Page 15 of The Shake Off

It surprised none of us.

“How many people have been invited?” asked Kit.

“About two thousand I think.”

Two thousand might have sounded like a lot, but on game days, tens of thousands of people filed through the stone archway to see the boys play. At the weekends, those who didn’t have tickets to the stadium could come and watch on big screens set up on the grass.

In comparison, today was surprisingly intimate.

“Are you two working?”

“Officially, we’re networking,” Beulah air-quoted, and we all knew what that meant, especially when she stopped a passing waiter with a tray full of drinks and relieved him of four glasses.

“This is my kind of networking.” I lifted the glass to my lips and grinned.

“Where’s Marnie?” Kit asked.

“She’s with Penn somewhere I think,” Lowe replied. “He’s got her doing demonstrations of the new uniform.”

“Rather her than me,” she laughed.

Marnie, more formerly known as Doctor Marnie MatthewsPhD,was a new girlfriend of ours. She’d moved to New York last year after Penn persuaded her to leave her job at N.A.S.A. and come to help him build a winning team. She’d done exactly that. Overnight, she’d created a formula which transformed the players and how they functioned on a daily basis, which in turn made them more efficient players, and The Lions quickly moved up the standings… something like that anyway.

I could never quite follow when she tried to explain it, because Marnie was a super brain and I was not. However, it kept her busy and she was almost as eager to get the boys to the World Series than Penn was –almost– therefore, we rarely saw her.

“So, is the team here?” asked Kit in a tone that was far too innocent to fool anyone.

Me, at least. Beulah and Lowe hadn’t seemed to notice.

“Yeah, they’re all on the field for official photos, then they’ll be walking around the grounds. Penn wants them taking selfies with everyone before the season starts.”

I stopped myself from stiffening next to her and let out small sigh of relief. There were so many people it was unlikely I’d see Ace, and by the sounds of it, he’d be too busy anyway. Before I could think any more about why I cared, I noticed a guy taking an order of fried chicken, and my stomach grumbled.

“Okay, I’m hungry. Who wants food?”

“Ooh I tried the chicken earlier, it’s good. I’m going for the burger next,” Beulah replied. “Let’s go.”

We joined the line, and from the looks of it, everyone else decided on fried chicken and burgers at the same time we had. Thankfully we were at the front of the crowds and not the back.

“Are you guys set for Opening Day? Who’s it against?” asked Kit.

“Phillies away. Wanna come? Beulah and I will fly back after the game, you can come with us.”

I shook my head. “No, thanks. I’m limiting myself to home games only this year.”

“Sensible,” Lowe replied, as she stepped up to place our orders, just as my stomach grumbled again.

I should have had breakfast.

She was handing around our food when her eyes focused on something behind me, making her smile. “Photos must be done. Here comes trouble.”

I wish I hadn’t been stuffing a piece of fried chicken into my mouth as I turned, because the boys weren’t only done with their photos, they were making their way over to where the four of us were standing. And the trouble she’d been referring to was exactly the trouble I’d wanted to stay out of.

The future of The Lions – Lux, Tanner, Parker, and Ace – were about to grace us with their presence, and there was nowhere I could hide.

I saw it the split-second Ace recognized me, and his step paused as a grin spread across his all-too-handsome face, one that definitely spelled trouble. It was the same grin he’d given me two nights ago.

“Hey, Payton, long time no see.”

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