Page 24 of Fielder's Choice

“I’m not sure he knows that,” Lucia smirks. “Man told us excitedly last night that he finally asked for your number.”

“That’s because I’m his daughter’s teacher. He just needs to be able to contact me.”

Lane and I both know that’s a lie. The looks on the girls’ faces tell me they know that, too.

“So he didn’t text you last night?” Lucia cocks her eyebrow knowingly.

I take a large gulp of my wine. “He may have…”

“I fucking knew he would,” Rory laughs. “It’s so funny seeing him like this. He’s never acted like this before.”

That takes me by surprise. “He literally has a child.”

“You don’t need to be into someone for more than a night to create a child,” Ella says.

“Right…”

My face falls. It’s obvious that he has a past—Sage is living proof of that. I guess I just didn’t consider what that past might actually entail.

Lane’s a one-night kinda guy, and I’m a not-sure-I’ll-ever-be-intimate kinda girl. It’s not just the age difference between us. We’re fundamentally different people.

Harlow seems to be the first to see my thoughts on my face. “That hasn’t been him in years, though, Liv,” she reassures.

Rory looks at me now. “He hasn’t slept with anyone since he found out about Sage. He’s a completely different guy now.”

“He can be however he wants,” I shrug. “Like I said, I’m not his girl. We’re more like acquaintances than anything.”

Ella shoots me a sympathetic smile. “Don’t judge him too harshly just yet. I’ve known Lane since Josh and I came to New York almost eight years ago. The guy you know is the man he truly is. It just took him a while to accept that.”

“I won’t judge him,” I breathe. “I know attitudes can change. I’m proof of that.”

“What does that mean?” Harlow questions.

“It’s… nothing,” I lie. “I’m just saying.” I take another gulp of wine and try to gather my composure. “So, how do you all know each other?”

“We all have some connection to the team,” Ella says. “Josh Garro, the third baseman, is my husband.”

“I’m one of the athletic trainers,” Lucia states. “I work with the guys on a daily basis during the season.”

“My brother, Cole, is the shortstop for the team, and my boyfriend, Knox, is one of the starting pitchers,” Harlow adds. “I also run a blog about the Stars.”

“And then I’m obviously married to one of the players,” Rory laughs. “But my dad is the Field Manager as well, and I’m Lane’s nanny.”

“Wow, you guys are literally all connected. So are the guys all friends then?”

“Yeah,” Harlow says. “The five of them are good friends.”

“Five?” I ask. “I’m guessing that means Ari, too.”

“It does,” Rory replies. “He just signed with the team last offseason as the first baseman. He and Cole played together in Kansas years ago, so he joined the group when he came to New York.”

“And Ari and Lucia don’t like each other?”

The three girls laugh while Lucia rolls her eyes. “He’s fucking irritating, and I’m apparently the only one who sees it. Well, Matt does, too.”

“Who’s Matt?”

“My boyfriend.” I expect Lucia to smile as she says that, but the happiness on her face seems forced.

---