Page 52 of SALT

"Hey, since you and Stormy have been hanging out and Everett and I are old friends, what if we do a barbeque this weekend?"

Is she for real? She's asking me this right now. Now the real reason she bought me a beer comes out.

"If you're trying to win me over to get to Everett, you're barking up the wrong tree. It's not like he's my dad. Getting on my good side won't win you any points with him."

"Oh, come on, you couldn't call a cab!" Stormy yells from beside me, and both Lauren and I turn to her, our mouths agape. I know she says she's leaving, but I think this town is growing on her, or maybe it's just the guy on the bench because the uninterested girl who walked into the team shop with a take it or leave it attitude looks like she's starting to care. "What? He was calling those balls strikes and they were clearly low and right of the plate."

By the time I turn back to the game, stunned that she used the correct terminology after not knowing what a curve ball was, the Bulldogs are retaking the field. Damn. We only got one run, but one is all we need to win. Now, we just need to hold them.

"Come on, Park, you got this!" I yell out as he takes the field. On the outside, I don't look the part of a super fan. Apart from today's jersey, I'm typically overdressed for a ballgame. But I've basically lived at the fields for the past five years. I started coming to games to get closer to Connor, and it didn't hurt that Everett tried to attend every game. The love of the game sneaks up on you, and before you know it, you're drinking beer because that's all they have at most fields and hollering like a trucker.

"So, Sunday?"

Jeez, she is persistent. I thought she'd drop it after my comment and Stormy's interruption, but that was wishful thinking.

"Tomorrow, Sunday?"

"Strike!" The ump yells.

"Two more, Park. Let's go!" I take a drink of my beer, which is getting warm. "I'll have to check with Everett. I know he's been busy between filling in for Connor and working at the firm."

"Foul ball."

I'm missing the end of the game with all these questions. The next pitch connects with the bat and is caught by the shortstop.

"As long as you don't have any plans tomorrow, I don't think there are any schedule conflicts. I already mentioned it to Everett last night. He said he just needed to run it by you. So here we are."

They talked about it last night! Ugh, I mentally groan and try my best not to let my annoyance show that she was at the house with him last night and I wasn't. At least he didn't commit to another dinner date.

"I'm supposed to hang out with Parker and Nash tomorrow," Stormy says.

Oh, hell no, I will not be the third wheel again. "Parker can come too. When Connor is in town, we always make Sunday barbeques a thing. Tell him to bring Nash too." If Everett is going to throw the doors open, so am I, rules be damned.

"Strike!"

The roar of the stadium drowns out any more words as the guys all rally around Parker, smacking his hat and ass before lining up to shake hands.

"Come on. Let's go down," I say as I pull Stormy behind me to get closer to the field so we can congratulate Parker on his win. The second we get to the fence, Parker runs down the field toward us. He jumps the fence in one hop, and I step out of the way so he can get to Stormy, but it's not her he was after. The next thing I know, he's spinning me in his arms.

"Did you see that?"

"Yeah, Park, you looked good out there. I'm pretty sure I heard a scout from the Arizona Arrows was here." He squeezes my ass hard before setting me on my feet and pulling my face to his and placing a closed-mouth kiss on my lips.

My hands immediately find his chest as I push him back. "Parker—" I start, only to be cut off.

"What the hell was that, Michaelson?" Everett barks, storming up behind me.

"What was what? Me winning the game and making you look good?"

"You know I didn't call you to the mound. Jenson is our closer."

Fuck. Now I get it. Parker was using me. He's using me to get to Everett. That's still really shitty of him to do to Stormy. I know she said they aren't hooking up, but I know feelings are involved either way.

"This ends now, Parker. What the hell is your problem? You've made me your enemy since I returned from Boston. The least you can do is tell me why."

"You really want to do this here?" Parker questions.

"I don't see why not. I have nothing to hide. I haven't wronged you."

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