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Chapter 50 : The Ninth Inning
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Catching Jane Chapter 1 : Drunken Mind, Sober Thoughts
*Jane*“Are you ready for your entire world to change?” I adjust the straps of the little floral ruched bust top I’m wearing and direct a pointed look at Rachel, not needing words to express my sarcasm. But despite my attitude, my fingers still toy with the frilly material, something I only do when I’m more than a little nervous. “What?” my friend asks defensively, not taking her eyes off the mirror as she adds the finishing touches to her makeup.“A little dramatic, don’t you think, Rach?” I move to sit on her bed, crossing my legs in an attempt to stave off the anxious foot-tapping. “It’s a party. We’re not exactly curing cancer or braving the frontlines.”Rachel rolls her eyes. Her eyeliner is perfect. “Please. This is when the rest of our lives really begin.”“I thought the rest of our lives started when we moved to campus and started classes.”She shakes her head, her dark curls bouncing on her shoulders. “Not at all. That was just the logistics of things, y
Catching Jane Chapter 2 : Taking Chances
*Jane*I wake up feeling like I’ve got a mouth stuffed full of sand. The mini migraine pounding through my head isn’t helping either. Fortunately, all things considered, I’m not doing too bad.With a groan, I raise my head, trying to figure out where I am. I realize that I must’ve just thrown myself onto my bed last night, given that I’m still in my party outfit with hair that looks like I stuck my finger in a power outlet. When I look for Rachel, she’s in a slightly less dignified position —she ended up just sleeping on the floor, with one shoe missing. I absentmindedly note that it’s been abandoned halfway on the trek between the bathroom and where she decided to pass out for the night. “Rach?” I ask groggily, my voice sounding rough. I pick up a pillow to throw at her, and it bounces off her head. “Are you alive?”She makes an unintelligible sound and raises a hand to flip me off. “Oh great, you’re in good shape then.”“My head is killing me,” she grumbles, s
Catching Jane Chapter 3 : Up to Bat
*Jane*“You look perfect,” Rachel says, wringing her hands together like a proud mother. I take a look in the mirror and have to admit that the outfit I picked out does look good. I’ve chosen a pale pink sweater that’s tucked into a mini skirt and finished it off with a pair of complementary booties. Rachel let me borrow one of her necklaces and curled my hair so that it falls in soft loose spirals around my shoulders. The whole thing draws attention to my best features—my legs and my collarbone.“How are you feeling?” she asks, going to take a seat on my bed. “Nervous,” I confess, my hands going straight to the hem of my sweater to fight with non-existent creases. “Just breathe. It’s just a regular date and there’s really no reason to be anxious.”Just then, a knock sounds at our door and Rachel jumps from her perch, clapping her hands in excitement. I roll my eyes at the huge grin on her face. “What happened to this being just a 'regular date', Rach?” I ask,
Catching Jane Chapter 4 : Home Run
*Jane*Of course, he has a penthouse apartment. I don’t know why I was even surprised at this point. I look around, perplexed at the sheer amount of luxury around me. The left wall of the living area consists of a series of oversized floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the city below, offering a view so spectacular that I walk over to get a better look. I don’t know if he decorated the place himself but it’s done well, with minimalist features that are simple but masculine. Absentmindedly, I pull at the oversized jacket he draped over my shoulders tighter around me. I’m struck again by the difference between the way I grew up and the lifestyle he is obviously accustomed to. I’d be lying to myself if I claimed it wasn’t at least slightly intimidating. “I’m surprised you’re not offering me a nightcap,” I joke, turning to look at him. He’s keeping a respectful distance, similar to how he did the night of the party. Like he’s waiting for my cues before he tries an
Catching Jane Chapter 5 : Pressure
*Noah*When I wake up, the sun hasn’t even fully risen yet and there’s a beautiful blonde still sleeping in my arms. Jane Thomas. She looks so content, with her hair falling over her face and her chest gently rising and falling with each breath. For a second, I just stay frozen, watching her long eyelashes flutter slightly as she sleeps, memorizing the shape of her full lips and remembering what they felt like against mine. Something stirs in my chest and I know that if I don’t get up and move soon, that feeling will awaken something else and I’ll end up missing practice completely. Careful not to wake her up, I gently pry my arm out from under her head and let her rest on a pillow. It’s colder in the morning, so I pull up my covers until her bare shoulders are covered. I give her one last look over, appreciating the way her curves look wrapped up in my sheets before I make my way to the shower. As I wash up, I mentally go over the events of the night before, try
Catching Jane Chapter 6 : Batter Up
