The Changeup (Men of the Show)

by Shaw, Rhonda

  “Go get ’em.”

  Maddie studied Chase’s profile, tight and hard, and saw when he acknowledged his father with a glance out of the corner of his eye. As his eyes took in his father’s hand on someone’s arm, he quickly glanced over. When he registered who it was, he stopped. He stared hard at her and she felt her breath catch in her throat. She felt frozen under his stare, but she didn’t see the cool anger she’d been expecting. Rather it was as if he was waiting for her to say something. She felt Rick give her arm a squeeze.

  She smiled faintly. “You can do this,” she said with as much conviction as she could put in her voice under the circumstances.

  Chase nodded almost imperceptibly before his gaze slide down to her jersey and he turned and ducked into the dugout.

  Maddie let out the breath she was holding and looked at Rick. “Well, that didn’t go as badly as I thought it was going to.”

  He patted her arm. “It went perfect. You said the right thing.”

  She looked down at Bree, who beamed up at her. “Let’s win this game, shall we?”

  * * *

  As Chase sat in the dugout waiting for the ceremonies before the game to end, he let his mind wander away from the game for a moment. Despite his small moment of panic where he’d contemplated putting the brakes on things, he was glad that the plan he’d put together with Karen and his parents had worked out so far. They’d gotten Maddie to the game under the pretense that she’d come up with her own plan to apologize to him. Little did she know that he had much more important things to say. That was where Bree came in. He knew by now she would have the box Rick had given her tucked away in her pocket. He chuckled when he recalled the look of terror on Maddie’s face when he’d stopped in front of the stands. She looked as if she was waiting for him to scream and yell at her, but he’d felt relaxed, he’d felt comfort and he’d felt love. He wanted to hear her say something, anything to show her support, help build his game fire and she’d said the first thing that had come to mind, and it had been perfect. He was at peace with his decision.

  With everything settled in his mind with Maddie, he had to turn his focus to the game. He could do this. He knew he could, and he felt even more confident knowing she, along with his parents, was right there behind him, giving him all the encouragement she could. He knew his teammates were going to give him all the support they could on the field. All that remained was for him to go out and execute.

  Standing outside the dugout with his teammates, he removed his cap for the singing of the national anthem. He let his gaze wander over the stadium at the thousands of fans who were also putting their faith in him. He had a lot riding on this game. A lot of people were counting on him and he couldn’t have scripted it any better. This is what he lived for. This is why he played the game and what he thrived on. When the anthem was over, he tugged on his cap. Matt shoved the ball into his glove. Chase picked it up and thumped it into the seat of his mitt once before turning and trotting out onto the field.

  “Let’s kick some ass.”

  * * *

  Going into the bottom of the seventh, Chase had a one-run lead. The Rockets were currently ahead 3-2, and they wanted to build on that. Chase struggled a little bit in the top of the sixth and the seventh, allowing a couple of walks and two runs to score, but he’d rallied and managed to get a couple of strikeouts and a few fly outs in order to end the innings. He sat on the bench in the dugout and closed his eyes. He was starting to get tired, he could feel it, but he wasn’t ready to leave the game yet. He felt he still had a few more outs in him. Of course, that wasn’t up to him, but he hoped he could convince Coach to leave him in a bit longer.

  He took a drink of water and gave a shout of encouragement as he watched his teammate drive a single into left field. That was a start and he hoped they could score a couple of runs to give him some padding going into the eighth inning. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Coach Smith slowly amble in his direction.

  “How you feeling?”

  “A little tired, but I can keep going,” he answered truthfully, keeping his attention on the field.

  “You sure? Maybe we should bring in Anders.”

  Chase shrugged. “It’s your call, but I’m telling you I’m okay.”

  Coach Smith nodded as he walked away. He conferred with the head coach who nodded and looked down in his direction. Chase wasn’t surprised when Coach Brooklyn strolled down and sat down next to him.

  “Smith says you’re tired, but want to go more.”

  “Yep.”

  Coach Brooklyn turned his head and eyed him sharply. “I don’t need to remind you of the implications of this game. We don’t need you playing hero.”

  “No, you don’t need to tell me. I know and I’m telling you I’m all right.” Chase looked back at his coach, his eyes hard. “I want this.”

  His coach eyed him shrewdly before nodding. “Okay. You’ll go back in, but one more walk and you’re out.”

  Chase nodded and looked back over the field. “Fair enough.”

  * * *

  The Rockets didn’t manage to score any additional runs, and so Chase entered the eighth inning with only a one-run lead. To Maddie’s novice view, it appeared that Chase was taking longer between pitches and shaking his arm more, but no one else seemed to be concerned. She leaned closer to Rick. “I’m surprised he’s still in. He looks tired to me.”

  “He is a bit, but he’s holding his own. I’m sure he told his coaches he could handle it. He wouldn’t go back out there if he felt he would cost them the game.”

