Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains (Victoria and Elijah) novel Chapter 124

Chapter 124

Elijah’s POV

“Look, Carter, the athletic board isn’t going to sit around twiddling their thumbs waiting for our roster to heal, Coach Miller barked, slamming his clipboard onto the metal training table.

“The only reason the conference agreed to push the season back in the first place was because of Caleb’s acciflent. We fought, like hell for that delay because this program absolutely needs his bat in the lineup, but we’ve officially run out of runway

I leaned back against the equipment cage, crossing my arms.

“The scouting window is already closing up on us, Coach.”

“Exactly. We’ve pushed the schedule as far into the summer as humanly possible,” Miller grumbled, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“Now we’re running face-first into administrative nightmares. The stadium availability is a disaster because we’re competing with the tail end of the hockey playoffs and the early MLB openers. We have barely three weeks before the rescheduled season opener, and the field time we do have is locked in stone. No more extensions. No more delays. If Caleb isn’t ready. we’re in deep trouble.”

I shifted my weight, thinking of the medical updates I’d been keeping tabs on.

“I checked in on him yesterday, Coach,” I began. “The hard collar on his neck is finally off, and he’s done with the crutches. He’s still limping pretty badly from the leg fracture, but the bone is healed. He’s doing physical therapy.”

Miller let out a harsh, frustrated breath.

“A limp doesn’t help us at the plate, Carter. He can’t clear his hips on a swing if his leg can’t take the torque.”

“If we’re that desperate for his position on the field, why don’t we just sub in one of the incoming freshmen for the first few series?” I suggested, keeping my voice level.

“Let the kid take the reps until Caleb is cleared for full contact. The scouts aren’t going to know every single face on the roster anyway.”

Coach Miller stopped dead in his tracks, turning around to stare at me like I’d lost my mind.

“Are you seriously suggesting that, Carter?”

I let out a short chuckle, raising both hands in mock surrender.

“I don’t know, Coach. You’re out of options. I was just trying to help.”

He rolled his eyes, letting out a heavy, frustrated sigh as he tossed his dry-erase marker onto the desk.

“Well, that doesn’t help, and you damn well know it. We can’t risk putting an unproven kid out there when our entire seeding is on the line. We just have to hope that Caleb’s physical therapy stays on track and he gets cleared before the main season games kick in.”

He stepped closer, pointing a blunt finger at my chest.

“You’re the captain. Until Caleb is cleared by the doctors to take full swings, the boys are looking at you to hold this team together. Our defensive coverage needs to be flawless, and the top of the order has to carry his weight. If the team sees you slack off even a fraction, the whole season is dead in the water before Caleb even gets a chance to step back on the field. Understood?”

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15:17 Sat, Jul 18)

Chapter 124

“Understood,” I replied, my voice cool. The guys will be ready. I’ll have the rotations finalized before we clear out today.”

Miller stared at me for a few seconds, his harsh expression softening just a bit. He gave me a rough pat on the shoulder.

“Good. You’re a hell of a leader, Elijah. Go get showered. Tomorrow is a big day.”

I nodded, grabbing my gear bag and heading out of the training facility.

The afternoon air was warm as I walked across the athletic quad, the strap of my duffel bag cutting into my shoulder. My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out, expecting a text from one of the guys about a pre-graduation party night.

Instead, it was an official notification from the head of the Criminology department, Professor Miller. No relation to the coach, just a funny coincidence that had kept me on my toes for four years.

‘Dear Elijah Carter,

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I am incredibly pleased to inform you that you have officially finished at the absolute top of the graduate Criminology class. Your academic performance throughout this program has been exemplary.

As the top graduate student, you are traditionally expected to deliver the commencement address on behalf of your department at tomorrow morning’s ceremony. Please reply to this email to confirm your attendance at the podium rehearsal by 4:00 PM today so we can finalize the program.

Congratulations on this outstanding achievement.’

I stared at the screen, a quiet smile tugging at the corner of my lips. Top of the class. I knew my grades were solid, but seeing it in black and white was a different kind of satisfaction.

I immediately hit reply and told Professor Miller that while I appreciated the honor, I was declining the speaking role for tomorrow’s ceremony.

I had absolutely no desire to give a speech, and I made it clear that I’d rather just sit in the crowd and enjoy graduation with the rest of my class.

I hit send and shoved the phone back into my pocket.

The last thing I wanted to do tomorrow was stand behind a wooden podium in an oversized gown, staring at thousands of strangers while delivering some generic speech about the past and the future.

I had a very specific girl I wanted to keep my eyes on during the ceremony.

Just as I reached my car, my phone started ringing. The caller ID made me pause, my fingers freezing over the glass screen.

Dad.

I took a breath, sliding the bar to answer.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Elijah.” His voice came through the speaker, carrying its usual authority, but there was something warmer underneath it.

“I just got off the phone with the university registrar. They called the house to confirm the honors list. Top of the criminology department. Hell of an accomplishment, son.”

“Thanks, dad,” I said, leaning against the door of my sedan. “I just got the email myself.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line before he continued.

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Chapter 124

“The London office is fully settled, but your mother’s medical team in Switzerland just changed her treatment schedule 1 can’t leave her bedside right now, Elijah. I’m not going to be able to make the flight down for the ceremony tomorrow. I’m sorry I have to miss your graduation, son.”

Something heavy tugged at my chest.

My dad had spent the last few years living out of suitcases, dragging his massive corporate empire across the globe not put of greed, but because he was determined to be my mother’s primary caretaker.

Wherever the world’s leading neurologists and specialists were, that’s where his desk was.

He poured millions into ensuring she had the absolute best medical care humanly possible, refusing to leave her side.

I hated that she wasn’t well enough to witness this milestone with me, and it stung that my dad would be absent too, sitting in a quiet hospital room thousands of miles away instead of in the audience cheering me on.

I looked at my reflection in the tinted window, and the sadness on my face slowly gave way to something harder.

This criminology degree wasn’t just a piece of paper to throw in a frame. It was a weapon. It was the foundation I needed to put myself in a position to fight back against the kind of horrible, ruthless people who had put her in this predicament in the first place.

I was going to use everything I learned to destroy people like them, ensuring no other family had to stand in a parking lot. wishing their loved ones were stable enough or safe enough to watch them graduate.

“I understand, Dad,” I said quietly. “Take care of Mom. That’s what matters most.”

“I’m going to make this up to you, Elijah. I mean it.” His voice carried a certainty that left no room for argument.

“The international medical transfers are almost finished. Once we’re back on US soil next week, my schedule is completely cleared. Every single baseball game of your final season, home or away, I’m going to be sitting in the front row of that executive box. I’m not missing a single play.”

A genuine smile finally broke through my grim thoughts.

TH hold you to that.”

“You should,” he chuckled. “Now, have you called your sister yet? Does Sophia know about the department rankings?”

“No,” I replied, a small smirk playing on my lips. “I haven’t told her a thing. I want her to be stunned when they call my name tomorrow morning.”

My dad let out a rich, booming laugh.

“She’s going to cause an absolute scene in the middle of the ceremony, you know that right? She’ll be screaming so loud the faculty won’t even be able to hear the rest of the names.”

“That’s exactly why I’m keeping it a secret,” I smiled.

The line fell quiet for a moment before I spoke again.

“Dad.”

“Yes, son.”

“If you can… watch the broadcast tomorrow. And give Mom a kiss for me.”

“I will,” he replied without hesitation. “I’ll be glued to the screen. I’m so proud of you, son.”

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