Out of Control by Richard Reece Read Free Book Online

‘I was singing first,’ and he said, ‘I wrote the song.’ I thought you were going to fight.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œDunno. I woke up.”
    Lisa was smirking. “Zoey, I think you may be a psychic. You are definitely in touch with the energy around here.”
    We ate breakfast. I checked my phone. There were lots of missed calls from Dad. I didn’t want him to have a heart attack worrying, so I texted him.
Spent the night with friends. I’m fine.
    OK
, he texted back,
see you at practice
.
    I didn’t answer.
    Â 
    . . .
    Lisa and Zoey were planning to go to the mall that morning. I passed on their invitation. I thought I’d just chill by the pool, play games, whatever. I felt like I was on vacation—a vacation I’d needed for a couple of years.
    The girls had been gone for just half an hour when the front doorbell rang. I looked out through a window and the old sick feeling started again. It was Pop Mancini.

CHAPTER 16
    I opened the door, and once again the world of baseball entered my life.
    â€œTrip!” Pop said when he saw me. He seemed surprised, but friendly. I explained that I’d been visiting Lisa, and that she and Zoey had gone shopping.
    â€œYou were wise to stay home,” he laughed. “They’ll be hours.”
    He looked at me for a minute and said, “Sit with me by the pool. I think there’s some lemonade in the fridge . . . Yep. Grab a couple of glasses.”
    So we headed out to the patio. It was a gorgeous morning, cool for the summer. We didn’t say anything for a few minutes. Then he said, “Great game against the Miners.”
    â€œYeah, it was.”
    â€œI meant you. You played great.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œScott Harris told me you’re sort of tired of the game lately. That he wanted to give you a rest.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œApparently not what your dad had in mind.”
    â€œNo, sir.”
    â€œWell, he talked to some of us about it. Said he’d pull his money out of the team if Scott didn’t put you in the lineup.”
    â€œI heard that, sir.”
    â€œCall me Pop. You know, we kind of laughed at him. I mean he’s very generous, but several of us have means.”
    â€œSo the season wouldn’t end if he . . .”
    â€œOh no. I think Scott was worried about that for a while. But we’re all interested in keeping the Runners going.” He looked at me. “And in taking care of our players.” He paused a few seconds.
    â€œAnyway, I talked to Coach this morning and told him to do what he thinks is best.”
    â€œDad will freak if I don’t play.”
    â€œTrip, I know you’re the one who has to deal with him, but his ‘freaking’ won’t affect the Roadrunners. And the Roadrunners do need you—you’re a great player. But we need you healthy. Anyway, your dad won’t know until Coach actually benches you. Right now he’s assuming he’s won, that you’ll be in the lineup.”
    His cell phone rang. “Excuse me,” he said, and then, “Yeah, it’s not locked. Come on in.”
    A minute later the door to the patio opened and in came Wash.
    â€œHey Trip!” Wash said. “Thought we’d have little chat about your situation.”
    I looked at Pop. “You knew I was here?”
    He smiled. “A friend of yours told me.”
    Lisa!
    Wash tells stories, and of course he had one relating to my predicament.
    â€œTrip, I played on a team with a guy—fantastic, could have made the MLB. And he loved baseball when he played. Who doesn’t love doing something they’re terrific at? But he had different plans for his life. He went to law school, and now he’s in St. Louis defending people who can’t afford a lawyer. He’s happy with the past and happy with the present because he did the job he wanted to do when he wanted to do it. Once it