Page 2 of Crazy for the Coaches

It turns out they’d been coaching for the college team as volunteers when they weren’t doing their IT work. They felt there was a player I should watch.

I watched as Alfonso Eliso stepped up to the plate. I noticed the outfield step back. There was a runner on second already.

He hit a respectable single into the outfield, and I could tell he was fast as he ran. “Guys, as I told you, I have little say over the players. I’m just helping Eli with his appointments.” The words were barely out of my mouth when I realized the player had stolen to second, and no one had seen it happen.

“Whoa.”

“See? We’ve looked at your roster, and no one on there is great at stealing. You need him.” Steve waved a nacho to emphasize his point.

I took a photo, and sent it with a note to my brother to check him out with people on staff. “What position does he play?”

“That’s another thing. He is usually catcher, but he’s also been a relief pitcher.”

I looked at Aaron, who shrugged as he ate some popcorn. “We had a lot of illness and injuries this season. Turns out he was a pretty good pitcher in practice, so we took a chance.”

My hand dropped to Steve’s thigh as I went to put my phone back in my bag. It felt like hard muscle, and I wondered what it would look like without his jeans on.

My cheeks heated up again, and it got worse when we had to stand up to let someone pass through to her seat. I ended up pressing against Aaron, who also felt like he had plenty of muscles.

When the game ended, the men introduced me to Alfonso, and I admit I was charmed. I could see him helping with parades and community appearances, just as I could with these two handsome coaches. I gave him my card on a whim, cards I’d made, though I still didn’t have an official title.

The men walked me back to my car. I felt oddly reluctant to leave. I’d had more fun having this business dinner and game with them than I’d had on any actual dates in as long as I could remember. “So I’ll see both of you this week? I can give you a tour of the stadium when you arrive Tuesday.”

“We’ll be completely moved in by Monday and might stop by the stadium. Would you like to have dinner with us?” Aaron asked.

Again, I wondered if this was a date.

“We hear there’s a fantastic pub in town,” Steve said.

After he named it, I really wondered if this was a date. The pub was owned by Mayor Ted, and he and his partner and their wife were usually there.

“Sure,” I said, not really sure what to say. “My friend Angel is the owner’s wife. I eat there a lot. What time?”

Aaron slapped Steve on the back as if they were thrilled about the arrangement.

It wasn’t a date, was it?

Chapter Two

Aaron

“Dude, you’d better chill. We haven’t even gotten to Hopeton yet and you’re already trying to line up a woman for us to share.” I had to say it as soon as I got in the car with Steve.

We waved to Mandy as her car pulled away.

“She’s it. I can feel it.”

I tried not to roll my eyes. Steve thought a couple of other women were it for us, only to have them tire of the novelty of being with two guys. But I really liked Mandy too.

“And it’s Hopeton, man. Our dream.”

It’s true that we’d been interested in the town ever since information spread about the industry in poly weddings that was building up there. When we heard they were getting two new stadiums for baseball and basketball/hockey teams, we started enquiring about working for the team.

I’d thought I’d be playing ball at this point in my life, not coaching. My hand rubbed over my knee, still tender since the surgery. I might have been able to play again with a lot of PT, but my agent and I knew that my former pro-feeder team didn’t want me back. They’d offered me a coaching spot, too.

But we’d applied to coach with the new Cruisers.

“She is great, but I’m not sure she gets that we’re interested.”

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