Page 18 of Fielder's Choice

There’s something about Lane that’s pulling me in. Maybe we could be friends. It’s not like I really have any of those.

And it’s totally normal to think about how hot your friends are, right?

seven

Lane

“Sagie!”Coleyells,runningup behind my daughter, where we’re with his wife, waiting for our table to be ready.

“Unky Coe!”

“You look like a little ballerina!” he says, scooping her up into his arms.

Sage looks at him so happily. “Me ballwina like Owive!”

I rub my hand over the top of her head, mussing up her soft waves. “Exactly like Olive, Lovebug! You’re doing so well.”

“I swear your daughter is obsessed with Olive,” Rory laughs. “It’s kind of adorable.”

“Hey, that’s fine by me. She’s so happy right now. That’s all I ever want for her.”

We’re interrupted by the hostess letting us know our table is ready, and we follow her through the restaurant to a secluded booth on the back wall. Sage sits on her booster seat beside me while Rory and Cole sit across from us.

When the waiter comes by, we place our drink and food orders. All four of us choose pasta dishes—my daughter’s refined palate, though, means she goes with macaroni and cheese.

No shame, though. Mac and cheese is fucking delicious.

“So,” I say, leaning back against the booth while Sage colors her placemat next to me. “How was Aruba, Cole?”

“Incredible,” he smiles. “Aruba is absolutely beautiful. Perfect honeymoon location.”

“Gotta get married before I can use it as a honeymoon location,” I chuckle.

Rory smirks. “I caught the vibe that you might be interested in someone already.”

I roll my eyes, but I don’t deny it. “I’m definitely interested in getting to know her better.”

“You realize she’s almost a decade younger than you, right?”

“Well aware,” I sigh. “Ari, though, loves the age gap trope.”

“Of course he does,” Cole chides. “That man is all for romance books but refuses to settle down himself.”

“He’s going to eat those words one day,” I reply.

“That’s what I told him. So, to mess with him, I just tease him about Lucia.”

I almost choke on my water as I imagine that.

Lucia Torres is one of the team’s athletic trainers and part of the girl group composed of Rory, Harlow, and Ella, Josh’s wife. She also seems to be the bane of Ari’s existence, and the feeling is mutual.

Those two bicker every time we’re all together. It’s awkward as fuck, and we still have no idea what the hell even happened between them.

I swear they argue even more when Lucia’s boyfriend Matt is with us, too. But I kind of get that. Lucia’s happy, but there’s something about Matt I can’t put my finger on, and I don’t like it.

I just get a weird vibe from him.

“I’m pretty sure Ari would rather run naked through a field of cacti than get close to Lucia,” I laugh.

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