Page 46 of No One Wants That (Blitzen Bay)

BUTCH

“Don’t fall for it. She’s not on our team.”

When Alex and I walked into Izzy’s for breakfast, Gabi screamed, shoved a customer out of the way, and threw herself into Alex’s body.

“I’m not hitting on him,” Gabi says, looking up at Alex. “Unless you want me to, then I would consider a brief team change. I’m a big baseball fan and I love you so much.”

“Thank you,” Alex says, smiling down at her.

“Honey, let the baseball man have a little space.” Izzy walks up behind Gabi and pulls her away by the back of her collar. “She watches all of your games. She loves your team—you and that Seth guy.”

“Seth?” Alex says, his forehead wrinkling. “Do you mean Seb?”

“No, I think his name’s Seth.” Izzy shakes Gabi to try to break her out of her trance. “Right, Gabs?”

“What? Oh, sorry,” she says, still staring at Alex. “No, it’s Seb. Seb Miller. I love him so much, too. Will you tell him I love him?”

“Sure,” Alex says, patting her shoulder. “First thing when I see him.”

“Okay, honey,” Izzy says. “We have people to feed. Let’s get back to work. Sorry. She’s usually not this awkward. She really, really likes you.”

“I’m getting that,” Alex says. “It’s fine. I appreciate the love.”

“Hey, Butch,” Gabi says, finally breaking her eyes away from Alex.

“Oh good. You can see me. I was thinking I turned invisible there for a second.”

She gets on tiptoe and kisses my cheek. “Don’t get all salty. You know if we ever have a multi-team threesome, you’re still our first choice.”

“You’re a liar, but I appreciate the effort to save my ego,” I say, looking around the room. “Should we take any table?”

“Baby, you can take anything you want.”

I shake my head. “God, if you weren’t so much like me, I’d absolutely hate you.”

She laughs as she follows Izzy back to the bar. “Any table, gentlemen. I’ll get you some coffee.”

“You’re welcome to join me.” We turn around to see Sam sitting at a table behind us with a newspaper spread out in front of him. “Unless your ladies are joining you.”

“My lady is still fast asleep,” Alex says, sitting down. “And Butch doesn’t have a lady.”

“I don’t know about that,” Gabi says, circling our table with a pot of coffee. “Butch and Kit were getting pretty close last night.”

“Gabi,” I say, throwing my hands in the air. “How about a little discretion? Sam and Alex don’t need to know all that.”

She sets the coffee pot on the table after she fills our cups and takes out her order pad. “I’m sure Sam already knows. Izzy fills him in first thing every morning on what happened here the night before.”

“Come on, Sam,” I say. “Don’t tell me you’re into gossip.”

“I like to keep informed,” he says as he rolls up his newspaper. “On all things.”

“Well, just so we’re all clear. I walked Kit back to her room and then went immediately back to my room alone.”

“Aww,” Gabi says. “You’re trying to protect your reputation. That’s so cute.”

“I’m trying to protect her reputation,” I say, taking a sip of coffee. “Believe me, mine’s been toast for a long, long time.”

“I have no problem at all believing that,” Gabi says, resting her hand on my back. “Do you know what you want to order? Or do you need a few more minutes?”

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