Page 53 of Strike Zone

I hear Martha trying to contain a snort-laugh at the other end of the table, covering her mouth as she stares down at her glass of water.

“What do you say, Diana. Will you give me a chance to use my impeccable wit and earn your friendship?” My wry grin sobers as I meet her gaze. What started as a playful jibe is becoming one of the most important questions I may ever ask.

The rise and fall of her chest quicken, her sultry smile falters, and a fleeting hint of the Diana I’m intrigued by is in the driver’s seat. “I’m game if you are, ball boy.”

“Fuck me, I never thought I’d see the day.” My best friend seems to have forgotten the table we’re currently inhabiting.

“Anders!” Brooke slaps his arm, making Diana laugh, which is music to my ears today.

“Your mom buys you sex toys, so I think she can handle a cuss word or two.” He flashes his pearly whites at his mother-in-law and winks, making her giggle like a schoolgirl. “Isn’t that right, Martha?”

“You boys need to frequent our dining table more often, don’t they, darling?” Mr. Lexington seems less amused by our conversation, but I get the sense that he subscribes to the mantra, happy wife, happy life.

“Welcome to the jungle, Linc.” Diana proceeds to move food around her plate in an attempt to convince everyone else at the table that she’s fine. How none of them can see the differences in her is beyond me. Since the last time I watched her walk out of my life, she’s lost weight, and yet there’s plumpness to her cheeks that makes her all the more stunning. Although she’s tired and run down, there’s a soft glow to her skin, a vibrancy that lights up her face.

We spend the rest of our meal in easy conversation, talking baseball for the most part, but when Diana’s dad starts asking when a new date will be set for her fight, a chill runs through me. It didn’t occur to me that my sperm has changed the trajectory of her career. I thought maybe she had an injury or her sickness bug—what I thought was a bug—had left her needing more time to train. This changes everything. She won’t be able to fight for a year or so. I’ve fucked her—literally and figuratively. Holy Mother of God—I might have the most powerful swimmers in the universe, and apparently, they’re intent on being a one-man wrecking ball for Diana Lexington.

Thankfully, Diana is skilled in the art of diversion with her family. They tend to see what she wants them to see. She flies under the radar for the most part, and today she’s done it with practiced ease.

Her parents have plans with friends for the afternoon, and I can see that Diana is struggling to keep up the façade of anything close to normal. She’s supposed to be on bed rest.

“Why don’t you girls go put your feet up? We can take care of clearing away the dishes.”

“Good idea,” Anders seconds my suggestion. “Go have some sister time.”

The second they’re out of earshot, he’s on me about last night.

“What the fuck happened last night?”

I gather the plates, piling them one on top of another. “Nothing.”

“Bullshit. You’re… you.”

“Nothing happened. You saw us today. We’re turning over a new leaf, and we’ll try to be friends from here on out.”

“Are you shitting me?” He follows me into the spacious kitchen. Any closer and he’d be crawling up my ass.

“No. I love you guys. It’s been nice being up here with the family this weekend. You’ve met my mom and seen where I grew up. Is it such a stretch to think that Diana and I could be friends, and I could have a little slice of the happy that everyone else seems to have going on?”

“Bro, you hit me right in the feels. Now I feel like a tool.”

“Good. I’m a sad trailer park boy with no family, and you’re over here crying your diamond tears.”

His face goes blank, and I know I went too far. “You’re a multi-millionaire baseball legend. I’d say you’ve got your own diamond tears going on.”

“Whatever, just help me load the dishwasher.”

By the time we’re done and go in search of the girls, Diana is fast asleep on the couch with Brooke flipping through a magazine at her side.

“Something’s going on with her. She’s never like this.”

Anders’ phone beeps at the same time as mine, and I’m quick to fish it out of my pocket so it doesn’t disturb Diana.

Carter: Sorry, boys. Change of plans. See you in Manhattan.

“I guess we don’t have plans for the rest of the day anymore.”

Anders reads the same message before allaying Brooke’s fears. “She trains hard. Sometimes too hard. Let her sleep. Why don’t we go down to the marina and have a few drinks?

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