Page 10 of Double Play

I smirk. “Yes, ourballsarewaybigger than yours.”

Reagan lets out a laugh before continuing. “Arizona is well known in the softball world. She may be the most popularplayer in the sport. That’s why we did everything we could to get her on our team.”

The truth is, I was offered a lot of money to come here, about double what I would have made this season with my California-based team. Getting a fresh start away from everything that happened this past year was beyond appealing to me. And they promised to sign Ripley, who was playing for a team out of Texas. She and I haven’t played together since college nearly six years ago. I was dying to play with my best friend again. Playing in the same town as my brother was another incentive. All of that combined made coming to Philly a no-brainer for me.

Reagan continues, “While the fanbase for professional softball is significantly smaller than that of professional baseball, it’s loyal and diehard. She’s one of the best players in the league. Layton, you’re the baseball darling of this city. You’re practically a Philly treasure. You’re not only a ballplayer, but you’re also a celebrity.”

She pauses as if Layton and I should understand where she’s heading with this. It’s clear that neither of us do.

“Layton, we want you to use your celebrity to help the Anacondas gain attention. Arizona is going to be the face of the Anacondas franchise. Imagine the excitement and press that would surround you two as an item.”

My chin drops in astonishment. What does she mean? She can’t be suggesting that we date. “I’m not dating this asshole. I might be getting a sexually transmitted disease from simply sitting this close to him.”

Layton winces. “While I can assure you that I’m disease free, I have to otherwise agree with Arizona. I’m not into forced relationships. I’m not even into relationships.”

I hate that his words sting. Dickwad was singing adifferent tune last night. Though I suppose I should have known he just wanted to get into my pants to add to his#laidbylaytoncount.

Carter Daulton cocks his head to the side. “To be clear, we don’t care if you actually date. In fact, we prefer you don’t. It only complicates things. We simply need you toactlike it. Publicly. This is purely a PR relationship. They happen all the time. Way more than you know about.”

I smack my hand on the arm of my chair in frustration and astonishment. “This is absurd. I’m a professional athlete. I’ve worked my ass off my whole life to get where I am. I’m not someone you can whore around. I don’t care who you are or how much money you have. Go to hell.”

Reagan lets out a laugh. “I fucking love you, Arizona. I dig strong women. That’s one of the many reasons I want the team and the league to succeed. Young girls need women like you to look up to. I understand your concerns about a fake relationship. More than you know.”

She looks at Carter and something passes between them before she turns back to me. “I don’t control the simple fact that women’s professional softball is struggling. I don’t control the fact that it might not exist in a year from now. I’m trying to fix it. I’m trying to get Cougars fans interested in softball. Imagine what it would be like if we could get even a small fraction of Cougars fans to attend Anacondas games. By my math, the Anacondas would be considered wildly successful if we were to convert roughly fifteen percent of Cougars fans into Anacondas fans too. I’m sorry to be blunt, but sex sells. I’m not asking you to have sex, just look like you are. With the way you two appear, you’ll be Philadelphia’s sweethearts. With any luck, maybe even America’s sweethearts. Mark my words.”

I’m speechless, having no words for this insanity.

After a few moments of awkward silence, she sighs. “Why don’t you sleep on it? I’m not forcing you into this. I’m hopingyou’ll come to realize that it’s for the best. The only thing I ask is that you keep it among the people in this room. As soon as even one other person knows, it will spread like wildfire.”

I shake my head. “Not that I’m agreeing to this, but if I do, my brother will have to be in on it. He knows I would never date someone like Layton. It’s not the kind of woman I am.”

She nods her head in agreement while Layton shuffles in his seat before asking, “Not to be an asshole, but what’s in it for me? Why would I care about the Anacondas’ success?”

Beckett Windsor clears his throat to gather our attention. He’s the oldest person in the room. I’m guessing he’s in his upper forties. He’s insanely attractive. If I had a daddy kink, I’d be very into him, though he’s been pouring his pregnant fiancée a glass of water every two minutes and encouraging her to drink it. She keeps rolling her eyes at his hovering. Honestly, the way he dotes on her is kind of endearing.

“Layton, we’re well aware that the team was planning to release you at the end of the season.” What? “We’re prepared to offer you a three-year contract extension if you help us with this side project. You’ll get to finish your career as a Cougar. Your salary won’t be quite as much as you’re earning now, but it will be in keeping with what you’d get anywhere else. The paperwork is being sent to Tanner Montgomery’s office now. Our expectations are laid out clearly in the document. Arizona, we don’t have an agent of record for you.” Because I don’t have one. “A copy of the pertinent terms in Layton’s contract was sent to you as well so you’re clear on our expectations for both of you.”

I turn to Layton in a bit of shock. He appears embarrassed. I almost feel bad for him. Layton Lancaster has been the face of the Philly Cougars for well over a dozen years. I remember when he first came into the league, making a huge splash. A baseball prodigy with all-American good looks and a tragicbackstory. His face was everywhere. I was thirteen and, like every teenage girl, especially softball players, Layton Lancaster was my dream guy. Not that I’d ever admit it to him.

He nods in understanding. “I’ll take a look at the contract, discuss it with Tanner, and get back to you.”

Beckett turns to me, his face softening. “We have a seven-year-old daughter. Her name is Andie. She has your poster in her room. You’re her idol. Andie, and girls just like her, are the reason we’re doing this. It would be a crime for the women’s professional softball league to fold. When Reagan brought this plan to us, we were immediately interested. I not only wholeheartedly believe in Reagan’s business prowess, but also want to do my part to see to it that you ladies get to continue doing what you love and inspire the next generation of women, like my daughter, to do the same.”

I nod. “I understand. I hope your daughter will be at our games this year. I’d love to meet her.”

He smiles. “Nothing could keep her away, and I appreciate the sentiment. She’d most definitely like that.”

Reagan stands. “We’re all on the same team, working toward the same goal. I think we’ve given both of you some things to consider, but we need this to be quick. The Anacondas’ season starts next week.”

I want some more clarification before I consider doing something this absurd. “I know I’ll be sent his terms, but can you explain exactly what would be expected of us in day-to-day layman’s terms?”

“I can. When you don’t have your own games, you need to attend each other’s games. Layton appearing at Anacondas games will draw a crowd. You attending Cougars games feeds the dialogue of your relationship, which I have a feeling people will be excited about. Your schedules are tight, but any nights off, we’ll need you to appear out and aboutlike a normal couple. Maybe even a few lunches since you have a lot of night games. You basically need to appear like a normal couple spending time together. Oh, and I’m in negotiations withSports Illustrated. They’re doing a couple’s body image issue, similar to what they did a few years ago. I’m pitching them on another dual-sport couple, like they did with Zach and Julie Ertz in that first issue.”

My eyes widen. “I might be inSports Illustrated?” It’s the most well-known sports magazine in the world. Being in it is basically the dream of every athlete.

“Possibly, but they need to think you’re a couple. The body image issue is only for couples.”

This could be huge for the sport of softball. Everything she’s saying will help my team and my league. As much as I don’t want to do this, I know I probably need to.

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