Page 20 of Off the Wall

I drag a hand over my face, the weekend stubble prickly under my palm. “I still love baseball,” I say. “And I’m grateful for everything he did for me. Mom too. But they moved mountains to support a career that’s not mine anymore.” I snatch up Cullen’s bottle and drain the rest of his water. “Which is why this place—my current territory—can’t be my end game.”

“Why not?”

My chest tightens at the question.

Yeah, Cash. Why not?

Maybe after chasing the big leagues most of my life, I feel inadequate, settling down in a town more famous for its water than any sports team. Also, living and working this close to where I played, I still get people who recognize me. And I can’t stand the double takes.

Hey. You’re that third baseman from the Black-Caps…

Correction: Iwasthat third baseman.

“Whoa.” Cullen suddenly straightens, and his sunglasses clunk down onto his nose. “Potential lady-friend, dead ahead.” I follow his line of sight across the courtyard. Nori Sinclair’s there, passing under the farthest arch. Her dark hair is loose around her shoulders. She’s got on cargo pants. A denim jacket. Red tank top.

Don’t think about her thong, man.

“Hello?” Cullen calls out. He waves at her, but Nori’s already moving past the corridor. He turns to me. “Who was that? You holding out on me, Brother?”

“No.” I shift my jaw, which feels suddenly tight. “She’s just another resident.”

Real smooth, Cash.

“That’s not what your face says.” Cullen whips off his sunglasses. “And you wouldn’t look like that now if you hadn’t already clocked her. There’s something going on there.”

“There isn’t,” I insist. “I already told you, I don’t have time for relationships. And I’m not in the market for anything casual.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Cullen smirks. “So you keep saying.”

“Listen.” I frown. “If you promise to stop bugging me about dating, I promise not to tell Lauren how interested you are in some random woman who lives on my floor.”

“Nice try.” Cullen snickers. “First of all, I’m only interested in her for you, man. Also, I love my wife. Lauren is the moon of my life, and I’m not just saying that because we watchedGame of Throneslast night. And C, you’re telling me the brunette in the red tank top actually lives on your floor?”

“She lives on my floor, yes. But we never see each other.”

“Never? Dude. You moved in, like, two months ago.”

“We must have opposite work hours.” I shrug. “I know nothing about her.”

This isn’t entirely true, though.

I know Nori stops to say hi to Steve, the building manager, even when she’s in a hurry. I know she lights up when she’s around her friends—the redhead and the one with the black hair. I know she doesn’t like escargot. I know she smiles even when her date’s being an idiot. I know the color her cheeks turn when she’s embarrassed. And I know her full name is Eleanor.

But I’m not going to tell Cullen any of this. Or about the invitation I found to that singles potluck thing. Because Nori’s definitely looking for someone.

And I’m definitelynotsomeone.

“Anyway,” I say, ready to put an end to his line of dating inquiry, “I’ve gotta shower and get to the hospital.”

“But it’s Saturday.”

“And I have cases on weekends sometimes. And in the middle of the night sometimes. And first thing in the morning sometimes. And?—”

“You’re telling me you have a case this afternoon?”

“Not today.” I clear my throat. “But FedEx dropped off some replacement sets this morning. I gotta get them catalogued and over to Springs Memorial to be sterilized for Monday.”

“Can’t you hire a courier?”

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