Sullivans 06 - Let Me Be the One

lungs, trying to rattle Ryan as best they could. Clearly, they were beside themselves with joy watching the league’s best pitcher tumble into a world-class meltdown.
    The TV in front of the bar was turned up loud enough for Vicki to easily hear the announcers discuss Ryan’s uncharacteristically bad pitching.
    “Ryan Sullivan has always made his job look so easy. In all the years I’ve seen him pitch, I can’t recall ever seeing him choke like this.”
    Another announcer agreed. “There’s no question that he’s in his prime in terms of age and strength. Even so, the first game of the playoffs is a bad time for any ballplayer to be dealing with personal issues, no matter how talented.”
    “Looks like the pitching coach has just called a time-out to head out to the mound to have a word with him,” the first announcer told the audience.
    “If they’re thinking of pulling him, it’s a good time to do it, before his arm wears out. This way they can use him three days out instead of having to wait four full days before his next start.”
    Vicki’s heart stilled in her chest as she watched the pitching coach say something to Ryan. She wished she could read lips to know what Ryan’s reply was as he shook his head and held firm on the mound.
    “Sullivan just got engaged, didn’t he?” the first announcer asked.
    “Sure did. The story I’ve heard is that they’ve known each other since high school, but only started to date again recently. Sounds like something right out of a fairy tale, doesn’t it?”
    “Unfortunately,” the other man replied, “it doesn’t look like he’s living a fairy tale right now.”
    It wasn’t just the announcers who were trying to figure the problem out. The fans who had gathered in the bar to cheer on the Hawks were grumbling about Ryan loading the bases within five minutes of hitting the mound. Fortunately, Anne was too busy flirting with the young bartender down at the other end to have heard anything the announcers said.
    If Vicki had never come back into Ryan’s life, he wouldn’t be suffering now. And yet, she still couldn’t make herself wish away the past week they’d had together...or the unexpected love they’d found with each other.
    The pitching coach was still conferring with Ryan, but when she looked more closely at the screen, she realized something was different.
    Her body recognized Ryan’s determined look, the dominance in it, first. Probably because it was the same one he gave her in bed that always turned her insides to goo.
    Even though the announcers were surprised when his coach returned to the dugout, while Ryan stayed right where he was, Vicki wasn’t.
    “Looks like he’s staying on the mound for at least a few more pitches. I don’t know about that decision, given the fact that the Cardinals just sent in their cleanup hitter. He slammed forty-nine homers during the regular season.”
    “This is do or die for Ryan Sullivan and the Hawks,” the announcer said in a hushed voice. “Another walk will force in a run. A home run and this thing is practically over in the first inning.”
    Ryan waved off the first two signs from the catcher until, finally, he got the sign he wanted. His face was a picture of perfect concentration—and beautiful determination—as he took several deep breaths, went into his windup, and uncorked a fastball that caught the inside corner of the plate at the knees. Two great pitches later and the umpire barked, “Strike three!” giving the out sign with his hand and arms.
    After Ryan struck out the fifth-place hitter on five pitches, a mix of fastballs and change-ups, the stadium became eerily quiet. And then, one more time, three straight blazing fastballs hit the corners with precision. Ryan didn’t give the batter even a hint of a chance.
    The inning was over. Ryan had climbed out of a deep hole. And the Hawks were back in the game.
    Big time.
    Vicki cheered along with the rest of the crowd in the bar as one of the announcers said, “Looks like the Ryan Sullivan we all know and love is back.”
    Throughout the rest of the game, Ryan’s determination and strength of will never wavered, to the point where the announcers agreed that it might have been his best pitching ever. Though she knew he wouldn’t get her message until the game was over and he’d finished dealing with the press, Vicki pulled out her phone to text him.
    That was when she finally saw his message to her: I love you. Remember you