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The video ran, showing everything Chad had done last night, all the way up to him clocking me in the face. The video had been edited with sound effects blocking all the nasty shit Chad had said about Jane, and @justabbey05 providing hilarious colour commentary. She obviously didn’t like him very much either. I saw why the younger guys were cracking up. Even though I was part of the joke, I found myself laughing at some of her comments. Whoever Abbey was, she was a video genius.

When it ended, she turned the phone on herself. “Thanks for the autographs and the entertainment, @realcartercook! Go Fliers!”

I handed the phone back to Raine. “Fuck me.”

The viral video was funny, but it still put me squarely in the centre of a controversy. The team was not going to be happy. And by now Jane and Ethan had probably seen it. Abbey’s commentary would prevent Jane from picking up the shit Chad had said about her, but I couldn’t predict how Ethan would handle it. His relationship with Chad seemed strained, and he might also blame me for being involved. It could make things awkward at home. And we’d kept the real reason for my black eye from him. Ugh. This reminded me why I mostly avoided social media.

“Could be worse. She actually made you look pretty good in that.”

“I doubt Skip will see it that way.” At that exact moment, Wally came out of the meeting room, glaring when he spotted me.

“Cook! My office, now.” Wally stomped into his office.

I thumped my head against my locker. All I wanted to do was play baseball. If I went viral, I wanted it to be for hitting a walk-off homer, or making the play that saved the game.

I’d lain low after the accident, and even my wife walking out had barely made a mention in the media. I hadn’t done anything impressive in the few days since Vancouver had signed me, and this viral video making the rounds wouldn’t help my cause.

I closed the door behind me after I entered Wally’s office. The last thing I wanted was for everyone to hear me being cussed out. Or worse, fired. I took a chair in front of his desk and braced for the onslaught. “Yeah, Skip?”

Wally chuckled, which was confusing, but at least I probably wouldn’t be fired.

“Relax, Cook. I’m going to yell a little so the kids think I’m a hard-ass, but I’ve seen the video. Kevin called to fill me in on what the video didn’t show. Chad Templeton has always acted like he was better than everyone else in this town, and he’s mean as a snake when he drinks. You handled the situation as good as you could. I’ve already talked to the management in Vancouver. They actually think it makes you and Raine look good—trying to help a local business with a belligerent customer, and making sure he didn’t drive drunk. But let’s face it, most of those kids don’t understand that going viral can be a disaster. So don’t ever let it happen again!” The last sentence was delivered at top volume, and he banged his fist on his desk for added emphasis.

I smothered my laugh at Wally’s theatrics. He was putting on a good show for the team, who were probably all watching to see what happened to me.

“Get out of my office.” He winked at me before he turned his back on me in dismissal.

I tried to look suitably chastened as I left his office, closing the door behind me. I was thankful Wally and the Vancouver management saw the truth.

As for the scolding, I couldn’t blame Wally for trying to scare the young players in line. Most guys would have had the time to learn the dos and don’ts in A or AA ball, but not this team. If me being dressed down helped them learn, it was all part of the leadership role the club wanted me to fill.

“That didn’t sound good,” Raine said as I packed my gear.

“Could have been worse. I still have a job.”

“He wouldn’t have fired you, would he?” The question came from Jonah Lewis, the nineteen-year-old shortstop who had asked Bennie about the World Championship last night. He was part of the group of young players Wally was worried about, so I took my time with my answer.

“He could have. Did you read the contract you signed carefully? If we embarrass the team, they have the right to trade us or release us. If you get released, do you think any other club will ever pick you up?”

“They will if you’re good enough,” another young player shouted from across the locker room.

“Yeah, remember that pitcher who threw his glove at a fan?” another player asked.

Of course they had to bring him up. I wanted them to understand what happened to him was not normal. I nodded.

“Sure. His club DFA’d him the next day. Another club did pick him up, but that doesn’t happen very often. More likely your career is over. I was lucky this video made me look good, and the club thought that Raine taking away Chad’s keys to stop him from driving drunk made the club look good too. Stick to going viral by making amazing plays.”

“The club noticed I took away his keys?” Raine’s eyes were wide, his voice quiet to keep everyone else from hearing.

I clapped him on the shoulder. “Wally mentioned it specifically. Which is good for you, because every little thing that makes you stand out helps when they’re deciding who to call up. Keep doing what you’re doing.”

I’d known Raine for only two days, but in that time he’d done several little things that impressed me. He might never be an all-star player, but he could make a solid contribution at the big-league level if he was given a shot. I wanted to see him get that chance.

“I’m heading to the Dugout again. Meet me there?” Raine offered.

It would be good to spend more time getting to know Raine, and any other players who joined him. I wasn’t quite ready to show my face there the day after a fight that went viral on social media, but I’d have to get over it. The Dugout was where everyone on the team went to hang out, so I couldn’t avoid it forever. For today, I had a legit excuse to skip it. “I’ve got physio this afternoon. Next time?”

At his nod I slung my bag over my shoulder and left.