Page 30 of Rounding Third

“Because anything dealing with love is difficult,” she says softly. “There are always so many emotions involved and sometimes it has nothing to do with the two people in love and everything to do with those around them.”

I watch her closely. I wonder if she’s talking about herself. I know Cici spends a lot of time with guys from the team since her brother is on the team and her best friends are dating players too. She says it’s hard for her to find genuine friends with her running such a successful business. I understand where she’s coming from. Just like the guys and I have a hard time knowing what friends or girlfriends are genuine and not just after our money.

“Stop looking at me like that, Smithy. We’re here to talk about your love life, not mine.” She thanks the waiter as he places her plate in front of her.

“Who says we can't talk about both?” I smirk. I’d rather hear about her than make myself even more miserable thinking about what to do about Liliana.

“Me. I said we can't talk about both.” She carefully cuts her food up before glancing up at me. “I’ll go with you for dinner, but it’s to discuss you going to a charity event with me next week.” She smiles hopefully at me. “I thought I had someone to go with, but they backed out. Do you think you could go with me?”

“Will Owen or Cord try to cut my balls off?”

“No, like I said, they both know you aren’t interested in me.” She waves a hand through the air, erasing my concerns. “Why do all men need to be so scared of my dad and brother?” She sticks her bottom lip out in a pout.

“Um, because they can be scary? No one wants to mess with them.” I shake my head, thinking of how miserable Owen and Cord could make my life if they wanted to. “So… the guy who was supposed to go with you, did he back out because of them?”

“We’re not discussing my love life, Smithy,” she singsongs.

“I thought we were discussing your date.” I smirk again as I steal a piece of her potatoes.

“Whatever. I hope this restaurant we’re going to is good tomorrow. I don’t want to go on a date with someone who isn't interested and have to eat crappy food.”

I chuckle, more than thankful Cici willing to do this for me. I don’t know how else to get close to Liliana without getting yelled at for showing up and crashing her date. Now, I just need to figure out where her date is going to be.

“What do you want, Smithy? I'm trying to run errands for my boss.” Winnie shuffles around something on her end of the line and mutters something under her breath.

“I thought you were a babysitter.” I frown as I walk through the halls of the stadium, trying to figure out where we’re doing practice today. Since I'm late, no one’s in the locker room anymore.

“I'm a nanny. Don’t cheapen what I do by calling me a babysitter.”

“Aren't they the same thing?”

“No! A babysitter watches your kids every once in a while. A nanny is permanent and an au pair is a nanny who lives with you. Damn, I’d love an au pair job. It would be a dream come true. I really hate my apartment and my lease will be up in nine months. But I don’t think the Montogomery’s are going to needme as their nanny much longer. I don’t really do much. I guess I should ask them before my lease is up. Then I could look for a new apartment closer to the next family I work for.”

“Winnie?”

“What? I'm having an internal freak out over here, Smithy!”

“About something that hasn’t even happened yet. I only have one question, then you can get back to freaking out.”

“What?” She groans, getting more annoyed by the second.

“I want to know where Liliana’s going on her date with the asshole.”

“Don’t call Kevin an asshole. He’s a super nice guy. You don’t even know him.” She stops whatever she’s doing on her side of the phone and I'm sure her hands are on her hips.

“Ahh, now everything is clicking into place more,” I grind out through clenched teeth. She’s always pushing Lils out of her comfort zone and forcing her to do things.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“She wasn’t interested in dating anyone and now she’s going on some blind date. Stop pushing her.”

“Oh my gosh, Travis,” she hisses my name, knowing I don’t like anyone other than Liliana calling me Travis. “Liliana is free to date whoever she wants. She’s single and no one seems to be interested in her. She wants to find her happily ever after. How is she supposed to do that if she’s always with you?”

“She’s happy with me,” I growl.

“She sits by and watches you flirt with other women. She isn'twithyou. You aren’t dating.”

“Just tell me where they’re going.”

---