Page 31

Morning, sweets. Hope you slept well. I know I did.

I put my phone back and stretched, taking a mental catalog of my aching muscles. Last night was the first time I’d been with anyone since the accident, and I had a few sore muscles that I didn’t normally use playing baseball. Totally worth it. Being with Jane, watching her shatter around me as she orgasmed, made me feel more alive than I had in a long time. I was lucky. She was passionate, funny, kind. How no man had seen everything she had to offer since her divorce blew my mind.

My aching muscles were minor. Being DH yesterday had been less physically stressful, and it showed. Other than the usual aches, I was feeling pretty good. I wanted to get back out to center field, but there was no denying the physical benefits from being the DH. Any way I could help the team and earn my spot on the Vanquish worked for me.

The big club. Getting called up would mean moving to Vancouver, leaving Red Rock. And Jane. Her words from last night echoed in my head as I stepped into a hot shower and rinsed her scent off my skin. We were both adults, and this was temporary. A little fun between consenting adults. Friends with benefits, to be cliché. I should be thankful that Jane wanted to keep it casual. So why did our agreement already bother me?

The question was in the back of my mind as I finished getting ready and left for the park. The only thing I could come up with was that I wasn’t a casual sex kind of guy, never had been. It was how I’d wound up married to Evie, even though I hadn’t truly loved her. After dating for a while, marriage had been the next logical step. I enjoyed being in a relationship, having someone to share things with. It hadn’t taken me long to realize that Evie’s main driver was being a member of the “wives and girlfriends” club, and I was simply her ticket in.

Jane was the complete opposite. Even when she was a WAG, she’d never been about the lifestyle. The WAGs were always organizing events for the players and families, so I’d seen her at those events after I moved out. Even though she’d participated in the public events, her world had revolved around Brooke, Ethan, and Chad. Then I had helped blow it all up by exposing Chad’s cheating.

The guilt ate at me while I drove out to the Airfield. I needed to tell her about my part in that scandal, but I didn’t want to lose her trust. Especially not now. I wasn’t sure our fledgling relationship or our friendship could handle that particular truth. And after last night, I wanted to spend more time with her. The thought of her finding out, being justifiably angry with me, made me feel sick. I parked my Jeep and checked my phone one last time to see if she’d responded.

Jane

Better than I have in a long time. Might have to try again later, if you’re up to it.

I’m in.

I put my phone back in my pocket, a grin stretching wide. Was I up to a repeat performance? Game on. I pulled open the door to the player entrance and stepped inside.

I walked through the locker room doors and found everyone clustered around Bennie, slapping him on the back and offering congratulations. I knew what that signalled. It was only a few weeks into the big-league season, but the Vancouver bullpen had a double-digit earned run average, and needed some help. An experienced pitcher like Bennie was a good choice.

“They call you up, old man? What happened, the club need another ball boy?”

Bennie just grinned. “Bite me, pretty boy. The club clearly recognized my superior talent.”

I pulled him in for a hug and pounded his back. “I’m happy for you. You deserve it, and they need you. Who are you filling in for?”

Bennie sobered. “They DFA’d Esposito last night. He gave up five runs in the eighth and blew their lead. Club record is down to five and eleven. Esposito’s ERA was up to over nineteen.”

I grimaced. I hadn’t seen the game, but I’d seen the highlights online while I was getting ready. Vancouver was struggling hard, even for a brand-new expansion team. Esposito had been pitching poorly throughout. I’d played against him a few years earlier, and when he pitched well, he was unhittable. This year, players were teeing off on everything he threw.

“That’s not surprising. It’s been a shitty year for him. Stick with the positive—you’re back in the majors. Your fastball is better than it’s been for years, and your slider and your curveball are crazy good. The club is lucky to get you.” I meant it. Bennie had talent.

Bennie nodded and shoved the last of the contents of his locker in a bag. “I know this is probably my last chance. I’m going to make it count.”

He slung his gear over his shoulder. “I’ve got to book it to get to Calgary in time for my flight. I’ll see you guys around.”

A few more goodbyes, and we all returned to game-day prep. I changed into workout clothes and began my stretching routine while other guys took extra batting practice or worked with the coaches.

Bennie being called up drove home how close any of us were to getting our own phone call. It was a little unusual that one of us had been called up already, but not unheard of. Usually it was due to injury this early. It was good for the younger players to see Bennie go, especially this soon. We were all chasing the same goal, and our season had just begun.

It was easy to keep your eye on the prize in the early days. It was when the season was only half over, your body aching all the time, and you or the team was in a slump, that you lost your purpose. Days like today reminded us all that our call could come at any moment.

I held on to that when I walked over to Wally to see today’s lineup card. I was DH again. It made sense: Right now the club wanted to see as much of the rookies as possible, gauge who might be close to major league ready. If things didn’t change soon, Esposito wouldn’t be the only player that Vancouver DFA’d.

“I know I’ve got you pencilled to DH today, but I want you to warm up with the outfielders,” Wally said as I was walking away. “Keep an eye on Hunter. We signed him to play center, but I’m thinking of putting him in right sometimes. Hernandez plays center, and so do you. If Hunter can play other locations, he’ll get more playing time. I won’t put him out there today, but after on-field BP, tell me what you see.”

I tapped the brim of my hat in acknowledgement and headed for the field. Wally was right, clubs valued players who were versatile and played multiple spots. Raine would open more doors for himself if he learned another position or two. It was something I was thinking about for myself too. I’d played center my entire career, had even won a Gold Glove there with Seattle. If I got my power back, I could conceivably DH and play center, but if I wanted a shot at being called up, having more flexibility would help.

The scent of freshly cut grass flooded my senses, and the tightness in my chest that always hit on game days lessened the same as it always did. Nothing had ever been as important to me as playing baseball. I joined Raine and the other fielders and followed Mick’s lead as we began our pregame warm-up.

“Thought you were the DH again today, Cook?” Raine tossed the ball at me as he spoke.

“I am, and I probably will be for a while. Still good to keep the skills fresh and stretched out.” I didn’t want Raine to do anything differently today, so I could get a genuine feel for his skills.

Raine nodded and we both got down to work, warming up and running drills.