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He’s always been more like a brother to me than a cousin. Our mothers are sisters and we grew up spending every vacation together.
I pull back and look up into his dark eyes. “I’m good. What about you? You’re the one who is balancing the hopes of an entire city on your shoulders.”
“I play the best game I can every time. With any luck, we win some.” He laughs as he motions toward the kitchen. “I’ll grab you a can of that soda you like.”
I’m touched that he remembers. “I didn’t take you away from anything important, did I?”
He glances back at me as he pours the soda into a tall glass. “I had practice this morning. I’m going over a few things with my agent this afternoon, but he’s in the office on a call.”
He points toward the hallway.
I glance in that direction as I curl my hand around the glass. “I hope you know that I wouldn’t have asked for you to sign a jersey for just anyone, but as I said on the phone last night, it’s for a ten-year-old boy.”
I called Trey before Kate left my apartment.
I explained that I briefly met someone who had one of his autographed jerseys, but it had been stolen. Before I could get another word out, Trey told me to stop by this afternoon to pick up a replacement.
“I’m happy to help out, Olivia.” He reaches into the back pocket of his jeans to tug out his cell phone. “My mom sent me a picture this morning.”
I smile when he turns the phone around. It’s a picture of our moms on a beach in Hawaii. They bought a timeshare on Maui a few years ago and they take advantage of it as often as they can in the fall and winter.
The rest of their time is spent in a condo in Boston.
Both of our moms are widowed and their shared grief forged a close bond between the two of them.
I don’t remember my dad since he died before my fifth birthday, but Trey’s dad was a driving force in my life until he passed ten years ago.
“Look how tanned they are.” I laugh. “They’re living their best lives right now.”
“As they should.” He leans his forearms on the kitchen island. “Are you living your best life?”
I pull on the arm of my off-the-shoulder gray sweater. I slid it on after my yoga class ended thirty minutes ago.
I thought about going home to shower and change into something more presentable than the fraying sweater and gray yoga pants I’m wearing, but Trey has seen me at my absolute worst. I knew he wouldn’t care what I look like.
“Hale.” A man’s voice calls from behind me. “You didn’t tell me that we were expecting company.”
I turn to the sight of a gray-haired man dressed in navy blue slacks and a light blue V-neck sweater. Silver rimmed eyeglasses sit on his nose.
“This is my cousin.” Trey drops a hand on my shoulder. “Olivia, this is my agent.”
“Buck Remsen.” The man pushes a hand at me. “I finally get to meet the Olivia Hull.”
I take his hand for a quick shake before I gaze back at Trey. “The Olivia Hull?”
My cousin rakes a hand through his hair. It’s the same shade as mine. “I talk about you from time-to-time. All good things, Livi.”
I smile at the nickname his dad gave me with when we were kids.
“From what I’ve heard, you’re the one who coached him to be the player that he is today,” Buck says with a gleam in his eye.
I toss my head back in laughter.
“Don’t laugh, Olivia.” Trey chuckles. “You were the only person who would stand at home plate so I could practice pitching.”
“You were seven and I was five.” I hold up my hand, wiggling my fingers. “To be clear, Trey, I’d never do it now.”
“Neither would I.” Buck opens the fridge and takes out a bottle of water. “I want to see my next birthday, so I’m never getting in front of one of your curve balls.”