  She nodded, but she still couldn’t help worrying as she glanced at the large electronic scoreboard that loomed over center field. They only had a one-run lead and it was nerve-racking enough as it was. She couldn’t understand how he could handle the pressure, especially if he was tired, but he seemed to thrive on it and used it to fuel his game. Even so, at the sound of the bat cracking, she winced and saw Chase hang his head as the ball soared out of the park and over the fence in right field.

  As the lone runner rounded the bases, tying up the game, the catcher and pitching coach went out to meet with Chase on the mound. Maddie watched as he shook his head and nodded, but never spoke. The conference was quickly over and both catcher and coach were trotting back to their respective positions as Chase took a walk off the mound. He leaned down and toyed with the rosin bag before standing up and setting his shoulders. He seemed to be staring right at Maddie. She wasn’t sure if he was seeing her or just seemed to be looking in her general direction, but she didn’t care. She didn’t care if everyone around her thought she’d lost her mind. She was going to make a fool of herself later anyway, so she might as well start now. She clapped and yelled. She did all she could to let him know that she was rooting for him and believed in him. He would get the rest of the outs. When he turned and stepped back on the mound, she sat back down and wrung her hands nervously.

  * * *

  Reaching down into some reserve he didn’t realize he had, Chase managed to put some fire behind his fastballs and strike out the next two batters. Amped with adrenaline raging through his system, he shouted and pumped his fist when he got the next hitter to groundout to second. The crowd went wild and stood on their feet as he walked back to the dugout. They all assumed it was the last inning for him, and he figured that to be true as well. Now it was up to the offense to score some runs and the bull pen to close it out in order to give the Rockets the win. All Chase could do was sit in the dugout, watch and wait.

  He sat down with his elbows on his knees and hung his head. His teammates walked by patting his shoulder with words of congratulations. He felt tired and he felt good. The instant Maddie’d stood up and cheered, glowing in her white Rockets jersey sporting his name and number, he’d immediately felt reenergized, as if she’d somehow refueled him, giving him that push he needed t
o get over the hump. He wanted to win this game for the team, he wanted to win this game for the city and he wanted to win this game for her.

  Some feet stopped in front of him, but he didn’t look up. Since they were white sneakers rather than cleats, he knew it was Coach Brooklyn.

  “You’re not done, so don’t get too comfortable.”

  “What?” he asked as he looked up in disbelief.

  “You’re not done. You started this game and you’re going to win it.” His coach turned and eyed him speculatively. “Unless you tell me that you’ve got nothing left.”

  Chase thought it over. He was tired and he felt it in his shoulder and his arm. The competitor in him was up to the challenge, but he didn’t want his competitiveness to lead him into making the wrong decision. He had to do what was right for the team, not for him, but he felt he could do more. He wasn’t ready to throw in the towel yet. “I’m good.”

  “Okay. Then let’s do this.”

  Just then, a loud smack echoed throughout the stadium, and he stood up as the ball soared out and into the stands. The stadium erupted in cheers as the Rockets took another lead and they were still cheering when the last hitter got out.

  He grabbed his glove. “Let’s go, boys!” he yelled as he stepped out onto the field at the top of the ninth inning. The crowd erupted when they saw he was still their pitcher. Stepping onto the mound, he set his shoulder and took a deep breath as he closed his eyes and took in the sound. It would take everything he had to get through these next three hitters.

  Luckily, the first hitter was hitless for the game, as he’d managed to get him to strike out and groundout twice. He was able to continue the trend by getting him to pop out to right field. The next hitter gave him a little bit of a fight, but eventually he got him to line out to the first baseman.

  By the time the third hitter had stepped to the plate, the whole stadium was standing and shouting. He couldn’t even hear himself think. He was running on emotion now. His arm ached and his shoulder burned, but he pushed it from his mind and willed himself to reach back and use whatever he could. He only had one more out to get and it would be over. Setting his shoulders, he took a deep breath and heaved the ball toward the plate. Somehow, he still broke 99 mph and the hitter fanned at it. The crowd got louder. Taking another deep breath, he waved off the fastball sign from Matt and went for the breaking ball. It broke too soon and hit the dirt, but Matt managed to stay behind it and the hitter swung and missed. Tossing the ball lightly into his glove as he walked around the mound in order to calm himself, he tugged on his belt and took a deep breath. This was it. He was going to get this guy out; he could feel it.

  Chase set himself and nodded to the fastball sign. He was going to throw the ball right by the guy. Reaching back, he gave it all he had and threw the ball. When the bat cracked at the contact, he jerked upright and watched as the ball sailed high above his head and into the outfield.

  “No, no...” he murmured.

  At the last second, the center fielder jumped up at the fence and somehow managed to get his glove on the ball pulling it back over the wall, saving the home run. He held up the ball as he ran into the infield, and Chase yelled as he threw his glove in the air. He and his teammates all rushed together and jumped into a big pile on the field as the crowd went crazy and roared its approval.

