Page 50 of Hitting the Gap

“Fuck no,” he muttered.

Bailey eyed Brandon. As much as she wanted to say more, his body language made it very clear the subject was off limits.

“So, you’ve been here a couple of seasons now. How do you like San Diego?”

“It’s good.” Brandon turned left and started walking down the block. “How’d you know I’ve been here for a couple of years?”

“Because I’m a Hawks fan, so I know who our players are.”

“Oh yeah?” His eyebrow hitched up like he didn’t quite believe her.

“Yeah, ask me something.”

“Okay, who was the winning pitcher when we won the World Series?”

Bailey rolled her eyes. “Ryan Graves.”

“Okay, that was too easy.” Brandon narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “Who owns the team?”

“I think it’s a group of people actually, but the face is Matthias Hoffman.”

“Damn, I’m impressed.”

“Told ya,” Bailey said.

Brandon took a long sip of his gross looking green drink. “How about you? What brought you here?”

“A job.” There was no way she was getting into the whole thing with her ex, with some guy she barely knew.

“What do you do?”

“I’m a sociology professor.”

“No shit?”

“Nope.”

“Very cool.” Brandon glanced at his watch. “You better pound that thing, Rayne will be waiting for you.”

She took a big sip, then another as they walked back toward the studio.

“How you feeling? Any better?” he asked.

Embarrassed, she took another sip before answering. “I’m fine, thank you.”

“No problem.” Back at the studio parking lot, Brandon held out his hand. “Give me your phone.”

“Why?”

“So you can call me if you want to take another class.”

“I think I can just organize coming back through Rayne.”

Brandon chuckled. “Yeah, I was thinking more like having someone beside you to catch you when you pass out.”

“Haha, smart ass,” she said.

Brandon flicked his fingers for her to give him her phone. “Brandon, I’m not really interested in being anyone’s pity date.”

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