*Jane*Noah’s sudden change in mood took me by surprise. I tried hard not to take it personally, not when I knew that it most likely had nothing to do with me. And it wasn’t like he’d been overtly rude, just…distant. Colder than he’d been this morning. Still, I hate the sudden flip. “Don’t worry about it too much. Athletes tend to be very emotionally volatile when it comes to their sport,” Rachel says knowledgeably. “I can guarantee you that he’ll come crawling back to apologize for brushing you off once he realizes what he’s done.”It took a solid ten minutes of in-depth information poaching of my last conversation with Noah before Rachel ascertained that what he did wasn’t worthy of a red flag. Once she was sure of that, she tried to get me to relax and see that it wasn’t as bad as I thought at first. I knew even before her advice that it must’ve been related to the practice session he had. Granted, I still don’t know much about baseball. Noah’s thorough explanation
Catching Jane Chapter 7 : Victory
*Jane*I’ll be the first one to admit, yet again, that I’ve never been much of a sports fan. I didn’t really play anything in school or grow up with siblings or friends who were super into it, and outside of Rachel’s track and field days, I’ve never really had a reason to sit in the stands and scream my lungs out in support of a team. So, I’m completely unprepared for the atmosphere that permeates the watching crowd as the baseball game goes underway. There’s a buzz that runs like a thread through every person sitting in the bleachers, connecting us with the bated breath of expectation. Some people have their faces painted, and others are clad in the Billmore Bulldogs’ colors and memorabilia. But there’s an undeniable electricity as the game goes underway and we all wait with growing impatience to see what the outcome will be. I’m fascinated by the athleticism involved as every inning stretches on. And the focus, the dedication, the strength, the competitiveness … I
Catching Jane Chapter 8 : Seeing Stars
*Jane*The last place I was expecting to be taken to was the baseball field. But as we sit in his car, Noah looks at me with a mix of excitement and curiosity. We get out, and a chill runs through me that has little to do with temperature. The night air is pleasantly cool, and with the lights turned off, the sky is much clearer, proudly showing off its gorgeous canopy of stars. I look at the stands I was sitting in mere hours ago, and even though the stadium is so quiet, I can hear the blood pounding in my ears, the phantom presence of the crowds that occupied the space before makes what we’re doing feel so much more lewd.“Have you ever done anything outside?” Noah asks, his voice mischievous as he moves around to the back of the car. I move to join him. “Of course not,” I reply, whispering even though I’m pretty sure we’re the only people around. He retrieves a blanket from the trunk, then holds out his arm for me to take. “How classy of you,” I add, half joking as
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Catching Jane Chapter 50 : The Ninth Inning
*Jane*I knew that Noah was going to be picked. There was never a doubt in my mind, even if I could tell that he was beginning to question. But when the announcer called out his name, inviting him onto the stage, I couldn’t contain my happiness and excitement. I watched as Noah walked up, and received the Yankees hat. I watched as he shook hands with who I knew were very important people. I watched as he stood for photos and I’m watching now as he speaks to the press, all vying for information on this new rising star and his plans for the future. It fills me with such a feeling of pride and contentment, watching all of this. And I truly am so happy for him. But …There’s a small, nagging part of my brain that can’t help but ask the question … What now?What truly is next for Noah and me?If he joins the Yankees, that means he has to move. The whole long-distance thing is something I always thought would never work. But then again, I never planned on falling in l
Catching Jane Chapter 49 : Draft Pick
*Noah*One whole month has passed since we beat Ole Miss and I still can’t quite wrap my head around what that means. It’s been an absolute whirlwind since then, with things never really slowing, but Jane has been there for the whole ride. That’s what made the whole buildup so much easier and the celebration that much sweeter. Ever since the night I opened up to her, things have only gotten better. She’s the first person I’ve felt secure enough to be vulnerable to, and I trust her fully to guard that. It’s difficult to imagine a life before or after her, it feels like she’s always been here. And she’s the one who’s there when the invitation to the MLB draft comes in. “Noah, this is amazing,” she squeaks, jumping into my arms. I hold her tightly, enjoying the closeness. “It’s still up in the air,” I say shakily, but I can’t keep the smile off my face. “Nothing’s one hundred percent certain yet.”“You know where I stand on all of that.” She draws back to look at
Catching Jane Chapter 48 : Home Sweet Home
*Jane*This is it. The months of hard work and the struggles coming from the toll that took on Noah’s personal life are about to be tested to see whether they were worth it all.But I can tell how it weighs heavily on him. The game is tomorrow and he’s still lying awake at nearly midnight. I roll over and put my hand on his shoulder. “You’re still up?” I ask.He raises his head and turns back to look at me with a guilty smile on his face. “Yeah. Sorry, I thought you were sleeping already, babe. Didn’t mean to wake you.”“I’ve been up,” I tell him, adjusting myself and propping myself up on my elbow. He turns over completely so we’re facing each other. I can see the dark circles under his eyes and the weariness of his face. He’s tired but anxious. Reaching out, I caress his cheek with my knuckles. “It’s nothing you don’t know already, but you need to rest up, Noah.”“Yeah, I do know that,” he says. “So talk to me. Why can’t you?” He hesitates.
