His three younger sisters sit on the floor in front of us, all holding hands as we wait impatiently.
Rylee comes out of the kitchen, laughing. “You guys are a sight,” she says, coming to stand next to me.
I pull her down onto the couch and grab her hand. “What if Arizona takes him? I don’t want him to go there. Or Washington. Anywhere else but those two.”
Everyone knows I despise both of the teams we lost the World Series to when I was playing. I look down at the ring I got from the one we did win. I wonder if Stryker will wear such a ring someday.
Then I look at my wife. She’s still one of the two most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. She gave me three gorgeous daughters. And when our third girl was born, Rylee insisted on naming her Tara. By chance, our first two daughters were named Nina and Ana. When Rylee realized it, she said she wanted to honor the first woman I loved by spelling out Nat’s name with the first letters of our daughters’ names.
She never ever lets me forget the two I lost. And I love her for it more than she will ever know.
And as much as I want Stryker to follow in my footsteps professionally, the one thing I truly wish for him is that he find a woman like his mother. If he can do that, it’s better than winning the World Series; more rewarding than pitching a perfect game.
“Oh, come on,” Rylee says. “You know you want the Hawks to take him. You want it so badly you can taste it.”
“Shhhh,” Ana says. “They are starting up again.”
The MLB commissioner takes the podium. “For the third selection of the MLB draft, the Arizona Diamondbacks select the center fielder from James Madison High School, Nelson Menendez.”
I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Dad. It’s fine,” Stryker says. “If Washington picks me, I’ll ask to be traded.”
Then I watch as he shakes his head and mouths ‘No I won’t’ to his sisters as they laugh.
Rylee squeezes my hand. I lean over and whisper to her. “I’ve waited my whole life for this moment.”
“I know you have.”
A few minutes later, when the commissioner takes the stage again to announce the first pick for the Hawks, I get up, needing to pace behind the couch because I have too much nervous energy. Rylee’s right, I want this so badly. I want his story to be the same as mine, but also different. I’ve done everything I can to protect him all these years. And now he’s going out into the world.
Rylee comes up behind me, putting her arms around me. “He’ll be okay, Brady. He’ll be okay wherever he goes. He’s just like his father. He’s strong, resilient, loving. He’s you.”
“He’s us,” I say, pulling her around to kiss her forehead.
“For the fourth selection of the MLB draft, the New York Nighthawks pick the right-handed pitcher from the University of Florida, Stryker Taylor.”
Stay tuned for the next book in The Perfect Game series.
Stealing Sawyer
Fall 2018
***
What if your BFF was baseball’s hottest star?
Go back to where the Nighthawks started.
CATCHING CADEN – Book one in The Perfect Game Series
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076TFPD7G
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B076TFPD7G
Already familiar with Caden? Try the Mitchell sisters.
This sexy series will wreck you. Tissues required!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UHPKXMS
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Acknowledgements
Benching Brady was both fun and heart-wrenching for me to write. While I love writing about bad boys who become good guys, his journey was painful. Brady had so many redeeming qualities. I’m glad Rylee could finally get him back in the game – in every sense.
I couldn’t have written this book without the help of physical therapist extraordinaire, Adam Schoenberg, and athletic trainer, Dylan Wiedeman. I appreciate you both answering my endless questions about Brady’s injury and recovery.
Many thanks to baseball coach and former MLB player, Talmadge "T" Nunnari, and minor-league player, Spencer Herrmann, who helped me with the many baseball details.
None of this would be possible without my beta readers, Joelle Yates, Laura Conley and Tammy Dixon. You keep me honest, you help fix my mistakes, and you make my books quality reads.
Much appreciation to my hard-working editors, Ann Peters and Jeannie Hinkle, who work tirelessly to make sure my indie novels can rival traditionally-published ones.
And lastly, thank you to my Sweethearts. The daily love and encouragement from my private reader group on Facebook keeps me motivated.
About the author
Samantha Christy’s passion for writing started long before her first novel was published. Graduating from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Criminal Justice, she held the title of Computer Systems Analyst for The Supreme Court of Wisconsin and several major universities around the United States. Raised mainly in Indianapolis, she holds the Midwest and its homegrown values dear to her heart and upon the birth of her third child devoted herself to raising her family full time. While it took time to get from there to here, writing has remained her utmost passion and being a stay-at-home mom facilitated her ability to follow that dream. When she is not writing, she keeps busy cruising to every Caribbean island where ships sail. Samantha Christy currently resides in St. Augustine, Florida with her husband and four children.
You can reach Samantha Christy at any of these wonderful places:
Website: www.samanthachristy.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaChristyAuthor
Twitter: @SamLoves2Write
E-mail: [email protected]
Benching Brady (The Perfect Game Series) Page 31
