For the Game by Amber Garza

Author:Amber Garza [Garza, Amber]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 24942766
Published: 2015-02-15T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Cooper

My palm was clammy as I held tightly to the baseball. Bringing my arm back, I geared up for a hard throw. After thrusting forward, I released the ball and it shot from my hand. I watched as it sailed through the air, a streak of white against the blue sky. The sun was warm on my face, and a gentle breeze blew over my head, stirring up my messy hair.

“Nice throw, bud.” Dad caught the ball in his hand, closing his fingers around it. “Our boy has quite the arm.” He turned to Mom who had the video camera trained on me. The lens covered her right eye, giving the illusion that she had one small eye and one giant unblinking one. Mom was petite with cropped blond hair, a funny pairing with my large, muscular dad. I noticed people glancing over curiously when we were out in public. But somehow they fit together perfectly.

I smiled into the camera, beaming.

Mom giggled. “He certainly isn’t camera shy either.”

“Not my boy.” Dad puffed out his chest. Mom smiled in his direction. “Ready, son?” Dad cocked his arm, and I nodded, standing taller. When the ball came at me I opened up my hand and caught it. “All right,” Dad said, clapping his hands.

Mom cheered, and my heart burst in my chest. I loved making them proud.

Adrenaline surging, I tossed the ball back to dad. This time it didn’t quite reach him. Instead, it landed in the thick green reeds of grass near Dad’s feet.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, angry with myself for throwing it before I was ready. I’d gotten too excited and hadn’t taken the time to set up my throw. I may have only been six, but I was already serious about baseball. Dad and I played all the time in the backyard. I hoped to one day be as good as he was.

“It’s fine,” Dad assured me as he plucked the ball out of the grass.

Mom lowered the camera and clicked it off. My heart sank. Was it because I was playing bad now?

“I better check the cookies in the oven.”

My doubts vanished, my stomach growling.

Mom grinned at me. “Looks like someone is hungry for some chocolate chip cookies.” She Mom whirled around. “They should be ready any minute. I’ll bring some out when they are. You boys have fun without me.”

“Oh, we will,” Dad called back. “But not nearly as fun as when you’re out here.”

Mom shook her head, an amused expression on her face.

“When you grow up, I hope you meet someone as special as your mom.” Dad shot me a pointed look. “Don’t settle for anything less, son.”

At six, I had no idea what he was talking about. I thought girls had cooties. Still I agreed with him and said, “Okay.” I may not have understood, but I knew I wanted to be just like my dad when I grew up. He was my hero, the person I looked up to more than anyone in the world.

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