Page 5 of The Double Play

“And I presume that, since you’re wanting this position, you aren’t married or in a serious relationship. Why is that?”

I cough on my drink, covering my mouth with my hand. “I’m sorry?”

“Have you chosen to stay single?” She rephrases her question.

My grandma tends to be the one asking about this topic. She wants great-grandkids almost as much as I want kids. I’m not used to a stranger asking, though.

I clear my throat. “I wouldn’t say I’ve chosen to stay single,” I answer carefully.

“So you go on dates?”

I want to ask what this has to do with the interview, but I’m not one for confrontation, so I just stutter out, “Sometimes, yes.”

“Do you want to be married? Have kids?”

I nod. “Yes, ma’am, that’s one of my greatest desires in life.”

She gives me a warm smile. “You’re looking forthe one.”

“I suppose I am,” I say and tuck my hair behind my ear.

Bonnie sets her glass on the coffee table, then slaps her hands on her knees. “I believe I’ve gotten all the information I need. I will talk to my son and be in touch.”

I blink in surprise. That wasn’t what I’d consider a smooth transition.

“Thank you. I-I hope to hear back from you.”

I stand when she does.

“I’m sure you will. Emmett can be a stubborn man, but he knows I know best, so he values my opinion.”

That’s…not promising. I’ll be working forEmmett, not her. I’d like for him to want me here. But I guess if he trusts his mom enough to conduct the interviews, then he shouldn’t question her judgment.

“Okay, that sounds good,” I say because I can’t think of anything else. “Thank you for the tea.”

“You’re welcome, darlin’. I’ll show you out through the garage. No need to wrestle with the door again.”

Bonnie leads me out of the house, and once more I find myself staring up at the castle I hope to soon work in. It’s only when I get in my car that I realize we didn’t once discuss salary. I’m not sure what normal interviews are like, but I have a distinct feeling that was not one. Which leads me to believe this position will be far from normal as well.

Chapter four

Emmett Foster

EverytimeIpickup a video game controller and put on this blasted headset, I question my sanity.

“There’s no way you’d win in a fight against abear,” Miles says.

As often as we can manage, a few of my guy friends and I play Halo together. Each of us plays a different professional sport, and we met through our agent, who also became a friend, Brock.

I squint and try to focus on the game at hand, but as always, it’s a fruitless endeavor. I don’t know why we bother playing the game when all they want to do is talk. But since they’re my friends–another thing I question–I go along with it. Our time to talk is limited due to our jobs anyway, so I don’t blame them too much. Only a little, sincethisis the topic they’re wasting it on.

“The linemen I face every week are basically bears,” Jason replies. “I could take one.”

Shaw laughs. “Maybe a cub.”

“Or a teddy bear,” Brock adds.

My lip quirks up at their remarks.

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