Page 60 of Wild Pitch
“Why not?” I manage to ask, proud of myself that I’m verbal again.
“That’s way too fancy. I can’t even afford it.”
I stretch my hand across the air and say, “Outlet.”
“But—”
“Don’t make me pick you up and take you in, because I will.”
Her shoulders droop and she drags her feet, but does walk in. She slows down to whisper to me, “See? The whole place is completely empty because it’s so expensive. Not even discounts can attract people.”
I grab her by the shoulders and steer her across the shop floor, bypassing elegant displays of mannequins with blank faces. At the back is where we find people—a single clerk who beams upon sighting us.
“Welcome, Mr. Starr. We prepared the selection you asked us for and have a dressing room ready.”
“Great, thanks.” As I gently push a now non-verbal Garcia toward the dressing room, I add, “Oh, and please put the dresses with pockets at the forefront.”
Hope Garcia glances at me over her shoulder with shock in her expression. “Wait, Cowboy, did you just?—”
Rent the whole store for an hour for her to shop their best selection of dresses for a first date that a woman who isn’t comfortable showing off her body could wear? Yes.
“I’ll wait here,” I say instead, lowering myself to the tiny loveseat that barely fits me. “Show me if you want. Or not. Up to you.” I shrug like I’m not interested at all.
“Oh. Um. Okay.” Garcia casts an uncertain look at the saleswoman who only smiles placidly in return, until she finally disappears behind thick white curtains.
The clerk turns to me. “Can I offer you both any drinks? We have red and white wine, champagne, beer, ice tea and water.”
“Red wine for me, please!” Garcia shouts from the dressing room. “Wait, no. What if I spill it? Water, please.”
“Red wine for her and sweet ice tea for me, please,” I say.
“Right away.”
Garcia waits until the woman’s steps fade away. “Starr, I can’t afford to pay for a stained dress here.”
“Then I suggest you drink carefully.”
“Ugh.”
The faint jazzy music in the store doesn’t mask the rustling sounds of the Orlando Wild’s only female athletic trainer changing out of her clothes. Fortunately my phone buzzes in my pocket and I thank the heavens for the distraction.
Catcher Brat
I know you’re dropping her off but am I taking her home?
I suck in air sharply. I hadn’t thought about that.
Her car is still at a pharmacy’s parking lot near downtown. I guess if the date goes well she’ll want to extend it as long as possible and have Kim drive her home. I could get Lucky to pick up her car and drive it to her place, or to the facilities. She could catch a ride tomorrow morning with Winters or Mena.
“Shit,” I hiss to myself. There’s something even more important than that.
Me
We’ll figure that out later
You better not take your bike though
She’s gonna be in a dress
