Page 5 of Fielder's Choice

Pink tinges her cheeks as she blushes, and I fucking love it. Liv seems a bit shy, maybe insecure, and it’s really cute.

“Thank you,” she finally replies, biting down a small smile. “Do you, uh… come here often?”

Ari stifles a laugh. Liv’s clearly not used to approaching people in public.

“Think I might start coming here every day,” I smirk, and she blushes harder.

God, it’s fucking adorable.

“Well, they make great caramel lattes here.”

“I guess that’s what I’ll be trying tomorrow.”

I lean with my back against the wall and cross my arms, keeping my eyes on Liv the entire time.

And Ari keeps his eyes focused on both of us, interested in seeing how this plays out.

Ari was just traded to the Stars last offseason, so he doesn’t know the old Lane.

The Lane that was a shameless flirt and always down for a good time.

The Lane that could step into a room and have no less than five women ready to come home with him.

The Lane I gave up the moment I found out I was having a kid.

I was a certified bachelor before my daughter Sage came along, intent on just enjoying life and avoiding anything that could tie me down.

I never pictured myself evenwantingkids, but Sage came exactly when I needed her.

I was in a dark place when I got the news. My grandparents—the people who raised me from the time I was five—passed just a few months before. I took it hard since they were all the family I had left.

I was no stranger to one-night stands before that, but I was practically fucking any woman with a pulse after. I was drinking more, even on game nights. I was never mentally present, and it showed on the field. I was batting so poorly that I was almost relegated back down to our Triple-A team.

I won’t pretend I took the news about knocking someone up well because I sure as hell didn’t. But with the help of my friends, I crawled out of the dark place I was in and focused on learning how to be a dad.

Sage came the following January, and any doubt I had about wanting to raise her vanished the moment I saw her sweet face. She’s practically my mini-me, right down to the sandy brown hair and hazel eyes.

Some days are tough, but I haven’t let myself go back there. I’m not a perfect parent, but I try, and Sage is happy and healthy.

I couldn’t ask for more.

“So,” I say, returning my attention to Liv. “What do you do for work?”

“Oh,” she says softly. “I, uh… help out at my mom’s business. What about you two?” She gestures between Ari and me.

Ari takes the lead on answering. “We’re in… entertainment, you could say.”

I guess that’s one way of saying we play professional baseball. Ari might be new to the team, but he’s always recognized as well. He was a star when he played for the Atlanta Thunderbirds last season. Before that, he played with our friend and teammate Cole Pierce on the Kansas Huskers. All that to say, everyone knows who he is, and he seems to have picked up on the fact that Liv doesn’t recognize us.

“Entertainment?” she asks, raising her eyebrow in curiosity.

Before either of us have a chance to respond, the barista calls out, “Liv!”

“Well, that’s me,” she says with an uneasy laugh, grabbing what I assume is a caramel latte from the barista. “I should get going. But it was nice to meet you…” she trails off.

Since I’m a cocky bastard, I respond, “Next time.”

“What?”

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