Page 74 of Raine Out (Grand Slam 2)

“No, but I haven’t really been looking. Something weird about it?”

“No, not at all,” Butch says, turning around and smiling. “I’m sure it’s just some tourist enjoying this beautiful bay. And they won’t mind me hitching the flamingo to their ride.”

“You need me to swim out there with you?” I say, standing up.

“That’s about three hundred feet of the calmest water I’ve ever seen,” Butch says. “Sit your ass down. Unless you can’t stand to be apart from Raine any longer.”

I shake my head as Seb and Stone start laughing.

“Well spotted, Butch,” Stone says, giving him a fist bump. “Alex looked like he was about to swallow her whole when they walked in.”

“I think that already happened last night—”

“Enough, Butch,” I say, glaring at him. “Don’t talk about her. I thought you said she was like a little sister to you.”

“She is, but I think little sis has grown up a bunch in the last day or so.”

“Stop,” I say, looking around at them again. “All of you.”

Seb laughs. “He won’t talk about her. I already tried. I think Alex has got it bad.”

“Enough,” I say, glaring at him. “I didn’t ride you like this when you met Sophie—”

“What the fuck are you talking about? Between you and Manny, I barely got any peace. Not to mention Dane’s stupid ass always talking about her.”

“Where is Dane, by the way?” I say, trying to change the subject. “I haven’t seen him down here.”

“You think I invited that asshole? I don’t even like him.”

“Why’d you invite Manny then?” I say, laughing. “I’ve never seen you fight with anyone more than him.”

“That’s professionally. He’s one of the most stubborn pitchers I’ve ever caught, but he’s an okay guy. His wife sucks, but he’s good.”

“Yeah,” I say, “seems like Caroline and Casey kind of gang up on Sophie.”

“They do,” Seb snarls. “And I’m about to shut it down. Sophie told me to leave it alone, but I don’t think I can. I swear I feel it deeper than she does.”

“Friend, if that’s the case,” Butch says. “you’re doing sex really wrong.”

“Oh look,” I say, pointing out to the ocean, “pirates just boarded the flamingo. You better get out there, Butch.”

“All right, brother, I’ll leave y’all alone.” He starts running out into the water. “They can have the flamingo, but they will not take my women!”

We watch him as he dives into the water and takes out swimming at a record pace. He’s covered half the distance before I can even take a breath.

“Man, they don’t get any stupider than him,” I say, laughing, “but I’d damn sure trust him with my life.”

“I got to know him a little better this morning,” Roman says. “He’s for real. I’m not scared of many people, but I wouldn’t fuck with him for a second.”

“Yeah, I don’t think we’ve seen much of his SEAL side yet,” Seb says, watching him as he closes in on the flamingo, “but it looks like he can kick it in at a moment’s notice.”

“Does he ever stop talking, though?” Stone says.

“I tried to get him to talk a little bit more about Raine this morning,” Roman says, “but he clammed right up.”

“What about Raine?” I try to control the tension in my voice.

“Settle down. I haven’t switched teams,” Roman says. “I just think there’s more to her than meets the eye.”

“Meaning?” I sit up straight as I look at him.

“Meaning, I think she does something a little more covert than working for the State Department.”

“Naw,” I say, lounging back. “She’s who she says she is. We’ve done a lot of talking. She told me all about it. Sounds like a cool job.”

When I look over at Roman again, he’s nodding with a slight smile coming to his face. I think I just found the only person—besides my mom—who can tell when I’m lying.

* * *

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