Page 62 of Third Strike Smitten

For now.

I stare at those two words, my heart racing. The implication that he thinks I’ll change my mind running circles through my head.

Killian

So, are you going to tell me what you’re wearing right now or do I have to use my imagination for that too?

I laugh out loud and shake my head at his persistence, knowing if he keeps it up, I have a strong feeling he’ll wear me down. But for now…for tonight, I can be strong.

Me

LOL. Goodnight Haynesy. Tell your fist I said hello.

Killian

You’re killing me, Coach. You’re killin’ me.

13

KILLIAN

“Why aren’t you driving again?”

Isla smirks at me from the passenger seat as she gestures up ahead. “Because Diane and I are friends now and I like the ride. Turn right at the next light.”

She’s been leading me through the streets of a small neighborhood on the outskirts of the city, reluctant to tell me where we’re going. I should have just pulled over and refused to go any further until she told me what she’s up to. But when she texted earlier and said she had planned a surprise outing just for me…an outing that isn’t going to be in front of cameras or baseball executives…my curiosity was piqued. I could have told her I wasn’t interested. After all, the relationship we have is platonic and only meant to look otherwise in front of people. So, call it morbid curiosity with a side of mild attraction that has me presently following her directions

That and Isla Fallon is fucking cute when she’s excited.

“Did you forget that we don’t talk about Diane?”

She laughs. “No, you don’t talk about Diane. I, on the other hand, am constantly talking about her and to her.” She rubs the dashboard and gives it a loving pat of her hand. “It’s ok, Sis. He can hate you all he wants. I appreciate you.”

“You know you’re talking to a motorized vehicle, right? She doesn’t have feelings.”

She rolls her eyes and mutters, “Tell me you’ve never seen a Pixar movie without telling me you’ve never seen a Pixar movie.” She gestures one more time out the window. “Take a left on Dillard.”

Practically bouncing in her seat, she claps her hands together when I turn onto Dillard and head up the hill. We pass a sign that says no outlet which makes me wonder if we’re lost, but the happy, excited look on Isla’s face tells me she knows right where we are. When we reach the top of the hill, the area opens into a huge field divided into several community baseball fields.

“What is this place?”

“Dillard Park,” Isla tells me. “I used to play on these fields when I was a kid.” My heart constricts when she smiles remembering parts of her childhood as we pull up.

“Hold on…” My foot finds the brake before my brain catches up, the SUV rolling to a stop halfway into the lot. I recognize Shepherd first, then Sutton and Sebastian standing beside him. And then I’m doing a slow count of the rest—Alaric, Carter, Brock, Layton, Jude, Paxton—all of them just standing around, like they all just ended up here for no reason.

Mackenzie Adams, our team chef, has her truck backed up to the edge of the grass with what looks like half a catering setup going. Bishop is with her, of course, and there’s someone next to her I don’t recognize, passing her things.

“Who is⁠—”

“Oh, that’s Tara. My roommate.” She tells me as she waves at everyone waiting for us.

When I finally pull into a spot and glance at Isla, she’s watching me with this barely contained excitement on her face. “What did you do, Coach?”

“You’ll see.” She beams, unbuckling her seatbelt and opening her door. “Come on, everyone’s waiting.” She flies out of the SUV and immediately gives a hug to Sutton and then to Shepherd and Sebastian. I watch, jealous of each one of them as I follow her.

Fuck, why do I care that they’re getting hugs from my pretend girlfriend?

As we approach the group, Shepherd breaks away from the others and joins me. “Took you long enough,” he says, clapping me on the back. “We were starting to think you chickened out.”