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Mick pulled out a chair opposite us and sat down. “I have family in Vancouver. Rents are ridiculous, and short-term rentals are hard to get. Everyone wants to lock you into a year-long lease. That needs to change with the ball club coming in. Maybe players will be able to get leases for six months at a time instead.”

“None of the older players offered to let you stay with them?” I was a little surprised, because the offer Chad made me when I was called up wasn’t uncommon throughout the league. I knew other players who had done the same. Even with how toxic the Vancouver club was, it was telling that not one player had stepped up to help out a rookie.

“Nope.” Witt looked over at me. “I know Blake can be a dick. Most of the guys know that, but they hang out with him anyway, because you’re older and a little intimidating, ya know? But Blake has nothing on most of the Vancouver players. They’re all super arrogant, and nobody wants to be playing for an expansion team.”

“I don’t get it. Everyone in the front office that I dealt with was terrific. Scooter, their manager? Seems like a good manager, except he’s managing a bunch of raging assholes. In five games I saw a pitcher push an opposing player, I saw one guy try and cleat another guy in his knee, and two intentional missed plays. No one shows up for batting practice on time. It was totally undisciplined. In a way, I was glad they ignored me. They didn’t care enough either way to make me feel welcome or make me feel unwanted. Hernandez has no idea what he’s heading into.” He shook his head.

I pushed my plate away, my appetite gone. The Vanquish were in worse shape than I’d thought. I was grateful Witt was sharing his experience, because it would give any of us a better shot at surviving if we got called up.

Mick sighed. “That sucks. I know a couple of the Vancouver players. I even played with one of them a lifetime ago, Cunningham. He was a jerk then too. Some people never change. Julio Hernandez is a good guy, though. I’ve done some charity work with him. If anyone can pull that club together, it’s him.”

What I remembered of Julio was that he was all about the team, finding ways to get people to work together. Witt’s description of Vancouver made it sound like it was going to take a lot more than one player to change the culture of the Vancouver club. With luck Julio wouldn’t give up and ask for a trade before I had a chance to play with him again.

“What kind of charity work?” Raine asked.

Mick shrugged. “Everyone here knows my history with addiction. Hernandez had a sister who died of an overdose. He and I have teamed up for several events talking to high schools and youth groups about the risks of opioids.”

I remembered that. It had happened the October that I was playing with Seattle, and between the playoffs and then my accident, reaching out to Julio with my condolences hadn’t happened. I made a mental note to send him a message soon. Wouldn’t hurt to reestablish that relationship.

“Is that something a lot of players do? I mostly see them working with children’s charities, or sometimes animal rescues. I didn’t know about the addiction work.” Raine’s hands moved animatedly as he talked.

“Not a lot, but a few. Some talk about drugs, like me, a few do alcohol and recovery. The league is very supportive of our efforts. Even when no club would hire me, I worked with NABL on arranging speaking gigs.”

I kept an eye on Witt as Raine and Mick talked charity work. Witt’s mood had changed over the course of the meal. At least we’d been able to cheer him up.

The chair beside Mick creaked as Kevin Morris lowered himself into it. “Everyone enjoying yourselves? Can I get anyone anything else?”

Mick shook his head. “No way. Everything was great. Really appreciate you pulling this together on short notice.”

“No trouble. I’m always happy to help the team out. I do have one more surprise for everyone.” He looked over at the shining doors to the kitchen, and Jane came out, pushing a cart covered in cupcakes.

I drank in Jane in her black jeans and white shirt. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and I remembered how silky it had been as I wrapped it around my fist. I glanced away so no one would catch me staring at her.

“If anyone wants something sweet, dig in. My sister makes the best cupcakes in town,” Kevin said.

Seeing Jane in her element, serving her creations to everyone, was one of my favourite things. She glowed as the young players dug into the sugary confections, falling over themselves to grab seconds after tasting the first bite. I snagged one of my favourite dark chocolate ones as she rolled the cart past me, before Witt helped himself to one of every flavour.

Once Raine and Mick had taken theirs, Jane parked the cart at the end of the buffet table and came to sit down beside Kevin, bringing a cupcake with her.

“Thanks for helping me out, sis.” Kevin gave her a one-armed hug. “I had everything on hand except desserts, and my delivery isn’t coming until tomorrow morning.”

“Business is business. Even with the family discount.” Jane bit into the cupcake.

A small dab of light-coloured frosting was smeared at the corner of her mouth, and all I wanted was to reach across the table and smooth it away with my thumb. I couldn’t. As long as she wanted to keep me a secret, we didn’t have that kind of relationship. Three months of stolen kisses and sneaking back to our rooms before the kids came home, just to keep anyone from finding out.

I was tired of hiding, tired of not being able to spend the night with her in my arms. I might not have many more chances. The season was more than half over, and there was still the faint possibility I could get called up. Even if I never got the call, Red Rock wasn’t home. Come September when the minor league season ended, I’d be going back to Seattle, trying to get another team to sign me for next year. We didn’t have a lot of time left.

Jane laughed at something Mick said. I loved the sound of her laugh, so bubbly and engaging. It invited you to laugh with her. It hit me again that once I left Red Rock, I would lose this. Her laugh, her touch. We’d say we’d stay friends, but eventually we would lose contact and move on with our lives. I didn’t want that. I wanted more. A plan started forming that would help me get it.

Chapter 32

Jane

I stepped out of my shower and checked the time, cursing silently when I saw how late I was running. Ethan’s high school team was playing for their division championship tonight. There would be scouts there, and even though he wasn’t eligible for this year’s draft, he had enough talent that they’d be watching him. Today’s Fliers game had gone into extra innings, and I was an hour late getting out of the park.

Add to that a pulled muscle from hefting a too-heavy tray at the bakery, and I was sore and tired on top of everything else. After the game I’d needed a shower in the worst way, both to rinse off the smells of the ballpark and to ease the ache of my pulled muscle, but I didn’t want to miss his game. I didn’t want to leave him at the mercy of those scouts without me. Some of them were already getting pretty aggressive trying to get him to commit to teams.

I reached for my hair dryer and let out a pained groan as my pulled muscle protested. What I wanted was a muscle relaxant, but they made me drowsy, so I couldn’t take one until I got home from the game.