“Good. We’re definitely going to need you when we go up against Lancashire. They’re giving everyone a run for their money.”
Tyler chuckled.
“Trust me, I’m not going to wobble. You can rely on me.”
He had to bite back a wince after that. How could he say that after what he had just said to Steve’s sister? While he hadn’t been the target of Steve’s anger, he had witnessed it. it was explosive, and definitely not something you wanted to be in the way of. True, he had calmed down in recent months, but Tyler wasn’t about to push it any further.
“By the way, have you heard anything about being back on the New Zealand squad?” Steve asked, crouching down to pick up a water bottle from the pack near Tyler’s feet. “Are you back in, or are they going to carry on using the young bloods?”
“I’m back in for the next tour, for sure. I was told to rest my shoulder, and then be ready against India.” Tyler shrugged. “With that fast pitch and everything, I’m going to be needed.”
“And here I thought you weren’t arrogant.”
“That’s what my selection coach said. Besides, I’m technically playing England.”
Steve chuckled.
“I suppose. I swear you don’t give yourself any rest. You just keep going and going. No wonder your shoulder likes to complain.”
“At my age, I shouldn’t be surprised.” Tyler lowered the resistance band and rolled his shoulder. “If Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad can do it in their late thirties, so can I.”
“Just as long as you don’t overdo it. The Hundred won’t be the same without you there. And London Spirit need a strong bowling quota.”
Tyler hadn’t planned on overdoing it. He just loved playing cricket, and he knew when he was pushing it too much. At thirty-six, he had to listen to his body more, or he was going to end up out of commission for longer. This was a game where he should have been thinking about retiring by now, and Tyler just couldn’t do it.
Especially if he was going home to an empty house. If there was someone at home, then it would make it easier, mostly.
If you had asked Kristie out properly, everything be damned, then you wouldn’t be in that position now.
Too complicated. Not going to happen.
“Tyler?”
“Hmm?”
Steve was frowning at him.
“You okay? You looked a little out of it just then.”
“What?” Tyler blinked. “I didn’t think I was.”
“You were. I just said something, and you were just staring into space.”
Tyler hadn’t realised. Sighing, he tossed the resistance band onto the floor and picked up a dumbbell, brushing the grass off it.
“I guess I’m just getting match-focused,” he lied. “A T20 is intense. I’ve got to keep up with everyone else.”
Steve looked like he didn’t believe it, but he nodded and moved away.
“Just get in the nets and practice. It’s not just your bowling I want to be top notch.”
“With my batting? You’re asking for something big.”
His captain simply waved a hand over his head as he walked away. Tyler shook his head and started using his weights. Kristie had told him many times that to keep his shoulder in good working order he needed to do the exercises she set for him. She could tell when he hadn’t done them as well, and Tyler didn’t like it when she was disappointed in him.
Damn, the woman had crept into his thoughts more than he wanted. It was easy to keep people at a distance, but with Kristie Tyler always felt his resolve breaking. That was bad. Kristie Hallenback was one of those people you could easily fall for.
That was not going to be Tyler. She deserved better than him.