Page 59 of Accidentally Sliding Into A Second Chance

“Wait, is she getting her own social media account?” The look I give him has him raising his hands. “You do know there’s a poll to make her the new mascot…”

“I didn’t, but then I’d have to be following the team’s account to have that information,” I retort, bending down to slip my foot in my cleat and pull the laces together before tying.

Hanson snorts. “You really are a dinosaur!”

“No.” I tap his leg. “I just like living in the real world.”

His laughter trails behind him as he walks away, and my lips twitch.

I see the benefits of social media, but I don’t need to like it. It reminds me of my mom when she would make us pose for pictures at every event or holiday. Except with the internet, we are now posing 24/7, and I hate it.

But I don’t hate Cat telling me her ideas or when she’s the one taking the pictures. She’s the best part of this nightmare.

“James,” Logan plops down on the bench next to me, pulling my attention to him. “How’s married life treating you?”

“Haven’t you been stalking my social media?” I stand up from the bench and shove my duffel in my locker. A full-blown grin on my face.

“I’ve liked all of your posts,” he snickers. “And I’ve even commented on a few.”

I dip my chin. “Looks like you’re caught up then.”

“But seriously,” he pins me with his gaze. “How are you doing?”

I chew on my bottom lip, trying to figure out how much to say. He doesn’t know about my arrangement with Cat, but he’s known me long enough to recognize that something’s off. Should I give him the same answer I’m giving myself?

“It’s good,” I hear myself say. Yup. The same thing I’m telling myself. And it’s the truth. But I know things could be so much better.

I think I need to suck it up and call my best friend. She would understand better than anyone what I’m going through. I lost my wife, but she lost her twin sister.

When I look up, he’s still watching me, his eyes questioning. My stomach clenches, waiting to see what he does.

“It is.” I give him a stiff smile and see the moment his eyes narrow. He nods, not believing a word I just said, but willing to participate in whatever game I’m playing.

Sorry, Logan, but if I can’t explain this to myself, I can’t explain it to you.

“How are things with Hope?” I ask, curious about something Cat mentioned. His eyes widen for a brief second before he schools his features.

Yup. He likes her. Cat’s suspicions are spot on. ‘Just friends’ my—

“Last time we talked, she was good.” Logan gives me his ‘got-nothing-on-me’ grin before heading over to his space and grabbing his glove. Following suit, I grab my glove and walk with the rest of the guys out to the field for practice.

Practicewasadisaster.

I’m not sure how many balls bounced past or under my glove, or how frequently I overthrew the ball and missed my target. And please, let’s not talk about batting practice.

“Still sticking with ‘it’s good’?” Logan mumbles as I walk past him in the dugout, taking off my helmet.

“That’s not what this is,” I grumble, glowering at him, scrubbing a hand up and down my face.

“Sure.” He laughs, my fist clenching in response. But he’s not wrong, and I know it.

It’s becoming clear that my emotions are interfering with my game…again. The last time this happened to me was when I found out Fiona was sick, and then after she passed away.

I need to figure this out, or I won’t have a career to save.

A clinking noise from out in centerfield reaches me as the gate opens. I glance up to see Cat’s team setting up for the ‘Meet and Greet’, and I feel my shoulders relax. A feeling of calm washing over me.

The guys around me are packing up and heading back into the locker room to shower before we start. But I can’t make myself look away from the setup crew, because maybe, just maybe, Cat will join them.

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