Free Here for You by KC Ann Wright Page A

with me. I just hope he can.
     
    • • •
     
    I spend all morning catching up on emails and doing a few conference calls. By the time I’m ready to leave for the park, I have at least caught up on Friday and even some of the newer items from today. I had to do something to keep my mind off the game. As of yesterday morning, I knew next to nothing about baseball. Less than twenty-four hours later, I am excited and beyond nervous for the outcome of today’s game.
    I think Quinn senses I’m not my usual self because she offers to take a cab to my place to pick me up so we can ride together. I’m assuming that if things go well, we may be going to a dinner or celebration after the game. If not, I can always take a cab home after the game. I’m sure Quinn will be hanging with Johnny either way, but they may not want my company if the guys lose today. Cam has no obligation to hang out with me if he doesn’t want to. I’m here for him if he needs me, and that’s it. He doesn’t need to entertain me but if he needs a friend, he knows I’ll be there.
    I run out to the cab when I see it pull up and jump in the back with Quinn. She looks fantastic. Somehow she has made Johnny’s jersey and skinny jeans look sexy. Leave it to my curvy redheaded friend to sex up a game.
    I smile and motion my hand in a circle in front of her. “I think this look suits you.”
    “Yeah, I could get used to this.”
    She pulls another jersey out of her larger-than-life purse. She could probably fit the entire team’s uniforms in there if she wanted to. Half the time I’m afraid that purse will tip her over, but I’ve long since given up arguing with her about it. I take the jersey from her and hug it to me before opening it.
    “I’m nervous, Q.”
    “I know, but we have each other.”
    I slip it on over my long-sleeve shirt. I’m wearing a fitted white t-shirt and a fitted long-sleeve one over it. The temperature is supposed to be around seventy today, so I wanted both as it could be a little warmer or a little cooler than they say. I’m also wearing skinny jeans, so we have the same look going.
    “Girl, the boots are the perfect touch. Wish I had thought to put mine on.”
    I’d gone with my black cowboy boots, hoping my Texas friend will appreciate them. I smile at Quinn but don’t respond. I’m already focused on just getting there so this day can be over. I’m actually starting to get anxious; if they do win and go into playoffs, I may develop an ulcer or high blood pressure at the very least. I don’t know how they do this every game, and I certainly don’t know how the wives and girlfriends handle this pressure. Maybe it gets easier over time, but I’m afraid my need to always win is going to pose a problem in this scenario.
    I need a distraction.
    “So, how was your evening with Johnny?” I ask.
    Quinn’s smile is naughty, and I instantly regret asking the question. “I don’t want any details today. My stomach can’t take it.”
    Her face shifts to a pout, but she immediately replaces it with another smile. “Fine. I really like him. I swear there’s something different about him. I don’t know what, but I don’t see myself getting sick of him for a long time.”
    I would hesitate if she said this about every guy. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard her say it, so I’m wondering if he’s going to be the first one who snags her, at least for a while. “That’s awesome, Q. I hope you do settle down with him for a while. He seems all about you.”
    “Yeah, he is absolutely attentive, but I don’t think he does it just to make me happy. He seems to like taking care of me.” She shrugs her shoulders, and I see a hint of shy Quinn. “I guess we’ll see.”
    I grab her hand so we each have something to hold on to. We talk about business for the last part of the ride. I’m sure Quinn is doing it just to distract me because normally she would want to talk about men in some way but she’s also nervous