Page 104 of Wild Catch
“Hope,” Logan says above my head just as he pulls me away from him by my arms. “Take Rose and get away.”
“No,” I wheeze. My heart beats faster than I can catch breath. “Logan, don’t?—”
Hope yanks me away from Logan and wraps her arms around me from behind, tight enough to hurt and also to make me understand that she won’t let me go anywhere. Logan glances over his shoulder and when he’s satisfied with Hope’s work, he nods at her. Then he tosses his mask on the floor and rushes at his brother.
“No! Logan!”
“Mierda,” Hope whispers in my ear.
Logan shoves Lewis so hard that he crashes against the doors. They swing wide and the Eagles pitcher loses his footing, crashing on the floor in the corridor. Voices outside quiet down.
“You wanted to teach her a lesson? I’ll be the one teaching you something, asshole,” Logan growls. All I can see is his back to us but somehow Lewis’s disbelieving expression is clear between Logan’s legs. “Don’t you dare touch my woman again.”
Hope and I turn to statues.
I turn my face toward her in robotic increments. “What did he just…”
“Oh my,” Hope breathes out, a smile forming on her lips.
But then Lewis scoffs. “Your woman?” He shifts to sit up and I can no longer see his face, only how he brushes his hands off. “My sources tell me she’s not really your girlfriend, that all of this is a publicity stunt and yet—” He cuts himself off to stand back up. “Don’t tell me she’s the real reason why you refuse to move back to the Eagles?”
Hope’s arms relax a tad. “What did he just say?”
“I—No, it’s not…” But I don’t even know how to explain when I’m still reeling. How does Lewis knows all of this?
“Is that it?” Logan asks so low that I can barely hear. “Is that why you’re causing this scene? You think this will somehow convince me to form a battery with you again?”
“What can I say, you’re the only one who can make the calls that draw out my full potential.” Lewis takes a step closer. “Don’t you get it? I’m paying you a compliment, little brother.”
“I don’t need shit from you, get out of my face.” Logan pushes Lewis away from him again, less forcefully this time.
“The sources you claimed to have,” I cut in with a loud, firm voice that forces all the attention back on me. “Who are they?”
In looking back at me, Logan creates enough space for me to meet Lewis’s creepy eyes again. He smirks at his brother. “Looks like you got yourself a smart girlfriend this time around—if that’s what she really is.” But Logan blocks me again, getting in the way so that Lewis can’t come back in. “Aww, c’mon, Logan. Your lady friend and I are having a conversation.”
“Go back to your nest, you damn?—”
“It’s Kaplan,” Lewis says over Logan. “Your agent also wants you to do the right thing and come back to play for me, little bro. We’re just concerned that you’re spiraling, and all for some random woman who is probably after your fortune.”
“Screw off, you freaking weirdo. Logan is lucky to have Rose!” Hope shouts at him, making me flinch at the volume, even if the sentiment is touching. I tap her arms and she finally lets go.
“Security,” Logan calls out as some steps approach. “Take this straggler back to his clubhouse and keep him there.”
“Mr. Kim, you’re not supposed to be here,” a stranger’s voice comes from the corridor.
“I’m coming, I’m coming. Was just checking that my little brother is okay.” Lewis’s feet shift away from Logan, and the latter finally closes the door.
That’s when I notice two things. One, that Logan is breathing much harder than when he came in after the inning. And two, that we’re not alone—and I don’t mean because of Hope.
“What the hell just happened?” Cade asks behind us and the question makes Logan hang his head.
“A small accident,” I respond right away, looking pointedly at my roommate. “Right, Hope?”
“Right,” she says right away. “Y’all should go back out to the dugout.”
“McDonald, find something to secure the door with,” Rob Beau, the team’s manager says and my shoulders slump. “Garcia, can you assess Kim quickly? I need to know if he can play the next inning.”
Logan bends forward to pick up his mask. “I’m fine.”
