Page 64 of Out of Left Field

“But we’ve never worked out with them,” Gordo replied. “This is better. And we should go to at least one game.”

“Agreed.”

Kate held up her phone with a shout. “Eve is all over it! She’s reaching out to the other departments to begin coordinating.”

I sat back and watched Kate fall into conversation, felt a little tension dissolve when I saw how easily she adapted to being in a room full of male athletes. She had a way of assessing any situation and finding ways to be part of it. Like a chameleon. A big part of me thought taking this job was the final nail in my relationship coffin. I didn’t really date as it was. Who on earth would want to sign on to a high-profile job that took so many hours of my day, plus a kid? It was a big ask. I figured I was looking at some downtime over the off season. Short relationships that would never amount to anything.

And now I was looking at a woman who fit. Somehow, some way, she fit into this weird puzzle of my life. So much so that I told her my story. No one ever stuck around long enough to get to it. She didn’t try to fix it, either. Anyone—men or women—they always thought that telling me I should have stuck it out, that the money was too good to walk away from, was somehow helpful. It wasn’t like I could go back in time and continue my baseball career. I was well aware of how much money I might have made. People got so focused on the money and fame that they couldn’t understand the rest.

Kate didn’t do that. She listened. She cared. She understood.

“You really going to put up with this asshole?” Everett pointed at me. “On the road like this all the time? Head up all our asses?”

I held my breath while I waited for her answer. She shrugged. “Well, my dad is always on tour. I guess I never really thought about that aspect of a job because it was always my reality.”

“Tour?” Everett had renewed interest. Like a puppy whose ears perked up at the sound of a treat being opened.

“Yeah, he’s a musician. He plays five or six instruments. Right now he’s mostly playing drums.”

“Who’s he touring with?” Everett almost fell out of his chair leaning closer.

“Travis Brantley and Kristen Holt.”

Shouts went up around the table and conversation derailed entirely as everyone talked about their favorite songs and how much they loved the singing duo.

I let it all turn into background noise because my mind had launched onto something specific. My dad is always on tour. The bent piece of Kate’s life that had her chasing jerks in suits. All these people replaying my life choices, telling me I should have stayed on the road when my gut told me not to.

I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled us closer together until I could place a kiss on her temple. Then I pressed my forehead to the same spot and whispered, “We’re two bent pieces that fit together perfectly.”

She turned just enough to look up at me with a question.

“It’s nothing. We’ll talk about it later.” I kissed her cheek, then her lips.

“Get a room!” All the guys at the table threw their napkins at us.

Kate scrunched down into the safety of my arms and I tried my best to block the napkins. When the assault ended she was laughing and I was scowling. “Try that again and see how many laps I make you run.”

“Aw, Cap! We’re just teasing!” Wes put his hand over his heart. “You know how much we love love!”

Wes, I now knew in excruciating detail, had a reverse romance with his wife, Carrie, our orthopedic surgeon. To say the man was a romantic at heart was an understatement. “I wish you loved working on throwdowns more.”

“Oh!” Erik and the rest of the guys all went wild. “He called you out!”

“That was harsh, Cap.”

“But right,” Rhett grunted. “I’ve had to chase down three—three!—of your misfires already this season.”

Wes slumped down in his chair, finally, mercifully, silent.

The only sign Kate was nervous was the way she had her hands clasped in her lap. Otherwise she was cool and serene. That chameleon skin in place as she sat beside my pool and watched Rosie swim.

“Can I get you a drink?” Megan asked. Dad stayed at the marina to help Larry, so it was just Mom and Rosie. And Everett.

“Water?” Kate replied.

Mom looked to me. “Yeah, water sounds great.”

“I’ll be right back.”