Page 18 of The Third Baseman

“Did you guys see the email about the new chick?” Ace asked through a mouthful of avocado toast.

“We’re all new.”

“No, she’s super new, like from last weekend. We just ran into her in the hallway and man, she’shot. Her ass is…” he lifted his fingers to his lips and burst them open in a chef’s kiss. “Fuck, I love older women. And this one is so… peachy. She looks smart too, wearing glasses like she meant business, instead of just… you know.”

Stone and I both stared at him, making it clear we, in fact, didn’t know. But that was not unusual with Ace, and we’d all learned quickly to filter the important stuff.

“He’s right, she was,” nodded Parker, with more enthusiasm than he needed.

Stone and I went back to our breakfast. Even if I wasn’t thinking about Marnie, breakfast was also seen as a time of quiet contemplation, and a look ahead to the day’s game,

something these two had yet to learn.

“I can’t wait until Monday.” The tone of Ace’s sigh had all three of us looking at him.

“What’s happening on Monday?” Stone asked, once he’d swallowed his current mouthful.

“We all have appointments to see her over the next few weeks. Coach scheduled them in our calendars.” He picked up a piece of toast and crunched down on it. “She’s the head of baseball science.”

My ears pricked up, the important subject filter doing its job properly. “Who’re you talking about?”

He looked at me like I hadn’t been listening to him for the last five minutes, which of course I hadn’t.

“The new chick.” He scratched his head, obviously trying to remember. “Marnie, I think her name was.”

I stood up so quickly I almost got head rush. Parker grabbed my chair before it hit the floor. “Marnie Matthews?”

He clapped his hands together. “Yes! Her, she’s fucking hot. She’s got…”

My hands slammed down on the table so hard Ace’s orange juice toppled over and spilled all over the table. He jumped out of the way before he was covered in it too.

“What the fuck, Reeves?”

I stood tall, adjusting my ball cap, and slowed my breathing. I might not have known what my immediate plans were with Marnie, but they sure as shit didn’t include having to fight off these two horny dipshits staring up at me like they’d never seen someone fly into a jealous rage before.

I leaned forward, palms placed calmly on the table this time, and stared down at them. I’m not gonna lie and say I didn’t enjoy seeing Parker shrinking back slightly.

“Right, listen up,” I began quietly. “No one, and I mean no one, is to go near Marnie Matthews. I don’t give a fuck if you are scheduled to see her. I’m canceling all the appointments now.”

Stone looked at me like my mind had gone the way of the orange juice. “Er, Reeves, I don’t think you can do that.”

“Watch me,” I snarled, knowing full well he was correct. I pointed to the open mouths of Ace and Parker. “And you two spread the word about it. No one is to go near her.”

“Um, okay…” said Parker, his tone the level of calm I’d failed to achieve, and whom I then decided in that second I liked better. “But you want to explain yourself?”

“Not really.”

I crossed my arms over my chest with a huff, realizing I may have just dropped myself into the deep shit-filled trench of club gossip, because there’s no way my outburst wasn’t going to get around. And while I didn’t give a fuck, I didn’t want Marnie dragged into anything.

“Jupiter, Shepherd will find out about this when no one is turning up to see this expert he’s brought in. You saw the email.”

I pulled my chair in and sat down. “I don’t read emails.”

“Well, it said that she’s new to the staff and all our schedules have been updated with sessions to meet her.”

“I’d definitely take a session with her,” smirked Ace under his breath, but not quietly enough.

My head whipped round with an ill-concealed snarl. “I will knock your head off.”

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