Page 120 of Wild Hit
But even though I’ve broken my home run record and some, I haven’t smacked a single ball out of the park this series.
Like, I’m playing at my max. I’m not making errors and no ball goes by me. My hits are solid and nasty, making the Riders fielders scramble for their lives while our wildlings score.
No home runs, though. It shouldn’t matter but it does. It makes me wonder if?—
Cállate, I scream to my brain.
Worse is how everyone is thinking the exact same thing. The new team motto has become for the marriage and not for the pizza. And it’s like I’m choking.
No, I’m not. I grit my teeth as I finish rolling up one sock all the way. The team winning is more important than any individual heroics.
Lucky checks his phone and announces, “She should be getting her own pair of socks right about now.”
I wanna see it. I’m sure Audrey will make such a sour expression that it’ll disprove Cade’s nickname for her. But also because as amusing as that part would be, her legs are killer and will still look amazing even when wearing these silly things.
Would Marty like them? I’m fifty-fifty on that. She’s settled into herself a lot, but I feel like if gator socks come from me she’d yuck the heck out of them, whereas if they come from Audrey she’d be all on board. Funny how that’s panned out.
I send a prayer up above that I do get to seethat.
I’m only starting to work the second sock up my ankle when there’s some sort of commotion. Those of us who are farther from the door crane our necks to see what’s happening.
“Is there a fight or somethin’?” Cade stands up to try to peek between the heads.
“Excuse me,” McDonald’s voice rings above the murmurs because we’re used to hitting the pause button whenever thecoaches raise their voices. “You can’t be in here, we’re gonna have to escort you out.”
Call me nosy, but I also stand on my tippy toes to see who’s getting served with that speech. And of all people I possibly could’ve expected—fans, unauthorized journos, the tooth fairy—the last one was Henry Vos.
“The hell is that piece of shit doing here?” I mumble.
“Let me through or I’ll air every piece of dirty laundry Miguel Machado has!”
“Dude, we all know that he’s in a prefab marriage and that he eats too many carbs. What other laundry does squeaky-clean here have?” Lucky shouts back.
I rub my barely ridged stomach directly, since I haven’t finished dressing yet. It’s true that I’m one of the most carb heavy guys in the team. Not my fault that Venezuelan cuisine is comprised of fried dough.
“He’s trying to steal the team!”
That settles everyone down. One by one, all pairs of eyes turn to me. In the process, the view between the unhinged rich guy and I opens up. He points at me too late to really stress his accusation, only making it more awkward.
I point at myself. “Me? How?”
“Don’t act all innocent. Tell everyone how you married Audrey for her fortune.”
Logan grunts. “You do know that Machado is rich too, right?” That logic goes completely ignored.
“You.” Henry What’s-His-Problem Vos is so full of bullshit that it must be up to his throat now, with how hard it is for him to get the words out. “You knew that the team was in Audrey’s trust. That’s why you seduced her.”
My eyebrows would take off like airplanes if they could. “I’m sorry,what?”
“Yeah, dude doesn’t know how to flirt, forget about seducing,” Lucky argues back.
“Uh, excuse me, but I’m a pretty good dancer,” I return.
“Guys, I don’t think that’s the point.” Cade laughs, which is what reminds me of the absurdity of this situation.
Clearing my throat, I squeeze my way between my also nosy teammates and speak directly to the damn jerkface. “Anyway… No, I had no idea about that when we got married. But I find it very curious that you did know that.”
“Yeah… sus,” one of the guys says from the back.
