it too. That was why I’d left when he sat down with the reporters. I was afraid that he’d be able to see my jealousy. And I hadn’t wanted to ruin that moment for him.
When the days came and went and my name was never called in the draft, I couldn’t help but feel that pang of disappointment in my guts. I wondered if that was how Cole had felt when he didn’t get drafted his junior year. I thought about calling him and asking. I needed someone to talk to, but I didn’t want to sound like a pussy.
I had one more year left. One more year to show the scouts that I was worth drafting. That I was good enough to play professional baseball for them. But honestly, I wasn’t sure that I was. I was good enough to play for one of the best college baseball teams in the country, but that didn’t mean that I had what the scouts were looking for to go beyond that. So far, not a single one had approached me. There were no agents banging down my door, hoping to represent me when the time came. No emails, no phone calls, no messages through Coach Jackson. No nothing.
And as much as I hated to admit it, there was a pretty damn good possibility that I’d be going back home to Arizona after my senior year and taking a job with my dad’s company. It had always been the backup plan. One I hoped I’d never need. One my dad had assumed I always would. The thought alone made me want to get on a plane and disappear. Having my failure thrown in my face daily wasn’t something I was looking forward to. I really fucking wanted to prove my dad wrong. But so far, all I was doing was proving him right.
Fullton State had ended up making it to the College World Series. We didn’t win though. A bad call by the umpire at home lost the game for us. Chance had clearly tagged the guy out at home plate, but the umpire had called him safe. The thing about bad calls was, they couldn’t be taken back. So, even though we reviewed the tape a hundred times after the game was over and saw that the runner really was out, it was too late. It’d changed nothing. In our minds, we knew we’d won, but on paper, we’d lost. And to everyone else, we weren’t the champions.
Chance and Danika had left for Florida soon after we got back from Omaha. The Mets had sent him to Class A-Advanced instead of regular Single-A. I knew he wouldn’t be there long either, so I hoped Danika liked packing up and moving. They seemed really happy though.
And that was when I realized that playing professional baseball wasn’t the only thing I wanted for my life.
I wanted the one other thing that had kept eluding me—a real girlfriend. I knew I came off as the team’s biggest player, but it was all a front. A defense mechanism. As long as I called all the shots, I couldn’t get hurt like I had freshman year. All that needed to change. And I had no idea how to do it. Especially when all the girls only wanted to hook up with me because I was a baseball player.
What happened if I no longer was one?
THE END
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Holy smokes! How are you? I mean… CHANCE EFFIN CARTER!!!! Did you love it? I really hope you loved it? Are you excited for Mac’s story? He is going to be epic and he’s coming up next! You’ve read Cole & Christina’s story, right? If not, THE NINTH INNING was the first book in this stand-alone Boys of Baseball series and you can read it right now!
THE NINTH INNING
Also, you know Chance’s parents story, right? If not, click below to start reading the epic love story that started it all, THE PERFECT GAME.
THE PERFECT GAME SERIES
If you already know Jack & Cassie, then I have a set of three bartending brothers you have got to meet! I just know you’re going to love them! The first book in the Fisher Brothers series is called No Bad Days.
CLICK HERE TO START READING NOW
Or if celebrity romances set in Hollywood are more your thing, click here to start reading the incredibly fun Celebrity Series today! Each book is a standalone set in the same world.
THE CELEBRITY SERIES
Other Books by J. Sterling
Bitter Rivals—an enemies to lovers romance
Dear Heart, I Hate You
10 Years Later—A Second Chance Romance
In Dreams—a new adult college romance
Chance Encounters—a coming of age story
The Game Series:
The Perfect Game—Book One
The Game Changer—Book Two
The Sweetest Game—Book Three
The Other Game (Dean Carter)—Book Four
The Playboy Serial:
Avoiding the Playboy—Episode #1
Resisting the Playboy—Episode #2
Wanting the Playboy—Episode #3
The Celebrity Series:
Seeing Stars—Madison & Walker
Breaking Stars—Paige & Tatum
Losing Stars—Quinn & Ryson
The Fisher Brothers Series:
No Bad Days—a New Adult, Second Chance Romance
Guy Hater—an Emotional Love Story
Adios Pantalones—a Single Mom Romance
Happy Ending
THE BOYS OF BASEBALL
(THE NEXT GENERATION OF FULLTON STATE BASEBALL PLAYERS):
The Ninth Inning—Cole Anders
Behind the Plate—Chance Carter
Safe at First—Mac Davies
About the Author
Jenn Sterling is a Southern California native who loves writing stories from the heart. Every story she tells has pieces of her truth as well as her life experience. She has her bachelor’s degree in radio/TV/film and has worked in the entertainment industry the majority of her life.
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