Kill Shot

Reagan threw a pitch, and the girl at bat struck out, causing me to scream.

“There you go, baby! One more and you’re up to bat!” I yelled, shaking my hands in the chain link fence.

Le

Looking down into her blue eyes, I finally felt a little peace.

“I’m glad you came,” I rumbled softly.

Her eyes flared, and she gave me a soft smile. “Your family’s glad I came, too.”

I chuckled, dropping a kiss down onto her forehead as I looked up in time to see Reagan throw one right down the middle.

I winced, holding my breath as the girl hit it.

Luckily, it popped straight up, and Ali, the shortstop, was able to catch it without the least bit of effort.

“That a girl!” I yelled, whistling loudly with my tongue, front teeth, and lip.

“Your girl there’s pretty good,” Le

I nodded.

“She has a pitching coach, and she plays anytime she can. I’ll bet she’s a little badass by the time she gets to high school,” I concurred.

“I watched from my car for a little bit while I was on the phone with my parents. I used to enjoy softball, but I was never good like that. And she’s only eight. Just imagine what she’ll accomplish when she’s seventeen,” Le

I shivered.

“I’d really like to not think about when she’s seventeen. I like to take things one day at a time. Because if I do, I don’t have to think about the fact that I’ll somehow need to come out with money to pay for college. Or a car. Or a wedding,” I told her honestly.

She laughed.

“Just because you don’t think about it, doesn’t mean it won’t happen in ten years,” she supplied helpfully.

I scowled down at her. “It works for me. Promise.”

“Be

I sighed, breaking away from Le

My dad was a big man, and my mom somewhat small.

In fact, if I had to guess what Le

My heroes.

My parents.

The people I could count on for anything.

“Yeah,” I said, nodding my head. “Just as soon as Reagan bats.”

I didn’t bother to placate either one of them.

I missed quite a few games as it was, and since I was here, I’d not miss it because I was busy introducing my parents to my girlfriend.

Reagan jogged up to the plate with her hot pink bat, set her feet, and swung the bat twice before getting into her stance.

Her hot pink helmet hid her face from my view, but I knew she had her eye on the ball.

Her attention honed in on to pitcher.

I felt Le

My father sidled up to my side, took a similar stance at me, and watched.

The first pitch came and Reagan let it come, knowing it was too low and on the inside.

The next pitch was one and the same.

It was the third pitch that she yakked it.

Hit it hard straight up the middle, straight past the second baseman where it came to a stop between center and right field.

“Go, baby go!” I yelled excitedly.

“Go Reagan, run hard!” Le

“That a girl!” My father screamed.

And the praise continued by the other people that were watching the game, as well as Reagan’s coach, and her teammates.

“Holy hell,” Le

I completely agreed. I was still flabbergasted every time I saw her do it.

I’d never been very good at baseball.

I was a football man myself.

I played throughout my high school career, and still picked up the odd game even now.

I missed it desperately, too.

Those days were easier.

Not that I didn’t love my life right now, but then, when my parents made all the decisions and I didn’t have to worry about anyone hurting me or mine, it was a lot simpler.

“Alright, my boy. Your girl hit, now I wa

Sighing, I turned around, hooking Le

“Mom, Dad, this is Le

My mother held out her hand for Le

It’d been a few weeks. She acted like I’d kept Le

Le

My father gri

My mother didn’t let her answer, though. Instead she tugged on Le

Le

“Your lawyer called me this afternoon looking for you,” my father started.

I cursed and turned back to the field, surprised to see Reagan already on third with the bases loaded.

“It’s going to be alright, Be

I didn’t like where it was going.

But I knew I wouldn’t get past this without talking to him.

He wouldn’t let me.

“I don’t know, pop. I just can feel it. It’s sitting on my chest, getting tighter and tighter. I know she won’t let this go,” I told him, keeping my eye on Reagan as she took two steps off the base.

My father sighed and came to stand at the fence with me, shoulder to shoulder.

His arms were crossed over his chest as he said what I needed to hear.

“I had your back eight years ago when that little girl came into this world, and I’ll have your back now. She won’t be able to do anything that you’re imagining she will. She’ll get her money back in the morning, and she’ll go away. If she knows what’s good for her, that is,” my father promised.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the chain link fence.

“I hope you’re right dad,” I whispered hoarsely.

***

Le