“We can’t all spend our day in the air-conditioned facility, baby. Some of us need to be out here doing the work.”
Lark just snorts. “Yeah, and some of us have to deal with your stinky, sweaty bodies every time you get so muchas a paper cut.”
I shrug; she’s got a point. When she sits down beside me, I drop a hand to her bare thigh and squeeze gently. Lowering my voice, I ask, “How are you feeling?”
“Like I told you this morning, and yesterday, and the day before, I feel great. The medication the doctor gave me works wonders.”
“I’m still gonna ask.”
“I know you are.” She leans in and kisses me softly. “That’s why I love you.”
“Hey, lovebirds.”
We both turn at Yami’s voice. He points at us, his finger wagging between us both. “This is cute and all, but I need my boy in the bullpen.”
I stand up with an exaggerated groan. “Pitchers. They’re so fucking demanding.”
Yami snorts. “You think I’m demanding? Just wait.”
My brow furrows. It’s not the first cryptic comment he’s made. He walks off and I turn to Lark. “Do you think —”
“I think he —”
We both start to talk at the same time. I gesture for her to continue.
Leaning in, Lark drops her voice to a whisper. “Do you think he knows? About the raspberry?”
“I’m wondering the same thing, but how? I haven’t said anything, I swear.”
Lark chews on her lower lip. “Then how…”
“I’ll talk to him later at taco night.” She nods and I reach out my thumb to free her lip. “It wouldn’t be so bad, though, if he did know. We’re gonna have to tell peopleeventually.”
“I know. I guess it’s not the end of the world, but I’m still curious about how he knows.”
“I’ll ask.” Dropping one more kiss to her forehead, I step toward the stairs of the dugout. “Better get back to work. See you later, Birdie.”
Practice finishes several hours later, and after we all get back to the hotel, we regroup and head out to the Mexican restaurant we end up at every year for a team dinner. Taco night is a spring training tradition for the Tridents.
I let everyone go inside before me, grabbing Yami’s arm to hold him back. “Hey, hang on a sec, would you?”
He comes to a stop and looks at me with a half smirk. “What’s up?”
I swallow. I told Lark I’d ask him if he knew, but now that the time’s come, I don’t know how to say it.
“So, ah, me and Lark. Um. You know there was that stuff when she was sick. And, um, okay, so —”
“Dude. She’s pregnant, isn’t she?” His smirk grows.
“How the fuck do you know?” I ask, bewildered, but also grateful I didn’t have to say it. Although, I guess I’d better practice. Soon enough, we’ll be telling everyone.
“How did younotknow?” He holds up one hand and starts counting off. “She was exhausted and nauseous. I’m guessing she got the news that day you went off the rails and she didn’t tell you, making you worry. Then she shows up, you guys disappear for the evening, and the next day, you’re both smiling nonstop.She can’t stop touching her stomach, and you keep staring at it.”
My mouth falls open. “Damn, Yami. Are you some kind of fucking detective?”
“Nah, man, just got two older sisters that had kids not too long ago and good observation skills.”
My head moves side to side. “Well, shit. Hopefully, no one else is that good. We wanted to keep it a secret for a while longer.”
