The Trade

Can you pinpoint a time in your life when you realized you were completely and utterly screwed?

I can. I got the dreaded phone call, the one every baseball player hopes and prays never comes.

I was traded. Yeah, that phone call.

Traded from my long-time team of over ten years, and not just to any team, but to my childhood rivals, the Chicago Rebels.

Completely and utterly screwed, right? Wrong. The trade was the least of my concerns.

I met a girl. Natalie. Man, she's perfect.

I swore I would never get involved with anyone during the season. Too complicated. I couldn't get her out of my head. The more I talked to her, the more I realized I needed her in my life.

So what's the problem? Why am I screwed? Because Natalie—the girl I can't stop crushing on—is married.

At least, that's what I was told...