Page 143 of Wild Pitch
Swiping the screen, I tap a few times until I find the video our social media manager, one Rosalina Mena, posted just a few minutes ago. The staggering numbers it has already amassedmake me smirk. I place the phone on the table, screen up, and slide it over to them.
“Just watch that.” I tip my chin at the device.
Cox is the one who picks it up and the others huddle around him.
My own voice sounds tinny as the video plays. “A lot of you may remember a video from a couple of months ago where I talked about my ideal woman. Well, I finally found her and I want to ask my teammates what they think about it.”
It cuts to me asking in the background, “What would you say if you found out I’m dating someone from the staff?”
And O’Brian responds with, “Oh, good for you. You’re lucky to have her.”
Brown. “Lucky dog, you get to see each other every day.”
Thomason. “For real? Who? Spill the tea.”
Lucky. “You guys are so cute it gives me cavities.”
Miller. “What? Man, I kinda had a crush on her.”
Kim. “Finally.Took you long enough.”
The video goes on with a few more players, none of whom seem to care one whit. Maybe except for the guys who are now coming out of the woodwork to say they were into Hope all along. Too bad for them.
“These are really good numbers,” is what Cox says as he looks at the screen. He taps on it and moves it away from his face, eyes shifting side to side as he reads. “The comments are overwhelmingly positive, too.”
“Isn’t that all you were concerned about?” Beau asks with a semblance of sarcasm.
“As long as the team doesn’t suffer for this, I don’t care.” Cox sets my phone down and without further ado, he pushes away from the table and stands up. “And Starr?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Just make sure this also doesn’t negatively affect your performance. Or then I might put a new clause in your next contract.”
I shrug because I’ve only pitched better and better since the moment my Hope-era started. “Sure.”
Watson splutters but no one’s paying attention, Steve and Beau are also getting up.
“I will call her and discuss what was agreed,” Steve says with a nod to me and one to Lou.
Then Beau points at me. “See you at practice and bring your A game. You also don’t want to get in trouble with me.”
I guess Watson must not want to be left alone with my manager and I, because he scrambles out of the room right behind them. The door shuts and I collapse on my chair.
“Happy now?” Lou asks with a grunt.
“As can be.” I sound drunk as the adrenaline starts draining out of me. I roll my head to face him. “You didn’t have to come in person to deliver one line, you know? There’s something called a teleconference now, I don’t know if you’ve heard about it.”
“Don’t get cheeky with me, boy.” He also gets up and avoids my eye. “It seemed very important to you, so I didn’t want you to get screwed over.”
I grin. “So you do care about me, you big ol’ softie.”
Ignoring that, he says, “Go call your woman with the news and let me off now. I have to fly to Miami to deal with a much more annoying client.”
Finally, I also get up and offer my hand to him. “Thank you. For everything.”
He harrumphs but shakes my hand, and I’m happy that for the first time in my life, I realize that I’m not truly alone.
CHAPTER 47
