Page 39 of The Strike Zone

Pablo’s beady eyes narrowed a fraction as they flicked between us. “Not a whole lot happens when you boys are traveling. But I did find out something interesting. Wanna hear it?”

“Um…yeah, obviously.”

“The other day, my granddaughter was showing me this video. I’m not so much into the apps or whatever the kids use, but my granddaughter likes them and sometimes she shows me things she thinks I’d find funny. I’d told her you were out playing the Cubs and that it was time for the rookies’ initiation, so I guess she was looking out for it.”

I’d never been totally convinced I had a sixth sense, but right now my belly was fluttering in a warning, making it very hard to ignore. This conversation was going in a way I already knew I wasn’t going to like.

“I’ll tell ya, I don’t know whose idea it was, but those Minions were funny, especially when they were ordering coffee. But you know what I found the most amusing?”

“What?” Ace said, his chin resting in both his palms while he listened to the most fascinating story he’d ever heard.

I could tell him the ending to save time. I knew exactly where this story was going.

“Parker’s coffee order. It’s an unusual one, I’ve only ever known one person to have that coffee order before.” His head turned slowly, and he pinned me with a stare.

“Pabs, it’s not like that.” I groaned before this story went on any longer. “We’re just friends.”

“Parker, I know how you feel about her.”

“Yeah, you and everyone else in this building,” I grumbled. “I like her, it’s not a crime.”

“Scout’s a good, hardworking girl, who got treated badly by her last guy she was dating.”

My jaw clenched at the mention of Rangers Douche. “Pablo, I haven’t done anything. I asked her out and she said no. We’re friends.”

But Pablo continued like he hadn’t heard a word I’d said. “Don’t be doing anything stupid.”

Each word was punctuated with a wag of his finger.

“I’mnot.Jeez.”

My tone had Ace interrupting before I got even more annoyed with this conversation. “Pabs, Parker’s done nothing wrong. He’s just got a new friend, is all.”

Pablo was still holding me with his glare. It was intimidating at best, terrifying at worst. I’d heard rumors he’d made grown men cry with it; while he always came across like your favorite grandpa, in my opinion he was way closer to Tony Soprano.

His thick, bushy black eyebrows shot up. “I know what you boys got up to last year with your sex magazines.”

Ace scoffed. “They weren’t sex magazines. It wasCosmo.”

“Same difference. Scout’s worked so hard since she got here, she’s building a career. Don’t mess it up for her.”

I frowned deeply. “Pablo, are you warning me off her? Because you don’t have that right.”

“No. I’m not. But I’m saying don’t fuck up her career because you can’t keep your dick in your pants.” This time his finger jabbed straight toward my groin.

“Hey, Pabs, what the fuck? You know how long I’ve liked her. I want to date her.” I huffed, stepping back from the desk, trying to guide Ace with me so we weren’t stuck here any longer. “She said no.”

“Hmm.”

We stepped back far enough that I could legitimately walk off. “See you around, Pablo. I was in a good mood when I drove here.” I added with a grumble to Ace.

“Ahh, it’s not that bad. He’s messing with you,” he replied, turning toward the corridor leading to the locker rooms, right before a broad grin spread across his face.

“What?”

“Don’t turn around.”

Obviously, I turned around.

---