Page 96 of Pitcher Perfect
She never expected to be responsible for it.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Eve dropped onto the couch beside Skylar, visibly less stressed than when she arrived, probably because Douglas and Vivica had turned the kitchen into one giant art project station, several finger paintings already hanging on a line above the sink. In other words, the high-energy kids were occupied, and she was free to sip the after-dinner coffee in her hands.
Now that they were alone, Skylar was eager to address the elephant in the room and find out what had led to Eve’s raising her sister’s kids, but she knew from experience that Eve would drive the conversation around the block until she felt like parking, so she stayed silent and let Eve dictate the starting point.
“They’re usually not so rambunctious, I swear,” Eve said, sipping her coffee, her French manicure resting against the porcelain mug, the ends of her long, wavy blond hair curled against the curve of her waist. “They’re probably just so happy to be somewhere besides my apartment or the office at the lounge.”
“Are they in school?”
“Just registered them for pre-K at Cumberland Elementary. They’ll be joining late, but it seemed necessary. I don’t think they’ve been social with anyone but each other.” A groove appeared on her forehead. “I’ve only made my way through one parenting book, but I know they need to be around other kids.”
“I think if you’ve read an entire parenting book, you’re already doing great.”
Gratitude flickered in her eyes. “Thanks.”
“Did your sister have them in any kind of daycare, or...”
“I didn’t have a chance to ask.” Eve smiled and shifted her position, a sure sign she was going to change the subject. “Madden mentioned you’ve been seeing someone. A hockey player? Serious enough to introduce to Doug and Viv? I thought he’d be here—”
As if the very mention of Madden’s name had summoned him through the door, the Irishman was suddenly ducking beneath the frame of the entryway, his countenance carved from stone, as usual. He ceased to move when he saw Eve sitting on the couch, obviously surprised she’d finally decided to pay the Pages a visit. Eve stared at the floor, her knuckles white from being locked around the coffee mug.
Really? These two had one disagreement and stopped talking? If the Pages did that, no one would speak ever again.
“Do you want me to mediate this, or...” Skylar murmured out of the side of her mouth.
“No.” Eve shook her head, turning to face Skylar more fully. Setting down her mug rather shakily. “No—and you’re totally avoiding my question.”
“I’m not!”
“Hockey player. Go.”
Skylar felt parts of her heat that had no business warming up in the family living room. “Robbie. Corrigan. He plays for the Bearcats? Don’t ask me what position—I’ve yet to learn anything about the sport, but he’s...” Oh wow, her pulse was skipping like a stone going across a glassy pond. “He’s going to teach me.”
Eve studied her with a half smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you blush in my life the way you’re doing right now.”
“I guess you’re forgetting the time I accidentally pantsed myself in gym class.” Flustered over her best friend’s scrutiny, Skylar gathered her hair into a ponytail, using the elastic on her wrist to secure it. “Robbie is... I didn’t expect him.”
“We never do, right?” After a beat, Eve laughed off what had seemed like a serious statement. “So, Robbie Corrigan.” Eve’s black satin envelope clutch sat nearby on the coffee table and she reached into it now, her movements ever graceful, taking out her phone. “Be honest. How much internet stalking have you done?”
“Oh, um. None?”
“I envy your willpower.”
Skylar watched with growing pressure in her throat as Eve punched Robbie’s name into Google and hit search, before she could protest. Everything that came up would probably be hockey related. No need for this urge to bat the phone out of her friend’s hand or rush to explain... what? That she was already aware of Robbie’s lifestyle?
Across the room, Madden and Elton had taken a seat at the dining room table across from each other, frosty bottles of beer in their hands, the wrinkles of tension between them evident. She tried to focus on that instead of Eve’s thumb scrolling, wondering what she could do to help Elton. After all, she had a lot of experience feeling inadequate, especially when it came to sports. His time would come—
Eve darkened her phone and set it down in her lap. “How is the competition going? What sort of ass kicking did Doug and Viv serve up this year?”
“Wait.” Skylar pointed at Eve’s phone. “You’re not going to say anything about the search results?”
“He’s very handsome. And aredhead. Spicy.”
“That’s it?”
Eve opened her mouth, closed it. Reached for her coffee butdidn’t take a sip. “I shouldn’t have googled him. But I mean, come on. He’s a public figure. Google anyone with a little fame these days and you’ll find a reason the internet hates him.”
