Sheila boasted, “I’m the best wingman you could have.”
“I’m hanging up.” She disconnected the call, laughing and feeling better already. Friends like Sheila were irreplaceable.
By the time Randy showed up at Sheila’s place, she’d had a glass of wine and settled her nerves. Pretty much.
A flurry of nerves came back when the doorbell rang, but when she opened the door they settled quietly. Randy looked really good standing there in his softball uniform.
Who knew polyester pants and a jersey could look so good on a guy?He looked great in a suit, but somehow that camouflaged the wide span of his shoulders. For a hot second she pictured herself with her head nuzzled in the crook of his neck.
Stop.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yeah. Let’s go.” It was out of her mouth and she was closing the door behind her before she could give it a second thought.Thanks for the pep talk, Sheila.
Sheila would be happy when she got home and saw that Natalie had indeed gone to the game with Randy. She’d try to remember to text a picture when they got to the ball field.
It took about thirty minutes to get to the park. There was a slew of men all in the same uniform as Randy, but none looked as fine as he did. She walked with him over to the field. He went to warm up, and she climbed into the bleachers.
Was it her imagination, or were a couple of those men staring at her? She hadn’t considered some of his work friends mighthave seen her at the precinct before. Self-conscious, she pulled out her phone and texted Sheila.
NATALIE: At the softball game with Randy.
SHEILA: Hope you score a run.
NATALIE: Funny. Just friends.
SHEILA: Doubtful.
NATALIE: Stop.
SHEILA: I have a feeling about this guy, and not the creepy Marc feeling. Just give it a shot.
She swept the messages away, laughing.
“Hey, Natalie!”
Natalie spun toward her name.
Courtnie stepped over the first seats and climbed up to join her on the bleachers. “I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”
“I didn’t either. It was sort of a last-minute decision.” Courtnie sat down beside her and the guys came together in front of the bench, hailed a bigrah,and then ran out onto the field.
“Here we go!” Courtnie yelled, and whistled.
Courtnie’s enthusiasm made it even more fun. It was contagious.
The score was only separated by two runs for the first few innings, but finally Randy’s team hit in a run and they started knocking balls over the fence. One run after another, they were bound to win.
Natalie and Courtnie cheered with such enthusiasm that everyone in the bleachers had joined in.
“This is great,” Courtnie said. “I’m usually the only one cheering them on. I like your style.”
“They’re good!”
“Randy was always good at sports,” Courtnie said.
“Seems like he’s pretty good at everything.”
