Page 32 of Wild Catch
“What the hell is this?” the grouch murmurs.
Cade waves the tongs. “I’m talking to you, Kim.”
Of course, the latter flashes that transformational smirk. “Now you’ll have to call me Logan, though. Equality and all that.”
Hope lowers herself to the chair beside Audrey and leans closer to our roomie. “What the hell are these two weirdoes even talking about?”
“I’m not sure, to be honest. The gist of it is that your boyfriend is jealous about you and the catcher.”
“Anyway,” I cut in, turning to Cade. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
Our starting pitcher gives me an appraising look. “This right here, ladies and gents, is the real MVP.”
That causes a chorus of grumbles and mumbles from the rest, and they all get off their behinds to come over and fix themselves a plate. Cade turns into a one-man fast food restaurant, dropping burger patties on one bun after the next, along with pieces of Venezuelan style chorizo that Hope and I bought at a Latino supermarket.
I take a seat next to Audrey since we promised to split an extra chorizo between us. And then someone sits beside me.
Logan.
I check my surroundings, just to make sure there really were no other choices. But Lucky’s already parked next to Audrey, and the lovebirds are whispering sweet nothings to each other behind the chairs they intend to take, marking their territory clearly.
Six chairs. Like all along they did plan on inviting Logan. Why did I not notice it before?
“Ugh,” my mouth slips.
“Easy there, Mena,” Logan says beside me. “People will think I didn’t shower.”
I lift a glare at him. “Don’t worry, that’s not what stinks.”
This catches him in the middle of taking a swig of unsweet iced tea, but he cocks an eyebrow at me because he’s multitalented that way. After a moment, he asks, “Something else of mine stinks?” He cups his hand over his mouth and sniffs. “My breath? I haven’t even started eating that spicy chorizo yet.”
“No—”
“It’s your attitude, you big oaf,” Lucky says before sinking a big bite on his heaping burger.
That’s when Audrey sets her plate on her lap and clears her throat to call our attention. “Logan, Rose, this is an intervention.”
“What the?—”
“Excuse—”
As if pulled by a string, I turn to exchange an incredulous glance with the catcher. I feel equally shocked at the outrageous statement I just heard, and also at the fact that he agrees with me—at least going by the expression on his face.
“It’s my fault.” The pitcher raises his hand. “I happened to overhear you two arguing in the cafeteria last night, and I told my girlfriend…”
“Who told me,” Audrey says, “And that’s before you arrived home all ragey and told us.”
Lucky’s done swallowing his mouthful and speaks. “And I had no idea until Cade called me with the plan and asked me to make sure to bring Kim—I mean, Logan.”
My face heats up enough to compete with the fire licking at the air in the middle of this awkward circle, especially when I feel the laser beams of the man on my right.
“Ragey?” he asks.
Huffing, but without looking at him, I say, “You really pissed me off, okay?” Damn it, I didn’t want him to know that last night caused such a big impression on me. I pin the girls with a look. “Did we really have to hash this out in public?”
Hope offers a sheepish grin. “We all work and travel together. And Cade and Logan are a battery so they’re basically joined at the hip these days. I figured it’d be best to clear the air.”
“I’m here for the free food,” Audrey says placidly.
