Page 58 of Wild Pitch
“Oh?”
She shrugs. “What? You’re not the only one who sometimes travels with the team.”
“True.” I fold my arms. “But anyway, it’s not him. Maybe he wouldn’t be as overt as his buddy, but Starr knows I spook easily and he wouldn’t spook me.”
Audrey gives me A Look. “So you trust him enough to know that but still can’t call him by his first name?”
“It’s just weird, okay?” I frown.
“My thought is,” Rose continues all by herself, “You don’t have anything to lose by trying. In fact, it sounds less scary than meeting a total stranger from the internet.”
We all mumble at that. The most terrifying aspect of dating someone you’ve only met on an app isn’t that he might not show up or reject you in your face—like it’s happened to me time and again. But that he may hurt you.
Thankfullythathas never happened, but Rose is right. I really doubt Starr would pair me with some freak when he himself came up with two pitch calls meant to bail me out of the crappy date.
I roll forward, letting the cushions swallow me. “Should I say yes?”
“It’s up to you.” Rose chews on popcorn for a moment before adding, “But I’d definitely say yes.”
“I wouldn’t,” Audrey cuts in with a deadpanned tone. “But that’s because I’m done with men forever.”
Staring at the ceiling, I’ll say, “Well, I have an ex to show up so… I guess I’m in.”
Later, after we’ve settled down and headed to our rooms for the night, I tuck myself in bed with my cellphone. After several deep breaths and much staring at a certain pitcher’s name on the screen, I send a response that may or may not change my life.
CHAPTER 20
CADE
There’s nothing peaceful and quiet about Spring Training—or the season, period—but we luck into having two days in a row with nearby games that allow us to sleep at home. It’s the perfect time to schedule this date between Garcia and one obnoxious catcher who acts like an actual decent person around her.
I try not to gag as I lean against my truck, waiting for Garcia.
It was shockingly easy to arrange this whole thing. Once Garcia texted me back saying that she wants to try it, I just had to confirm to Kim and we agreed on a restaurant for tonight. Lucky’s free like the wind, so the two of us will oversee the whole thing from a nearby table we already got reservations for. Garcia knows we’ll also be there, but she thinks it’ll be the three of us watching out for her like at the seafood place. I even lent her the PitchCom again to really make her think she’ll be on a date with someone she doesn’t know.
But before that, I’m going to give her killer armor and weapons.
Her bumblebee yellow Jeep pulls into the parking lot of a random pharmacy near the training facilities, where we agreed to meet so that no one else from work can see us together andassume shenanigans. Are we shenaniganing? Yes, but not likethat.
She parks two spots from me and gets out. She’s still wearing her team branded staff uniform of purple jersey with yellow trim, including the white joggers. A guy walking out of the store literally stops and stares at her behind. I lift my eyes and fulminate him with all the power vested in me from simply being a full head taller than the damn creep.
None the wiser, Garcia says, “Here I am. Where are we going?”
I jerk my thumb behind me, attention still pinned on the asshole who just won’t stop staring. “Hop in.”
“Okay.” With a deep breath, she walks around the front of the truck until she disappears behind it. The sound of the door opening and closing is what snaps the guy out of his frozen state of stupefaction.
“Ya done?” I bark at him.
“I—uh. Sorry, man. Didn’t know she was taken.” If it wasn’t because of how fast he scrambles, I’d have told him to respect women even when they’re not taken, but with far more profanity.
I wait until he drives away to climb in my truck. “What took you so long?” Garcia asks me, fully fastened and having turned the A/C vents toward her. Her loose hair waves from the air blowing to her face.
“Nothing.” I turn away to grab my seatbelt and put it on before firing up the truck. Wanting to forget that gross little episode, I say, “Anyway, we’re going shopping.”
Garcia groans.
I’m glad I haven’t even pulled out of the parking lot. Slowly, I glance her way. The utterly pained expression on her face is very much at odds with the things that sound made me feel.
