Free Fastball (Wilde Players Dirty Romance) by A.M. Hargrove, Terri E. Laine Page B

eggs, four pieces of toast, a protein shake, two bananas, some coffee, and two giant glasses of milk later and I’m rubbing my stomach.
    “Christ, Ryder. Won’t you puke with all that in you?” Riley asks.
    “Huh-uh. This will hold me until the seventh inning stretch of game one, maybe. Then I have these to fill in. It’s a long day.” I hold up some gigantic protein bars Fletcher turned me onto because they’re high in calories and do the trick.
    “But damn, it’s not like you’re expending a lot just sitting there. Baseball is like watching paint dry.”
    “Maybe, but I’ll have a lot of nervous energy.”
    “Yeah, okay. Keep eating like that and you’ll have to be getting a solid workout from nine to five every day to keep from going up ten sizes.”
    “Whatever. I’ll worry about my body, and you worry about yours, big sis.”
    I get ready, grab my bag, and go. Maybe Riley’s right. The last thing I want is to get fat for Gina. Pushing those thoughts aside, I focus on the game and hope we pull this one out. Luckily, whatever the trainer did and sitting out yesterday had really helped. My arm feels like I could pitch, and my hand feels good. It’s still wrapped, but it doesn’t bother me because my fingers and thumb are free. We go on to win both games, and I end my day on a high.
    That night, I call Gina again, but no answer. She had to receive at least the spa gift, and it’s a little hurtful that she didn’t call or text me to express her thanks. I didn’t take her for that kind of girl. Since I have the next couple of nights free, I decide to chance it and go visit her.
    I put a call into Fletcher to see if it’s okay if I stay at his place.
    “Cassie won’t be there, so it’s fine. My only rule is to leave it like you found it.”
    “No worries on that, man. Is there a key somewhere?”
    “Yeah.” He tells me where they have one hidden by the back porch. “And I know you’re probably going to see Gina, so good luck with her. She’s slippery like an eel, Ryder.”
    “Tell me something I don’t know. Take care.”
    When I get to Waynesville, it’s getting dark and close to seven. I head to Fletcher and Cassie’s, locate the key, and check the place out. It’s nice what they’ve done so far in the renovations. My next stop is the Dirty Hammer, hoping Gina will be working.
    As soon as I walk in, I see Sam at the bar. This isn’t good.
    “Hey, Ryder. You looking for Gina?”
    “Yeah, she here?”
    “No, she’s out to dinner. I’m not sure where, but there aren’t too many places in town. I’d start at the Chef’s Grill and work my way down if I were you.”
    “Thanks, Sam. I will.” And I head down the street.
    It’s Thursday, so not overly crowded, even though fall is hitting, when things will soon heat up in town. I walk in and scan the room. The place isn’t very big at all, so in no time I find her, but there’s a huge problem. She’s not alone. The someone with her is male and dark-haired, and she just laughed at something he said. Then her head tilts as I watch, and that’s when it happens. Our eyes connect, her face collapses, and I turn and walk away. Guess I know why she never returned my calls or texts now. This is not what I expected at all.
    Retracing my steps, I head back to the Dirty Hammer. I need to get hammered in a bad way.
    “Guess she wasn’t there, huh?” Sam asks.
    “No, she was, but she had a date. Can you give me a shot of tequila? No, make that three.”
    “Sorry, man, and I got you covered.”
    Three shots appear before me, and I’m downing my third when a voice drifts over my shoulder. “Hey, Ryder.”

 
    GINA
     
     
    Dinner with the lawyer has been an eye-opening experience. I’m not sure what to do with the information he’s given me, but I’ve been thrown for a loop seeing Ryder walk in. When he walks out, I’m rattled, more so than the news I received.
    “I have to go,” I say abruptly.
    “Boyfriend?” the lawyer says,