Page 11 of The Player I Can’t Pick

I walk out of the hotel with a heaviness I’ve never felt before. I’ve never had such an instant attraction to someone, and I’m not sure what to make of it. I pull my hat lower and walk down the street to the bar parking lot where my car is. By the time I get to the airport, I’ve changed into my team travel gear and swapped my Brody Ranch hat for a Jasper Bears baseball cap. I’m about to board the plane when my phone dings with a text.

For a second, I hope it’s Nicole.

I let out a breath when I see it’s from my brother Miller. Sky’s having the baby. We’re all at Jasper Hospital. Are you still in town?

My mind races as I try to figure out what to do. I call the team manager and wait for him to answer. “Hey, Coach.”

He pauses. “You’re supposed to be getting on a plane, Brody.”

“I know. My baby sister is having her baby right now.” I blow out a breath. “I promise I’ll be there in time for practice tomorrow afternoon.”

Coach groans. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood, Brody. Get your ass to the field on time tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

“Thanks, Coach.”

I hang up, thankful the hospital is close to the airport. I drive there, park, and ask the first person I see where the maternity ward is. By the time I reach the waiting room, my whole family is sitting there. “I’m here,” I say, slightly out of breath. “Tell me I didn’t miss it.”

Logan turns toward me. “Where were you?”

“The airport.” I drag a hand down my face. Man, what a night. I go to Mom and Dad first and give them each a hug before looking around the room.

“Where’s Skyler? She doing okay?”

“Zach is with her,” Penn says. “We’ve all been warned to stay put until we’re invited back.”

I blow out a breath. “Okay.”

I drop into an empty seat beside my sister-in-law. “Hey, Aria.”

We talk for a few minutes before my phone starts dinging. I dig it out of my pocket and stare at the screen as notification after notification appears. Damn.

Penn sits up straighter beside Aria. “Guy?”

I laugh once and shake my head. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Logan walks toward me. “What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“It doesn’t look like nothing,” Aria says.

I read the headline again.

Baseball Bad Boy Guy Brody Spotted Leaving Bar with Mystery Woman — Has His Type Changed?

My jaw clenches as I continue reading.

Brody’s mystery companion is already drawing attention online, mostly because she doesn’t fit the mold of the women usually seen on his arm. Known for dating slim blondes, the baseball star’s latest outing has fans questioning whether this curvy redhead is something more or just another name on his long list of one-night distractions.

I hold my phone out for Aria. Her nose scrunches as she reads it. “Oh, that’s disgusting.”

I look at her.

“Sorry,” she says quickly. “But it is. That’s horrible.”

Lindsey walks over and reads over Aria’s shoulder. Her face hardens. “They wrote that?”

I lock my phone and shove it into my pocket. “They write whatever gets clicks.”