Page 16 of The Strike Zone

My teeth gritted. “I didnotsulk.”

“You sulked.”

I schooled my mouth into a hard line before I pouted and took another step forward out of this room and away from Jupiter Reeves. “What would you know anyway? You don’t have to sign one of those stupid forms.”

Come to think of it,washe signing a form?

Jupiter was in a relationship with Marnie Matthews, the Lions’ head of baseball science.

“I am actually. The email saidall players.”

“You were already in a relationship.” I huffed, the tip of my sneaker squeaking on the floor where I was scuffing it. “Doesn’t count. Everyone already knows.”

“Everyone already knows with you too,” he shot back.

“Not the same thing, and I don’t remember asking for your opinion,” I snapped. “I’d prefer a little privacy when I ask her out, which isn’t going to happen now I have to involve HR. Is it?”

I didn’t even want to think about what would happen when everyone in the club knew I’d asked Scout on a date. Lux was getting enough shit because he was dating the president’s daughter, but at least Radley was only here on game days and she came with armed guards who always added an air of intimidation.

Scout worked here, the guys would see her every day, they’d seeusevery day, and I didn’t want to put that on her.

These guys were my buddies, and we all joked around. I just didn’t want them to joke around with Scout.

“Did you even read the email, King?”

“Yes. A hundred times.”

“Then you’ll have seen it saidconfidential.No one needs to know you’ve signed it. No one needs to know you asked her out. The only reason everyone is well aware you’ve got the hots for her is because, as I already said, you spent last season sulking.”

“Stop fucking saying that.” I looked to Tanner. “I didn’t sulk. Did I?”

Tanner looked at his feet.

“Tan? Tanner?”

“Um…” His mouth curled in a grimace, and his shoulders lifted in a halfhearted shrug. “Kinda, but it’s okay?—”

I scowled at him. Not like he hadn’t been sulking enough the past few months.

“Parker. It’s not a big deal, and I assure you no one cares, especially me. Just please, for the love of god, ask her out so I never have to hear about itever again,” Jupiter added, before giving me one last shake of the head and pushing through the four of us, jogging down the remaining steps, muttering under his breath about getting his locker moved.

“He’s right, you know.”

“About what?” I scowled at Tanner.

“About it being secret. No one needs to know.”

I let out an exasperated sigh. It did make it somewhat easier if no one knew. “You think?”

“Yeah. I do. You’re Parker Fucking King. She’d be lucky to date you. You’ve never had a problem with girls before, no need to start now.” He grabbed his stomach as it rumbled. “Man, I’m starved. Let’s get some wings on the way home.”

“Sure, whatever you want,” I muttered, not that I was paying attention to anything he said because I was too deep in thought.

I needed to summon the old Parker.

The one who got any girl he wanted. The one who could ask out the girl of his dreams and not tell a single person.

Parker fucking King.

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