Page 17 of Fielder's Choice

“This is fu-... flipping adorable,” Rory chimes, a cheeky smile crossing her face.

“No swearing in front of Sage, I’m guessing?”

Lane sighs. “My daughter is aduckingparrot.”

“Quack!” a little voice cuts in, easing some of the awkwardness I feel.

“Good to know,” I breathe before turning my attention to Rory. “How was your honeymoon, Rory?”

“Amazing!” she replies excitedly. “Aruba is absolutely beautiful. Cole and I had such an amazing time.”

“I’m doubting you two left the bed very much,” Lane chuckles, and Rory just rolls her eyes.

“Cole is your husband, right?” I ask.

“Yes,” she smiles brightly. “You'll have to meet him sometime.”

“He’s one of my teammates,” Lane interjects, and Rory stifles a laugh. “He’s our shortstop.”

“I’m going to be honest,” I admit. “I don’t know what that means.”

Lane puts his hand over his heart as though I’ve hurt him. “Are you not a baseball fan, Ballerina?”

“I’m not much of a sports fan in general,” I shrug. “My focus was always on ballet.”

“Well, I happen to be the best player in the league right now.”

“Is that so?” I eye him curiously.

Rory laughs derisively. “It’snotso. He’s a great player, don’t get me wrong, but he doesn’t even have the best stats on the Stars right now.”

“Wow, Fisher. I had a chance to sound better than I am, and you blew it for me.”

“Pierce,” Rory corrects. “RoryPierce.Haven’t been Fisher since the spring. Now come on, Brooks. Stop trying to impress Olive, and come get lunch with my husband and me.”

Impress me?

Why would he be trying to impress me?

She has to be mistaken.

I’m pretty sure I’m not anyone’s ideal woman. Not with all of my emotional baggage.

“It’s great to see you again, Olive,” Rory smiles. “You’ll have to excuse that one.” She jabs her finger at Lane. “He’s not fully trained to deal with the public yet.”

Lane rears his head back and laughs heartily. “Remind me to never have you be my wingwoman.” He turns to me now. “It’s, uh… nice to see you again, Olive.”

“You, too,” I smile softly. “I’m guessing I’ll see you at Sage’s lesson next week.”

“Definitely. I’ll be here.”

Silence falls over us now as we awkwardly gaze at each other.

Am I not the only one feeling this between us? Is Lane feeling it, too?

I already don’t understand why I can’t get the man who’s almost a decade my senior out of my mind. That wouldn’t help this at all.

But I can’t deny it.

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