Page 53 of Wild Pitch
Slowly, I look over at Lucky. “What?” His cheeks look like a chipmunk that has stuffed a bit too many nuts, so instead of using his vocal cords he just lifts his half eaten slice in response. “Right, right.”
I grab one for myself and take a bite, but it doesn’t taste that great tonight.
*
I’m quiet as I drive us back to the Wild training facilities where the others left their vehicles. Garcia, Kim, and Lucky chat about who knows what, no words filter into my brain. My left elbow is propped against the window and I rub my chin, thinking about how I even am going to make this happen. Will Garcia kill me or thank me when she finds out?
I stop by the security gate and lower the window to swipe my badge. I spot Kim’s Ducati first but keep driving. Then there’s Lucky’s Escalade, a couple other cars from people who must be working really late, and farther is Garcia’s yellow Jeep.
“Tonight’s been interesting,” Lucky says, unbuckling himself. “Are we doing it again?”
“Hopefully not. No offense.” Beside me, she also removes her seatbelt. She reaches into her hair, rummaging for a good moment until I realize what she’s doing.
“Just give it to me tomorrow,” I say.
“Thanks. There are just too many bobby pins.” She shows me a whole pile already in her hand before opening her purse to dump them in. As she searches for something else, she mumbles, “Thank you, guys. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”
I turn to look at the window, clamping my mouth shut tight.
“Any time, Garcia,” Lucky responds instead.
“Yeah, and if you need to have someone beat up, just call us.” Kim grunts.
“Good night, then.” I hear her door open, the slide of her dress and skin off the seat, and then the door shuts.
Behind me, the guys open their doors and I spring to action. Jumping out of my truck, I grab a handful of Kim’s leather jacket to hold him back.
“What the?—”
“We need to talk.”
His face twists. “What about?”
Lucky rounds my truck and finds us there. He does a double take at my grip on Kim’s clothes. “Dare I ask?”
“No.” I wave my free hand away. “We need to talk battery shit. Go.”
“Gladly.” Lucky pretends to wipe sweat off his forehead and heads over toward his vehicle.
I release Kim just so I can reach into my truck to turn it off. Meanwhile, the yellow Jeep drives by and the Escalade lights come on at a distance.
“This is starting to creep me out, Starr. Why do we need to be alone to talk about battery business?”
“Because that was bullshit. This isn’t about work.” Slamming my truck door shut, I stuff my hands in the pockets of my jeans and lean back. “This is personal.”
Kim spreads his feet apart and folds his arms. “Is that so?”
Bobbing my head, I blurt out, “Are you single?”
For a long moment, the only thing that breaks the silence is Lucky’s Escalade driving away with his stereo blaring some reggaeton that makes the ground vibrate.
Kim clears his throat. “What, are you interested?”
Slowly, I draw in a big breath and release it. “Listen, I know I like women with long hair, but just because you have long hair it doesn’t mean that I confuse you for one.”
“Oh, so this is about Garcia.”
My eyebrows rise. “How did you guess?”
