Earning A Ring. Kristina Mathews

League teammates had peaked at twelve, he was still in the game.

      “Are you going to pay for it or what?”

      “Of course. Don’t I always?” He’d never deny his daughter anything. If he couldn’t be around, the next best thing was to make sure she had everything she needed.

      “I also need twelve hundred dollars for her summer camp.” Jillian let out a sigh indicating she was insulted to even have to ask.

      “Is this a fencing camp?” Fencing was an Olympic sport, right? Maybe someday his little girl would win a gold medal. After all, being a champion was in her blood.

      “Oh God, she gave that up ages ago.” She made it sound like it was his fault he couldn’t keep up with Hailey’s ever-changing interests. “No. It’s a theater camp.”

      “Theater? Like plays?”

      “Yes. Musicals.”

      He held his breath, waiting for a request for more money to hire a voice coach.

      “Well, I’m sure she’ll have a great time.” He just hoped the camp wasn’t during the same week he’d make his one and only trip to Pittsburgh this summer. His time with his daughter was limited enough without missing out on being able to take her for lunch before he played a night game. He knew better than to ask Jillian to let her actually come to a game. But maybe when she got a little older and could start making her own decisions about spending time with him. That was if Jillian didn’t brainwash her into thinking he was scum.

      Maybe he should get Hailey a cell phone. That way he could talk to her without her mother controlling… Yeah, as if Jillian wouldn’t try to control Hailey’s cell phone usage. If she’d let her have one in the first place. Of course, if he even suggested it, she’d shoot him down faster than she could cash a check.

      “Is Hailey there? Can I say hello?” He hated having to beg for his daughter’s affection. For every moment of time with her.

      “She’s still in school.” He could practically hear Jillian roll her eyes. But when he worked up to seventeen days in a row, he often lost track of what day of the week it was.

      “Well, tell her I said hello and that I miss her.” As if those words could even begin to state how he felt about the little girl who had her mother’s eyes, but his whole heart.

      “Sure.” She sighed, making it sound like a big inconvenience to relay the simple message. “So are you going to send the money?”

      “I’ll send it this afternoon, before I go to work.” He never really cared about how much he sent, as long as it was for Hailey. “Anything else?”

      “No. That’s it for now.” Jillian’s voice was like ice. She hated him. Always had, and always would. He wondered why she’d ever even slept with him. Surely she hadn’t planned on getting pregnant and making his life miserable ever since? At least he’d gotten a daughter out of the deal. Even though he only saw her a few times a year, she was worth it. And someday, he’d be able to prove to her just how much she meant to him.

      Now he had another child to take care of. He’d have to split his resources between two families. Right now, he had plenty to go around. But his recent play only served to remind him that his career would only last so long. And then he’d have to pay for Hailey’s college, her wedding.

      And what about the new baby?

      He didn’t want to be just some guy who sent money, showing up only at Christmas, kind of like Santa Claus, bringing gifts and then leaving again. He wasn’t sure if Hailey even believed in him anymore.

      He had to do things differently this time. He had to work out something between him and Rachel. Something more than a custody arrangement.

      Maybe, just maybe, he could get it right this time.

      * * * *

      Rachel made it to the ballpark without any morning sickness. She took it as a sign that things would turn around. Maybe keeping the news from Bryce had made things worse, and now that he knew, she would get through the rest of her pregnancy with minimal discomfort.

      Rachel’s producer, Steve Montoya, pulled her aside before she headed to the field for a pregame interview with Nathan Cooper. The left-handed reliever had been traded last season, but he’d been invited back to spring training and had made a good impression so far. He’d done well in relief last night, but the damage had been done when Bryce messed up on the double-play ball.

      “We’re in uncharted territory here.” Steve had a serious note in his voice.

      Rachel’s stomach lurched. Had he discovered her relationship with Bryce? Her cameraman, Carl, seemed to sense something was going on between the two of them. Oh, he never said a word, but he watched her carefully, almost as if he was waiting for her to crack under the pressure of keeping a secret of this kind. She didn’t think he’d rat her out. No, Carl had always had her back. But she got the feeling he was disappointed in her. They both knew she should know better than to get involved with a player. Especially a guy with Bryce’s reputation and one failed marriage behind him.

      Not that she was looking to get married. She wasn’t that big of a fool.

      So what did she want from Bryce? Besides great sex? Really great sex.

      She wanted to forget him. To be able to do her job, and not have to hold her breath every time he stepped into the batter’s box. She wanted to be able to interview him after the game and not secretly hope for, yet dread, an invitation back to his place once the camera stopped rolling.

      “Defending a title is different than just trying to make the playoffs,” Steve was saying. “Expectations are higher. Fans are less patient.”

      Rachel could only nod, and hold her breath while waiting for the hammer to come down. She started mentally putting her résumé together.

      “I know it’s been tough these first few weeks.” Steve exhaled with the frustration they were all feeling. “But I need you to focus on the positive. Stay upbeat. Your job is to keep the hope alive.”

      She concentrated on the word “is.” She still had a job. For now.

      “Positive. Upbeat.” She gave him her best camera-ready smile. “Always. We’re behind our guys one hundred percent.”

      “Good. I knew I could count on you.” He clapped her on the shoulder. “It’s funny. We did such a good job at making the fans feel a part of last year’s victory, that now they feel like they’re owed back-to-back championships.”

      He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.

      “But I know you’ll do your part to keep it going.” He gave her an encouraging nod. “Seek out the first timers, the bachelorette parties. Find soldiers on leave taking in a ballgame before they head back to their mission overseas. Focus on the ballpark experience. Make them want to be here even if the team isn’t winning.”

      “Keep them happy until the team gets back on track. I can do that.” She wasn’t getting fired. Just a pep talk.

      “Exactly.”

      “So I’ll interview the guys who are performing well, like Nathan Cooper or Marco Santiago.”

      “Sounds like a good plan. Just stay away from Bryce Baxter.” He shook his head. Oh God. He knew. He knew and he was disappointed in her. Time to update her résumé, after all.

      She’d been contacted by an up-and-coming network about doing a sports talk show “for women who love sports, by women who love sports.” But Jock Talk was nothing more than a gossip show that focused more on the players’ private lives than what occurred on the field of play. What they drove, where they ate—and most importantly—who they were sleeping with got more attention than anything the athletes accomplished on the field. They would have loved the story about Johnny “The