Page 29 of The Strike Zone

“You think?”

“Yes,” they replied in unison.

“Okay.” I turned to Lux as he closed the trunk, sensibly staying out of this ridiculous situation, even if I did need him for one final seal of approval. “Yeah?”

“Yes, go, before someone else helps.”

“Oh fuck that.”

I shoved my bag at Ace and Parker and sprinted across the parking lot. Scout was carrying so much and moving so slowly that it didn’t take any time to catch up with her.

“Hey, let me help you with that,” I said, grabbing the boxes and the books, yanking them way too enthusiastically from her grip. In hindsight, I should have given her a little warning, seeing as she nearly toppled from the change in balance. “Whoops, sorry.”

“What the…” Her blue eyes flared as they landed on me, and it took her a second to figure out what had just happened. “Parker…what are you doing?”

“Helping?” I grinned.

“Oh, okay, thanks.”

“Sure thing,” I replied, holding the book with my chin before it fell off. “Why are you carrying so much?”

Though maybe the question should have beenhoware you carrying so much? She could barely see over the boxes.

She shifted one of the bags back onto her shoulder. “I had to pick up some things on the way in this morning, and when my Uber dropped me, I realized I had way more stuff than I thought. It’s video equipment, so I can’t leave it outside.”

“Seems I arrived just in time,” I replied, also relieving her of one of the bags. Jeez, this was heavy. Scout was way stronger than she looked. “Where are we taking this stuff?”

“Oh, I can manage, you don’t need to help me. I only have to make it to the lobby, then I can get a couple of the guys to come down and help carry it.”

“Hey, we’re friends, remember. That’s what friends are for, right?” I winked.

She glanced around me, based on her expression, I’d hasten to guess she had no idea what was happening right now. That made two of us. But I was too committed to back out now, so therefore I’d be taking these boxes wherever she wanted.

In the reflection of the glass doors, I caught Tanner, Ace, and Lux with identical grins plastered on their faces, as well as Tanner giving me a double thumbs-up.

“Um…sure, I guess. Thanks. I need to go to the fifth floor.”

“Cool, not sure I’ve ever been up there. Lead the way.”

I followed her through the giant revolving doors, and across the vast Lions logo on the floor to the security gates by the reception desk. Which is when I realized my first mistake. Or maybe it was my second, possiblythirdif you included allowing the guys to convince me running after Scout was a good idea.

Scout and I might only be friends, but I’d forgotten about Pablo on the security desk.

Pablo Garcia was a Lions lifer. He’d been with the club since he was a boy, and there was no one more loyal, which he felt gave him the right to act as an unofficial coach for each and every position on the field. And he hadstrongopinions.

Most of us had learned the hard way that it was much better to listen to Pablo than ignore him.

Pablo also knew everything that went on in this stadium. And I meaneverything,including how I felt about Scout.

“Well, look at you two. You sure look busy.” His tone was light, but that meant nothing, especially as his beady eyes were trained pointedly on me. He was the biggest shit-stirrer in this building, including Ace. “Good boy, Parker, what a coincidence you were available to help.”

My eyes narrowed while I attempted to somehow send him a telepathic message to please keep his mouth shut. Just this one time.

“Hey, Pabs.” Scout smiled sweetly. Because that’s probably all she knew him as, this sweet old grandpa figure. “How’s it going.”

“Good. Always good for me, especially on game days,” he replied. “How about you two? Parker, you doing okay there?”

“I’m great,” I replied, letting Scout go ahead of me through the barriers. I followed her as quickly as possible and tried to ignore Pablo’s stare.

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