Page 5 of Sliding Into Love
“Who?”
“Ethan Ford? The pitcher? Tall, long hair, kinda quiet? He asked me to give them to the kids. Said he didn’t get a chance to sign the one you asked for.” Derek tugged the strap of the tote bag.
Ivy reached inside and pulled out a baseball. And another. They were signed in an even, beautiful script that was the complete opposite of the scrawl Derek had spent hours perfecting years ago when he found out he’d made his college baseball team.
“He gave me a sack of balls?” Fumbling blindly for her water bottle, Ivy took a sip when a snort of laughter came from the passenger seat. Mid-swallow, it clicked, and once Ivy realized what she’d said, she nearly sprayed him with her water, laughing at his snorting as much as her accidental joke.
“Yeah,” he said, still laughing. “I’ve never seen Ethan act that way before. He was nervous.”
“I don’t know why he would be,” Ivy scoffed. “It was nice of him to send the…balls… to the kids, though. Will you tell him I said thank you?”
Derek leaned his seat back, careful not to bump Janna’s knees.
“Sure thing, Ives. You know, I don’t think I’ve seen Ethan sign anything all season. I heard he used to pick fights, and not just with the other teams.” Derek paused, considering. “But he doesn’t seem so bad to me, kind of the strong silent type. Grumpy, but so are you in the morning.” He chuckled at his joke and ducked as Ivy flung the tote at him.
“He helped me gather up my stuff when I dropped my bag, and he talked to Janna when she asked if he could sign her ball. He was nice.”
“I heard some rumors that he was a real prick a few years ago, but I haven’t been around long enough to catch all the hot goss.”
“Derek. I love you. You know this. Which is why I am begging you not to say ‘hot goss’ ever again. For both our sakes.”
“Okay, fine, but do you want to hear more about tall, dark, and broody?”
“Sure.” Ivy put the car in gear, driving slowly beneath the glowing halos of the parking lot lights.
“So, I found out he used to play outfield.”
“Okay, good for him.” Unsure where Derek was going, she waved her hand for him to continue.
“But he pitches now.”
“Good for him? You know I don’t speak baseball.” At a red light, she checked on the kids in the mirror. Still asleep.
“People don’t just change positions five years into their careers! It’s only been done, like, once!”
“What’s the big deal?”
“Well, I heard it’s because Marshall screwed him over.” Derek’s voice grew low and conspiratorial.
“Really?”
“Yeah, he was supposed to sign onto the team as a pitcher, but at the last minute, Marshall changed something in the contract, and because Ethan refused to sign with an agent, he missed it and got completely fucked over.”
“Maybe that explains the bad attitude.” She didn’t blame the guy for being pissed.
“Oh. I didn’t think of that. Maybe he’s not so bad. Marshall is pretty hard on him, too.”
“How so?” Ivy fiddled with the AC; the vent blew cool air at her face, sending tendrils of hair tumbling from her bun and swirling into her eyes.
“It’s kinda weird. Marshall makes Ethan stay late a lot, going over really old tapes. And he yells at him a lot. Way more than anyone else.”
“Does he yell at you?”
“Actually, he pretends I don’t exist.”
“What? Why?” Ivy glanced sideways at Derek. His deep brown eyes met hers for a moment and looked away.
“I think he’d rather have Jacobs back.”