  * * *

  Maddie and Bree jumped up and down in their own seats, screaming at the top of their lungs as they watched the celebration on the field. Maddie turned first to Rick, who pulled her into a hug, beaming with his fist in their air, and then to Anne, who was crying tears of joy. When she turned back to the field, she froze in midyell. Chase was running over to them with a huge grin on his face.

  When he reached them, he leaned over the railing and grabbed her, pulling her into his arms and onto the field with him. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he squeezed her hard.

  “You were awe...” she started to say, but was cut off by his lips. He pulled her back into his arms as his mouth moved eagerly over hers. She was breathless when he finally pulled away, oblivious to everyone and everything around them.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” he said. “This is the best.”

  “I’m so glad I could be here,” she said with a smile, but then it fell a bit. “I was worried you’d be upset.”

  Chase shook his head as he smiled. “Not at all. I knew all along you’d be here.”

  “I’m so sorry, Chase. I was so stupid...” she started, but stopped when his words sank in. “Wait, what? You knew I’d be here?”

  “Yep, all part of the plan,” he said with a crooked grin.

  “Plan?” Maddie asked with a frown as she looked back at Chase’s parents. She was the one with the plan, not him. “What plan?”

  “Does it matter? You’re here and that’s all that matters. I’m sorry I was such an ass. I said some things I should haven’t.”

  “You? You were only reacting to the unfair situation I’d put you in without any explanation. I’m the one who was an idiot. I really hope you can forgive me.”

  He stood back and pretended to contemplate it. “Well, that depends.”

  She looked worried. She was almost afraid to ask. “On what?”

  He reached over the railing and pulled Bree into his arms. “Give it to her, Bree.”

  Bree reached into her pocket and retrieved a small box. Maddie’s hand shook and she refused to take it from Bree, making Chase grab it and place it in her hand. “Chase...” she said, but couldn’t get herself to finish as her eyes watered and her lips quivered.

  “Open it,” he said.

  Maddie shook her head as the tears rolled down her cheeks and she dropped it in his hand as if it was on fire. “No, I don’t deserve anything. I was horrible.”

  “Oh, jeez,” he said as he put Bree down. Going down on one knee, he opened the box and held out a very large diamond ring. “We have a lot to talk about, a lot to work out, and I mean a lot,” he said giving her a knowing look, “But we’ll figure everything out. I believe we can do it. I’ve been miserable without you and Bree, and I don’t want to be without you guys anymore. Ever. Marry me, Maddie.”

  The crowd erupted as everyone watched Chase’s proposal play out on the giant screen above center field. His teammates whooped and hollered.

  Maddie was stunned. She was only hoping that he would forgive her and give her a second chance. Nothing like this had ever occurred to her. She looked at his parents standing with their arms around each other, their faces glowing as they watched with anticipation. She looked down at Bree, her arm around Chase’s neck, eagerly watching her mother. Finally, she looked at him and saw everything that she was looking for—someone who wanted to be a father to her child and someone who wanted nothing more than to be with her. He was everything she wanted and everything she was looking for. Her own stupidity had made her push him away in the beginning and give up so quickly when things got hard. She wouldn’t be stupid and make the same mistake a third time.

  Pushing his hand aside, she plowed into him, throwing her arms around him as she buried her face into the side of his neck and nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes I will.”

  He stood up and wrapped his arms tightly around her, pulling her up off her feet. He whooped and carried her over his shoulder toward his teammates as Bree followed behind, skipping. “We’ve got more to celebrate, boys!”

  They all jumped up and down and hollered as Maddie and Chase stood in the middle of them. Everything seemed to move around them in slow motion. He smiled down at her. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Never do something stupid like that again,” he teased.

  “I don’t plan on it.” She laughed as she put her arms back around his neck. “That would be three strikes against me. Three strikes and I’m out, remember?
”

  “I’ll give you four.”

  * * * * *

  About the Author

  After years of writing one mind-numbing technical document after another, Rhonda Shaw decided to combine her love of writing with her love of reading romance. At the end of a long day, Rhonda can’t wait to tap in to her creative side and lose herself in the telling of a great love story.

  Born in California but transplanted to the Midwest, Rhonda is a warm-weather girl to the bone and loves nothing more than a balmy summer evening. Residing in Michigan, she and her husband are die-hard fans of all Detroit sports. Rhonda received a degree in human resources development before making a drastic career switch into computer technology where she began as a website developer before moving up into management. She was a lifelong dancer before her body told her she needed to come down off her toes and wrap it up. Rhonda loves all animals and wishes she could have almost any animal as a pet. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America.

  Rhonda loves to hear from readers, so please visit her website at www.rhondashaw.com.

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  ISBN-13: 9781426897733

  THE CHANGEUP

  Copyright © 2014 by Rhonda Shaw

  Edited by Kerri Buckley

  All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.