Cleat Catcher (The Cleat Chaser Duet Book 2) (22 page)

“What? Why?” Nik’s eyes widened at my words.

I wiped away the tears with my forearm. “He’ll do something crazy. He might jeopardize his career. I can’t let him do that. I’ll tell him when the time is right. Just not now. Not until we know what’s going to happen.”

“Okay, babe. I’ll do whatever you want. You know that.” Nikki dragged her nails up and down my tricep.

“Can you bring me my phone? I need to text Coach.”

“Sure.” She hustled over and then returned with my phone.

I took it.

Me: Strained MCL. Out for season. A blowie would help ease the pain.

While I was chuckling, I caught Nikki leaning over my shoulder, reading my message.

“You two are ridiculous.” She paced around the room.

All I could think about was leaving the team, leaving my city. I wouldn’t even be able to fuck around with Coach anymore. I’d still be able to text him, but it wouldn’t be the same. He was my mentor and a great friend. My phone vibrated in my hand.

Coach: I’m sorry. We’ll figure it out. I need to meet with you as soon as you leave there. Can you come by the clubhouse?

Me: Sure

“I need to meet with Coach. Let’s get out of here.”

“Okay, babe.” Nikki grabbed my arm like I was wheelchair bound to help me off the exam table.

I had all but my jeans on when Doc opened the door. “Hey, we need to put a brace on that knee. Give it some support.”

“Good timing.” I pushed myself up onto the examination table.

“I don’t have to tell you how to use one of these.” He made quick work of strapping everything into place.

“Nope. I’m indeed familiar.”

“Thought so. I sent the paperwork over to the physical therapist’s office. Let’s do another appointment in two weeks to check your progress.”

I stared at the floor, defeated. “Sounds good.”

B
RADEN

I
WALKED THROUGH
the door to Coach’s office and sat down in a chair in front of his desk. “So, about that blowie?” I made a show of starting to unzip my pants.

Coach shook his head and smiled. “You’re such a little shit.”

I sensed the goodbye speech was coming soon. Coach started to say something when his eyes grew big, and his face wrinkled. He stared at the door behind me. “What do you want?”

I whipped around, and Ingram was standing there with a smug grin on his face.

“Braden, we need a word with you upstairs.” Ingram glared at Coach, but the corners of his lips turned up in the slightest hint of a smile. “Alone.”

“The fuck he’s going alone.” Coach sprang up from his chair. “What’s this about?”

“It’s none of your concern,
Coach
.” Ingram smirked. “It’s a need-to-know meeting. And all you need to know is how to put together a winning team with the tools we provide you. This is outside of your domain.”

Coach marched around me and was in Ingram’s face in a heartbeat. “You’re a little prick. You know that? Don’t think you’re going to walk in here and bully me and my players, asshole. I have a contract, and I have lawyers who know how to read the fucking thing. You’re stuck with me for at least three more years. Now take your little spreadsheets and math, and get the fuck out of my office before I shove your head so far up your ass you enjoy yesterday’s lunch for a second time.”

“Threats of assault, weak one-liners.” Ingram held his hand up and mocked Coach’s rant by opening and closing his fingers against his thumb. “Get some new material, old man.”

The asshole put his hand on my shoulder, and I wanted to crush his goddamn knuckles.

“Braden, we need a word. As soon as you and Coach are finished.”

Coach started to talk and I held up my hand. “It’s fine, Coach.” I moved my gaze to Ingram. “I’ll be up in a minute.”

“Hurry it up.” Ingram made sure to chuckle at Coach before he walked out of the room.

I stood outside the large, wooden door to Ingram’s office before finally pushing it open. My heart dropped into my stomach when I saw the owners and higher-ups of the organization sitting around a conference table. They were all staring at me.

I glanced around the room at the ornate woodwork and fancy furniture. These assholes were so out of touch with the team. It was no wonder they made piss poor decisions constantly. But what did I know? I was an uneducated ballplayer, not a Harvard MBA.

Instinctively, I tried to hide my limp, but realized the show was over when I looked around. I hobbled to the open chair on my side of the table.

“Braden, have a seat.” Ingram had a wide smile affixed to his smug face.

I couldn’t burn any bridges in case there was still hope they were going to keep me around. I’d be a fucking backup bullpen catcher for peanuts if it meant I could still come to the field every day.

I turned to the owner. “Art.” I gave him a quick nod that he returned. “Jerry, Sam, Chris.” I shook hands with a few who stood to greet me before I took my seat.

“We know about the knee.” Ingram didn’t waste any time getting to business.

“Yeah, I just got back from the—”

“It’s irrelevant.” Ingram cut me off and waved a hand in the air before I could finish my sentence.

I sensed tension in the room. I’d been a franchise player for seven seasons with the Ravens, ever since I’d been drafted. Many fans and commentators called me the face of the team. I knew most of these guys’ families. I’d been to their houses for dinner and helped with their kids’ little league teams. Ingram was the only one I didn’t have a personal connection with.

“You haven’t put up the numbers we need, all season. All of your stats are down. Now with the knee, you’re even more of a liability. So we—”

A commotion rang out in the hallway. It was Ingram’s secretary’s voice. Her stern yells grew clearer with each second that passed. “They are in a meeting. I was told they were not to be disturbed. You can’t just barge—”

“Get out of my way or I’ll move you, Margaret!” Coach’s voice. He burst through the door. His face was fiery red, and veins bulged from his neck. “This whole meeting in here is bull-fucking-shit, Ingram.” Coach’s head was on a swivel, eyeing every other face in the room. “And the rest of you goddamn know it. I’ve never been so ashamed to be a part of this organization. And I’ve been with you for fifteen fucking years.”

