Page 6 of The Strike Zone

“Unless there’s something more interesting and worth discussing,” she replied with a pursed lip, “but I’m not there yet. Anyway, Ace tanked because of a girl, and after what happened between Boomer Jones and Leanne in accounting?—”

“Wait, what? What happened?”

She looked at me like there was a possibility I’d grown two heads, then tutted loudly. “Oh right, I forgot that was the week you finally ditched Shit Head, and you went through your single-girl-surviving-on-ice-cream-chopping-your-hair-off phase, then disappeared to Spring Training.” Alice turned to look over her shoulder, before tilting her head closer to mine and lowering her voice. “Okay, according to Pablo, Boomer and Leanne hooked up a couple of times right at the end of last season. I think it started the night the guys celebrated getting into the postseason. Anyway, I guess they didn’t clarify their relationship status or whatever, so when he was photographed after New Year’s with that model, Leanne made her displeasure known and she emailed HR about it.”

“Okay…”

“All the players have been asked to sign a workplace dating clause. The email went out this morning.”

My eyes bugged. “Whoa.”

“I know.”

Opening my phone, I scanned through my emails. “I don’t see it. When did it go?”

“It’s just the players. I guess they don’t care if front office staff date. But if we want to date a player, we have to declare it. HR is covering their ass, I guess. And Penn Shepherd doesn’t want another Opening Day disaster like last year, or any distractions. Apparently his view is that the dating clause will discourage players enough, they won’t even bother trying.”

“Boys will just have to keep their dicks to themselves.” I laughed, shaking my head.

“Only on club grounds.” She snorted, before nudging me gently. “How long are we betting it takes Parker King to sign one and date you?”

Out of nowhere, somewhere in the depths of my core, there was the tiniest flicker of interest as I once again very briefly wondered what it would be like to date Parker King. And just as quickly reminded myself it was a terrible idea.

“He can take as long as he wants. Not interested.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Alice replied with a pursed lip and a thickly raised eyebrow.

“I’m not.This year is about making better relationship choices. Dating a professional athlete does not qualify for that. Or anyone working with professional athletes,” I replied, slashing my hands crossed through the air. “No one in sports. Period. I want to be single for a while. Plus, HR is right, dating at work is a terrible idea.”

“Okay. Chill.” Alice chuckled. “I take it Shit Head is still messaging you? You should block him.”

I was about to reply that I intended to block him, I just kept forgetting, when a couple of girls stopped next to us.

“Hey, are you two just going to stand there and stare? Or can you move to the side so we can get a picture?” One of them huffed.

“Actually, we’re not staring, we’re making better relationship choices. Isn’t that right, Scout?” Alice smirked as she tugged my sleeve. “Come on, let’s get our coffee.”

My gaze flicked back for one last look at Parker and his grin, before turning to the girls. “You’re welcome to him.”

TWO

PARKER

“Fucking Reeves?—”

“Did you see her? She looked right at me. She looked right at me and waved?—”

“I’m not getting goddamn friend-zoned. It’s official, Scout’s single?—”

“Millie definitely waved. I’m telling you, I’m finally in. I’m getting closer?—”

“I’m asking her on a date. The next time I see her, I’m asking?—”

“I said I’d catch her a ball, and I did. Who needs more than that?”

“Did you see where she was sitting? I couldn’t find her. She’ll have seen my homer, right? D’you think she saw it?”

“I’ll get that ball back, then I can give it to her as a gift. I’ll write something cute on it. Girls love that shit?—”

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