Page 72 of Raine Out (Grand Slam 2)

Alex

“Anything happen after we left last night?”

Seb cranes his neck again to look out at the ocean. We’re sitting by the pool. Raine, Maisie, and Sophie are lounging in the ocean on an inflatable flamingo the size of a small island.

“They weren’t screaming because they were in trouble,” I say, shoving his shoulder. “Settle down. They’re just having some fun out there.”

“I don’t want them to get too far out,” he says as he looks again.

“Seb, they’re fine. Chill out. You don’t have to have your eyes on Sophie every second.”

He turns back to me. “Yeah, you’re one to talk. You haven’t taken your eyes off Raine since you two walked in. Did something happen there?”

“I don’t kiss and tell.”

“Since when?”

“Since right now.” I point at him. “Leave it alone.”

“Huh,” he says, nodding, “you have a thing for her, don’t you?”

“I don’t know about that,” I say, looking away. “But yeah, she’s cool. Much more interesting than anyone I’ve been around in a long time.”

“That’s not setting the bar very high, but I agree. She seems like she’d be worth some effort—maybe even a keeper long term.”

“Pump the brakes,” I say, flipping my beer cap at him. “We’ve known each other for like a day.”

“That’s all it took me with Sophie. Seriously, I think I knew the second I laid eyes on her.”

“Yeah, it seemed like it. How’d you know so quickly?”

“Oh, man, a lot of different things,” he says, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes, “but the one thing that just slapped me in the face was that when I talked to her, I could see life after baseball. I’d never really thought about it before, but when I met her, not only could I imagine it, but I couldn’t wait for it.”

“I understand that completely,” I say, taking a long drink. “You think you’ll keep playing after this contract ends?”

“I don’t know. That’s a couple of years off, but Sophie’s already talking about kids. We both want to start trying soon. And I don’t want to be traveling all the time when we have a family. But you’re probably closer to retiring than I am. Have you made up your mind about the contract?”

“No,” I growl. “I can’t see the answer. It’s pissing me off.”

“I’m not telling you what to do, but law school will always be there. There’s no age limit. Maybe play a few more years.”

“That’s what Raine said this morning.”

“Really?” he says, grinning. “You’ll barely talk to me about this, but you talk to her? Huh. I think someone else might be seeing life after baseball.”

I roll my eyes at him as Stone walks over to us. “Is this a private conversation?”

“Naw, man,” I say. “Rescue me from him.”

Seb looks back out at the flamingo.

“Don’t sit down yet,” he says, standing and grabbing the beer cooler. “Let’s move down to the sand just in case they drift out too far. We can get to them faster.”

“Good Lord, you’re a control freak,” I say, trying to grab his arm to stop him.

“Bruh,” Stone says as he starts to follow Seb. “He’s been this way since we were kids. Believe me, it’s easier to just go along with it.”

“Fine,” I say as I follow them, “but you’re just enabling him.”

---