Catching Jane Chapter 47 : Moving On Up
*Noah*I firmly believe that Jane Thomas is a good luck charm on top of being a curveball because the second game played after we made up is a clean sweep. Another day, another relationship-ending crisis averted. However, my behavior did force me to look at the way I let my father influence my life. I never want him to have that kind of power over me again and I definitely don’t want Jane to ever have to bear the brunt of that again, regardless of whether it was what I intended or not. But I’d just gotten so sick of hearing that kind of shit from him, from my coach, and so many other people who just saw me as a free ticket to whatever places my career could take me. And maybe a small part of me was terrified that Jane might be changing her mind about that too. It was just easier to ply myself with alcohol and pretend that I didn’t have to think about anything else. Jane getting pushed out of that was my fault. But it’s never happening again. My phone buzzes with an i
Catching Jane Chapter 46 : Turning Tables
*Jane*When I wake up, I wake up alone. It puzzles me how short an amount of time it took for that loneliness to feel so unfamiliar. But then again, Noah and I have spent every single night together for the past month, so I guess it’s not that strange. New habits form quickly. But I still hate the emptiness of the bed, how cold it feels without another body laying next to me. I’m still meant to be pissed off though, so I shake all thoughts of Noah’s arms from my mind and head into the en suite shower. The sun is just barely piquing the horizon, but I can’t sleep anymore. As the hot water runs over my body, I think about how I’m going to go around facing him today. It’s bound to be uncomfortable. Plus, we’re stuck in the Airbnb together between games, so unless he’s decided to run off in the middle of the night half-drunk, I know that I’m going to have to face him sometime this morning. I put on one of the bathrobes hanging off the rack and stick my head out t
Catching Jane Chapter 45 : Wild Pitch
*Jane*I find my way back to the Airbnb by myself. I head straight for a shower, wanting to wash off the sweat and vibes of the afterparty from my skin. It was the first time I felt so … invisible. Usually, I could rely on Noah to always try and make me feel comfortable. But tonight just seemed like it was all about him. I get changed into my pajamas, then crash into bed with the book I haven’t finished reading yet. I pretend as though I’m taking anything in.“Baby?” Noah’s slurred voice calls out two hours later. I can hear as he barely manages to shut and lock the door behind him, and I’m surprised that he was able to find his way back here at all. I don’t move from my spot on the bed and I don’t even bother putting the book I’m reading down. I’m pissed. I’ll admit that. I know I wanted him to be able to enjoy his win with his teammates and fans and be able to focus on something other than his father but still… The fact that he was willing to let me walk out of
Catching Jane Chapter 44 : More Surprises
*Jane* “Hello? Have I seriously been having a conversation with myself this entire time?”With a small shake of my head, I bring myself back to the present. Rachel’s looking at me with a raised eyebrow and knowing smile, her hand outstretched palm side up like she’s waiting for something.“Sorry, what?” I ask, slightly embarrassed.My thoughts had been completely overtaken by memories of last night. I kept replaying how Noah spoke to me through it, how he held me, and how his body felt against mine. I’d completely lost track of where I was. Rachel was over at our Airbnb, getting ready with me for the big game today while the boys went off to the stadium. But I’d evidently been so distracted, that I hadn’t realized she’d been speaking to me the entire time. “Your eyeliner,” she says. “I asked if I could borrow it.”“Oh, yeah. Sure.” I hand it over, but the look on her face doesn’t change. “What?”“You know exactly what. I take it the date went well last night.
Catching Jane Chapter 43 : Starlit Dreams
*Jane*I’m reading a book on the couch when Noah walks in from practice, his hair still wet from his shower. He looks so excited to see me, even more than he usually does, and I immediately put the book down. We’re currently staying in the Airbnb that he’s booked for the entire week we’re spending in Omaha. It’s beautiful, complete with a pool and full catering that I’m eternally grateful for because we don’t exactly have much time to go around searching for decent food stops. I get up to greet him, beaming, and he takes me into his arms and sweeps me into a kiss that curls my toes. He pulls back, a sweet boyish grin on his face. “I have a surprise for you,” he says like he can barely contain it anymore. I quirk up an eyebrow. “And how exactly would you have had time to put together a surprise?”“I have my ways,” he replies cockily, running his hands down my arms and taking my hands in his. He leads me upstairs, telling me to follow him. There was one section
Catching Jane Chapter 42 : Making It Big
*Noah*“And that does it folks, the Billmore Bulldogs are headed to their first College World Series!”The announcer’s words ring in my head over and over, swirling around like water down a drain as I replay the broadcast. It doesn’t feel real. None of this feels real. I made it. I actually made it. This is by far the biggest step of my career so far, and I can’t seem to wipe the smile off my face when I think about it—which is almost all the time. It’s a funny thing, reaching a huge milestone that up until this point has always just felt like a pipe dream. Something big enough to crush your spirit when you are pulled further away from it, but still too far ahead to really bank anything on without some degree of delusional faith. And now here it is, the opportunity to catapult myself onto a proper stage. But the resting thought side by side with what feels like the culmination of all the hard work I’ve done throughout my life so far is Jane. Jane Thomas.
