Page 26 of Off Season

Daylen motions for me to sit next to him, but I push Amber to do so. Daylen reminds me too much of Cheetah. I need the opposite of Cheetah tonight.

I sit near Vance and stare right at him. His face is still sour. “What crawled up your ass, cowboy?”

Daylen starts laughing hysterically. “Oh, shit. She’s got your number. You better be nice to her, McCaffrey. The last hot chick who gave you the time of day has been ghosting you ever since.”

Vance narrows his eyes at Daylen. “I’m not getting ghosted. My texts are just so interesting that she’s taking time to think about her reply.”

He says it deadpan. I’m trying to hide my smile, not knowing if he seriously believes that.

Daylen lets out a deep, booming laugh and Vance cracks a small, crooked smile. Okay, grumpy bear has a sense of humor. I like that.

Vance throws his arm around me. “You’re just sour that your crush sat next to me, Humblecut. Must be your teeny weenie.”

Daylen asks, “What do you call a woman who likes small dicks?”

Vance cautiously responds, “What?”

“Your last girlfriend.”

I spit out laughing and Vance glares at me. I sheepishly admit, “Sorry. That’s funny.”

He raises an unimpressed eyebrow. “Do I look like the type of man who has a…teeny weenie?”

I slowly and obviously rake my eyes up and down his big, thick body. He most certainly doesn’t.

Daylen breaks me out of my ogling by asking, “Are you a model, Kamryn?”

I turn my head to him. “At times, yes, but my real job is being a professional athlete, just like you.”

His eyes widen in shock. I get that reaction all the time.

“What sport?”

“Softball. I’m on the new team in Philly. The Anacondas.” I nod toward Amber. “So is she.”

Amber isn’t listening, too engrossed in a conversation with Beau. He’s cute in a more militant way. He’s got a buzz cut and a giant body. He must play defense. Amber said she likes a big boy.While all the guys sitting here fit the bill, he’s certainly the biggest of them all.

Daylen widens his eyes as if something just occurred to him. “Ahh, you’re friends with Cheetah and Layton, right?”

I nod. “I am. My friend is dating Layton.”

Vance and Daylen look at each other as something passes between them.

Vance slowly removes his arm from around me and says, “They’re good friends of ours too. We all share the same agent.”

“Tanner Montgomery?”

He nods. “Yes. Layton and Cheetah are like brothers to us.”

I study his face. He’s not going to make a move on me because of Cheetah. Fucking guy is cockblocking me even when he’s not here.

I swear, I’ve had it with men.

A cute girl walks by. She’s walked by this table at least three times. I assumed she wanted the guys’ attention, but this time, she winks at me. Fuck these guys. If they’re not going to touch me because of Cheetah, I’m bailing. I’m going to talk to the hot girl. I said I wanted a woman tonight anyway.

I stand. Amber and Trisha immediately begin to follow me. I point at them. “You two stay.”

Amber leans over and whispers, “I used to date a guy named Beau. I can’t do anything with this one. It would be weird.”