Page 41 of Finding Out

“He’s my new client.” The words were so lame. I wanted to crawl under the bar.

“Free unsolicited advice?” Hannah picked up the glass of deep burgundy wine the bartender set in front of her.

I nodded.

“First, don’t hide what’s going on. That’ll only make a mess.”

Eyes lowered, I glanced away.

“Second,” she said, pulling my attention back to her, “enjoy the fuck out of that man. I want all details. I feel like he hides so much behind that growl.” Hannah tapped my arm.

I opened my mouth, a denial on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t lie. “I don’t know what it is.”

Hannah smiled. “For the record, Beckett is positive that Coach is gone for you, and as annoying as he can be, I’ve learned not to doubt him or his matchmaking abilities.”

I scoffed.

“It’s ridiculous, but it’s true. The man has a weird gift.” She chuckled. “Come on. Let’s get back. Oh,” she said, straightening. “One more thing. Maybe wait until after the wedding, but then you need to tell Avery.”

Nodding, I scanned the room of women. It was wild that both teams had been chock full of single guys until only a year or two ago. Now, their bar was overrun with wives and girlfriends. The best part was that every one of the players’ significant others was awesome. It was a group I’d love to actually be a part of.

My stomach jumped at that idea, and I couldn’t shake it. The idea of attending events with Tom, holding his hand in public, being the object of his affection, sucked the air from my lungs. I could hardly focus on the conversation.

That was until a haughty, overly made-up woman snuck into our circle next to me and wouldn’t shut up. I didn’t get what Aiden Langfield saw in her.

“I should set you up with War, then the two of you can double date with Aiden and me.” Jill beamed.

War, the tattooed defenseman, was hot AF, sure, and a month ago I might have jumped at that, but…

“I don’t know…” I glanced around at the other women, hoping one of them would save me.

Harper, girlfriend of right fielder Kyle Bosco, met my eye. “Sorry, I think she’s dating Coach Wilson.”

I gasped, choking on my drink.

“When I saw them together, he seemed pretty protective,” Harper continued.

Sawus? Holy shit. I coughed, spraying pink liquid across the table.

“Wren!” Hannah jumped back, and Avery whacked on my back.

I wheezed and hacked. How the fuck could Harper have seen us? There wasn’t a single moment outside the hotel room where anyone could have seen anything.

“I am not dating him,” I snapped.

Harper flinched. “Uh.” She swallowed, her eyes shifting to Zara Price, the wife of the team’s catcher, who was sitting next to her. “I thought?—”

“I don’t know why you’d think that.” I cringed at the harshness in my tone. Why was I freaking out?

Avery was frowning at me, and Hannah was shaking her head. Normally I’d laugh about something like this. Maybe even make a teasing comment. Shit. I needed to chill, but my heart thumped in my chest and stress bubbled through me.

“Zara’s party.” Harper stepped away from the table. “You two just seemed…I don’t know. I guess I’m wrong.”

My eyes flitted shut. I’d forgotten, that night, that Harper had been standing so close, and I’d asked Tom to get me a drink.

“It’s…” I shook my head.

“Don’t mind Wren’s attitude. She’s exhausted.” Hannah laughed. “She’s been to New York and back this week and had to battle a snowstorm to do it. Plus she’s working on ten thousand things. The girl never stops.”

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