Page 15 of Raine Out (Grand Slam 2)

“Come on, Rosa,” I say as she puts another heaping scoop of rice on my plate. “Ant doesn’t want to go. Give him a break. College isn’t for everyone. He makes good money from his business.”

“But you’re smarter than anyone I know. I want him to be like you.”

“He’s smart—very smart. And college doesn’t make you smart. It just teaches you about something you didn’t know, but reading can do that, too.”

“Yes, I know you love your books. I have to dust ten more every time I clean. That’s why you’re still single. You’ll never find a woman as smart as you.”

“I can and I will—eventually.”

She grunts like she does when she disagrees with me. “Speaking of women, are you taking that horrible Cecelia to Seb’s wedding?”

I drop my fork on the island with a loud clank. “What? I’m not taking her. Who told you that?”

“She did. I saw her at Manny’s house today. She and Miss Caroline were talking about what they were packing.”

“I’m not taking her,” I snarl as I walk over to rinse my plate. “I made that clear to Caroline about an hour ago.”

She shoos me away from the sink. “She’ll show up like she always does, and you’ll give in because you’re too nice. They talk about what a turnover you are—”

“I think you mean pushover, and I’ve told you, if you’re going to work for multiple players, you can’t be sharing our private conversations between the households,” I say, pointing at her. She rolls her eyes again. “And I’m not a pushover. I’m nice. Being nice isn’t a bad thing.”

“You know you’re the only person I share information with,” she says, pulling a plate out of the refrigerator. “I would never tell Caroline anything about you or anyone else. She’s a gossip.”

She uncovers the plate to reveal a cheesecake topped with fresh pineapple—my favorite dessert.

“Rosa,” I groan. “Come on. You’re killing me. Cut me off the tiniest slice of that. And you better not be talking to anyone about me. You know how private I am.”

“And what gossip am I going to tell them about you, Alex?” She says as she lops off at least a quarter of the cake and shoves it in front of me. “Alex spent all weekend in bed with three—books. Gossip is supposed to be sexy or at least interesting.”

“Reading’s sexy as hell—”

“To no one except you,” she says as she ladles extra pineapple on the mound of cheesecake in front of me. “And that’s the second curse word you’ve used since you’ve been home.”

“There are women out there who like to read.” I take a bite and close my eyes for a second. Her cheesecake tastes like pure heaven. “I just haven’t found the right one yet.”

“Yes, I’m guessing the women I find in your bed some mornings don’t even know how to read.”

I open my eyes and look at her sternly. “Rosa, be nice.”

“I’m nice to people who deserve it.” She takes a bite of the cheesecake and nods like she approves, and then points the fork at me. “You’re too nice to everyone, all the time.”

“Again, being nice is not a bad thing, but just so we’re clear, Cece’s not coming to the wedding with me. I told them not to bring her to the airport. If she comes, I won’t let her on the plane.”

“We’ll see, but I’m guessing if there’s an open seat on the plane, her very large butt will be filling it.”

“Rosa!”

“What’s up, Alex?” I hear the patio door opening and turn around to see Rosa’s son, Antonio, leaning in. His T-shirt is covered with grass. “Good game today.”

“Thanks, bruh. Please get in here and eat some of this cheesecake before your mom tries to force-feed me the entire thing.”

“Antonio!” Rosa snaps as he tries to take a step inside. “If you bring one piece of grass into this clean house, I’ll ground you—”

“I’m twenty-one, Momma. You can’t ground me anymore.”

“Would you like to test me?” Rosa says, raising the knife she’s holding. “Sit at the patio table outside. I’ll bring you a plate.”

“And I’ll bring you a beer,” I say, heading to the refrigerator to grab a six-pack.

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