Page 111 of The Strike Zone

“Bacon isn’t a topping.”

“It is if I put it on top.”

“No, bacon goes on the side.”

“But I have it on top.”

“That doesn’t make it a topping.”

“You can have fruit, yogurt, syrup, chocolate chips.”

The mention of bacon plus the smell of coffee was too much for my stomach to hold in the rumble. I really wanted breakfast, but I also reallydidn’twant to be surrounded by a bunch of people who might question me about work and things I didn’t want to answer. Standing in the corridor while everyone ate wasn’t an option either, and Parker would only come out to get me.

My stomach rumbled again, kind of making my decision for me.

Peering around the corner, I immediately caught the eye of the girl standing next to Lux.

Though I’d never met her, she was instantly recognizable, given she was the president’s daughter, and therefore a regular feature in gossip magazines, especially since she started dating Lux. But, mostly, from the amount of home games she’d attended, where she’d inevitably appear on the Jumbotron any time Lux scored.

“Hey, Scout’s here.”

Parker spun so quickly he only narrowly missed Lux and the spatula he was holding. He hurried over, skidding to stop right in front of me with a broad grin curving his lips. I don’t know what it was about Parker’s smile, but immediately all worry and thoughts about my job quietened.

“Good morning.” He breathed in, pressing his lips to mine. “I was just about to come and get you. I’m making you coffee. Happy first date day.”

“First date day?”

“Yeah, I said we were going to have a first date this weekend, and here we are.” His grin turned sheepish. “Sorry we’re not alone and I’m kind of throwing you to the wolves, too, but it’ll be fun, I promise.”

He looked so pleased with himself, I could do nothing but smile back. “Can’t wait. And coffee sounds great. What else is that I smell?”

He slung one of his thick biceps around my shoulder. “Thatis breakfast Casa Grayskull style. C’mon, it’s waiting for you.”

“What?”

“Casa Grayskull.” He shrugged, guiding me toward the kitchen. “It’s what we named this place when we moved in. It’s fromHe-Man, we’re Masters of the Baseball Universe.”

I don’t know what expression I was wearing because I didn’t get any more of an explanation from Parker, only a loud laugh as he pulled out a stool for me to sit on. Immediately a plate was placed in front of me—a stack of pancakes with little smiley faces of chocolate chips.

“There’s bacon, fruit, and yogurt too. Plus maple syrup,” Parker added, placing the largest bottle I’d ever seen in front of me, next to a glass of orange juice.

My mouth still hadn’t closed when Tanner turned around from the stove to watch me, Lux flipped another pancake onto another stack big enough to feed the entire starting nine and waited, eyes on me. Both of them. Guess breakfast also came with an audience.

“Eat, Davison. Don’t let them go cold.”

I didn’t need to be told twice, even though it felt like I was putting on a show, and forked in a mouthful. My entire body melted as I chewed down on the fluffiest pancakes I’d ever tasted.

“OMGawd.”

“Good, right?” said Radley, pulling out the stool next to me and piling up her own plate. “Lux is great at cooking anything, but breakfast is his specialty.”

I nodded and forked in another mouthful. I never wanted to stop eating these pancakes.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t speak to you while you’re eating. I’m Radley, by the way, and I’ve been very excited to meet you finally. Parker’s told us lots about you.”

Her smile was so warm and genuine, it took a second for the last part of her sentence to register. The bit about being excited to meet me.

“Radley…” Parker groaned, making her laugh.

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