“Coach, don’t.” I shook my head at him. I knew what he was doing. It wasn’t worth it. It’d only mean both of us looking for a job instead of just me. We both knew what they were about to tell me. “It’s not worth it. Just go cool off.”

“See what I mean?” Ingram shrugged at the other guys in the room. “His own player gives better advice than he does.” Ingram scoffed and turned his back to Coach.

“You little maggot-shitting cocksucker. I don’t give a fuck if I lose my job. If he goes—” Coach shot a finger in my direction. “Then I go. See, that’s your problem, you arrogant little prick. You want to quantify baseball and put everything in a pretty little number box. Baseball isn’t an exact science. It’s an art. That kid’s leadership, attitude, and character are more valuable than any spreadsheet you can build. But you’re such a pompous dick face that you can’t see any of it through your massive ego.”

“Coach. Please. Just go. I can handle this.” He was going to lose his job, and it was all because of me.

“You shut it, Braden. This isn’t about you. It’s about his problem with
me
.” He glared down the long table at Ingram. “He doesn’t like the fact that I have a contract he can’t touch. I’m a thorn in his side. And while he might not think that you and I are worth our money, the others in this room do. They know it. And it’s keeping him from getting what he wants.”

“You think you’re irreplaceable? You’re a dinosaur. Go on then. You can go with Braden wherever you want and be mediocre together for all I care.” Ingram belted out a laugh. “You have no leverage here,
Coach
.”

“I do.”

Every head in the room whipped around to the giant that filled the entire door frame.

“This doesn’t concern you, Holliday. This is a closed meeting.” Ingram frowned.

Easton stalked toward Ingram.
Fuck.

I shook my head. “E, you shouldn’t be here, man.”

Easton stopped next to me. I stared up at him, silently telling him to not make a scene while simultaneously swelling with gratitude that he’d even attempt it.

He paused for a brief moment, glancing down at me. “No, y
ou
shouldn’t be here.”

I turned away, and caught Coach grinning his dick off at Ingram. He probably hoped Easton was about to pummel his face. Instead, Easton marched over and stood a few feet away from Ingram and folded his arms across his broad chest. He leaned down so that they were nose to nose and jabbed Ingram’s chest with his index finger. “If he goes, I go.”

Ingram chuckled. “You have a contract. Don’t be stupid, Holliday. You just signed a new one before the season.”

Easton glared back at him. “Do you think I’m more worried about breaking a contract than standing up for my best friend? You’re an idiot if you believe that.”

“Fine. You know what? Fuck it, Holliday. You can kick rocks too.” Ingram started to pace, and Easton chuckled. Ingram turned to face him. “Well what’s so damn funny?”

“This.” Easton kept his gaze trained on Ingram, and hollered over his shoulder, “Fellas.”

I watched the door, wondering what the hell Easton was up to. One by one, every player on the roster walked into the room. Ramirez was front and center, and shot me a wink. Each guy nodded to me and said, “Captain,” before glaring at Ingram.

Ingram balled his hands into fists at his sides and started toward Coach. Easton stepped in his path and waggled a finger at him. Ingram’s chest rose and fell in huge waves with each breath he took.

“I know Coach put all of you up to this. You old bastard. You think you’re so smart. You’re hurting the team with all of your bullshit.”

The cogs started to turn in my head. Who put Easton and the guys up to this? It couldn’t have been Coach. He didn’t know in time to organize them all and get them together. Then it hit me all at once.

Nikki.

My heart swelled and a tingling sensation radiated up through my chest and face. She hadn’t listened to me and went to Easton anyway. I’d been trying to protect him, but it was she who was protecting me. At that moment, something inside of me changed. I’d always believed I’d choose Nikki over baseball, but now I knew it in my heart. I couldn’t explain it, but baseball became less important. I still loved it, but Nikki was front and center. She was more important than anything and anyone else in my life. If I didn’t have her, I didn’t have anything.

Ingram started another one of his rants and Art, the owner, rose to his feet. “I think I’ve seen enough here, Ingram.”

Ingram whipped his head up to look at him with a puzzled stare. “What?”

“I think we need to reassess.” He turned to me. “Braden, we know you need to rehab and can’t play the rest of the season. The news hurts us as much as it hurts you. Trust me when I tell you that, son. We still want you in the dugout, leading in any capacity you’re willing to take on.”

Ingram laughed. “You have to be—”

Art glared in his direction and flexed his jaw, speaking through gritted teeth. “That’s enough.”

Ingram’s face tightened into a mean glare. “You can’t do this. You pay me to manage the business interests of this organization.”

“Yes, and we have a board of directors to oversee your management of said affairs. We also have bylaws for situations like this. Or did you not do your due diligence before signing a
business
contract?”

“Well, umm, I—” Ingram hemmed and hawed.

“That’s what I thought. We’ll see how the rehab goes and offer Braden a one year contract at that time. We will reassess at the end of next season. Now, Ingram, you find a way to work together with this team—” He paused. “—who are the real reason we are all here in the first place, or you can find yourself at the end of a contract negotiation as well. Got me?”