Free Hot Corner (Baseball Romance) by PJ Chase Page B

have the moves put on me by the Magician of Marshall Street," Audrey countered.  Alice blushed. 
    "So we've kissed a lot of frogs.  We haven't croaked," Stacey cut in.  "I'm just happy we're all in loving relationships for once."
    Audrey and Alice both got quiet.  "Hey, why don't we see if Ali's song is on the radio?"
     
    Chapter Three
     
    "Who wants to party?" Steven Adams asked, with a beer in one hand and a plastic novelty arrow on his head. 
    Steven may have been a goofball, but he sure knew how to throw a party.  And the festivities awaited in the basement.  Then again Steven didn't have just any basement, but a full on man cave.  A wet bar sat in the corner, flanked by pinball machines, and arcade video games.  The rest of the room was decked out with a billiards table, ping pong table, and a seventy inch big screen television.
    Nostalgic mid 2000's rock music blasted over a speaker system as Audrey, Peter, Stacey, Alice, and Steven entered the man cave.
    But as Frank Stein spotted Alice, he immediately started playing "The Woman In The Blue Dress." Alice blushed, then pleaded for Frank to change the tune. 
    Stacey meanwhile spotted the buffet and answered the call of her stomach.  Of course it didn't hurt that her man candy Tim Channing was making quick work of the artichoke dip. 
    "I need a refill," Steven remarked, looking at the bottom of his beer cup.  "You guys want any?"
    "Two please," Audrey replied. 
    "Coming up," Steven replied, before moving over to the bar. 
    "Wow.  You have some interesting friends," Peter said to Audrey. 
    "And it's time to start impressing them," Audrey said.  "All right, let me give you the run down.  That over there is Frank Stein, a robotic genius and widow.  His wife Elizabeth died in a car accident a year and a half ago."
    "Oh God, that's horrible," Peter responded. 
    "Yeah.  So whatever you do, don't bring it up.  Next we have Damon over by the billiards table.  Total lothario.  The guy used to plow through coeds in college like a snow blower during a blizzard.  Then we have Stacey's boyfriend Tim over at the buffet.  A total sweetheart.  He and Stacey actually started dating because he called her the most beautiful women in his company.  Then finally, we have Steven over there with the plastic arrow on his head.  Matchmaker extraordinaire who for the longest time couldn't match himself up.  Until he met his own Jasmine," Audrey explained.
    "So which one of these guys is your ex-boyfriend?" Peter asked. 
    Audrey looked around and bit the corner of her lip.  "Even the City Of Lights isn't as bright as you," Trevor Brockman remarked. 
    Audrey turned around saw her former flame.  "Well, if it isn't the emotional hurricane himself.  Have you come to devastate me again?"
    Peter meanwhile had other thoughts on his mind.  After all, Trevor wasn't just any ex-boyfriend.  He was Trevor Brockman, the starting third baseman for the Atlanta Pythons.  No wonder Audrey was so nervous. 
    It was amazing though.  Even though Audrey had dated two different baseball players in her life, they couldn't have been more different.  And it wasn't just because Peter was stuck in the minors while Trevor was practically an all star.  While Peter was Mr. Reliable, Trevor lived and died by the long ball.  He was a homerun hitter through and through.  So when he was on, he was really on.  But when his swing was off, he struck out a lot.  It was big risk big reward for Trevor. 
    But while Peter was still coming to terms with the fact that Trevor Brockman was Audrey's ex, Trevor seemed primed to try and win Audrey back. 
    "Alright, you got me.  I'm sorry.  But to be fair, that was a long time ago," Trevor downplayed. 
    "Maybe.  But time will never heal those wounds," Audrey said. 
    Trevor deflected.  "So where did you find this stiff, the county morgue?" he asked, sizing up Peter. 
    "I'd rather be a stiff than trample Audrey's heart," Peter declared, with