Chapter Twenty-Two

Over steamed veggie dumplings and pad Thai, Sawyer told Addie about the cable channel gig.

Finishing her bite, she took a sip of wine. “So, you’d do this in the off season?”

He grinned. “The show is called Off-Season, so yeah.”

With a small shrug and a sweet smile, she used her fork to scoop up some more noodles. He still couldn’t believe she’d called Grams to find out his favorites.

“Do you have anything in your contract that prevents you from pursuing this? What does your agent say? Will she negotiate the deal or is this a handshake sort of thing with Kipp?”

He picked up a dumpling, took a bite. “I like having a smart girlfriend who can talk about contracts and negotiations. And FYI? Nothing in this business is on a handshake, sweetheart. People are too smart not to get it down on paper.”

“Fair enough. So?”

Right. She wanted answers, and even though there was still a piece of him worried about revealing too much—wondering if he was disclosing anything that he’d regret—he told her. He wasn’t ready to talk about his knee yet because the truth was, the TV deal wasn’t a problem contract wise, but his knee sure as hell could be.

“Lynette thinks I should take it. I have nothing preventing it in my contract, but there are some boundaries in terms of disclosure and content of what I can discuss. The thing is, I’m not on there as the Slammers catcher; I’m a sports expert.”

Addie glanced up through lowered lashes. She was sexy without even trying. “You’re more than just a sports expert.”

Laughing, he picked up another dumpling. “I’m glad you think so. What are your thoughts?”

He wasn’t sure, other than Lynette or his Grams, if he’d ever truly cared about another woman’s opinion on his career. Or anything else.

“I think you’re smart enough to know that even if you go back and have the season of your life, you’re still coming up on the end of your career. It’s important to know what the next step is. It’s just good sense. Look at Liam. It’s a similar situation.”

Sawyer finished chewing and took a long swallow of his beer. “Not entirely. Liam’s about to marry into the team. He has a job security most of us will never have.”

Pushing her plate away, Addie crossed her forearms on the table. “He is marrying well. Plus, she’s hot and sweet and funny. But we do know we can get a decent dollar for you on auction. Which means your attendance fee for events could easily be raised. You may not have a girlfriend with such deep pockets, but I’ve got loads of ideas if you’re looking to capitalize on your skills and sexy looks.”

Heat raced over him, just from her teasing tone and words. He moved his plate and stood up, bent over her, caging her in with one hand on the back of her chair and the other on the table.

“Hmm. That’s not a bad idea. I charge more to attend events, get auctioned off for charity…it’s like a good deed, a steady income, and a nonstop dating roster all in one.”

He loved the little furrow that appeared between her eyebrows. “Uh, no. Not what I meant. There’ll be no auctioning off for dates.”

Picking her up out of the chair, swallowing his groan when her legs wrapped around his waist like they belonged there, he continued to tease her. “But what if it’s for a good cause?”

She nipped at his chin, ran her mouth along the underside of his jaw. She had to feel how fast his pulse raced. “There are plenty of good causes that don’t involve sharing you.”

His hands moved under her butt to hold her tight against him as he walked them back to her room. “I like that you don’t want to.”

Until his ex wound up with his brother, Sawyer had never thought to spell things out with a woman. Now, with Addie, a part of him that still feared being hurt needed to know they were on the same page.

Addison shifted in his hold, and this time he couldn’t contain the growl that left his throat. Her lips turned down. “You don’t want that either, right? I mean…I’m not seeing anyone else. You don’t want—”

He cut her off with a hard kiss, pulling back when he entered her room. “The only woman I want is you.”

It terrified him. But it didn’t make it less true. She was grinning as he lowered them to the bed to show her just how very much he meant the words.

…

“You need to be stretching properly,” Dayton said.

The Slammers had a number of trainers, fitness experts, doctors, and all manner of experts in their house. Dayton Graham specialized in rehab and mobility. Sawyer didn’t want his advice but knew not taking it would just make it look like something was wrong. Postseason or not, he was still a Slammers’ player and staying in shape was part of the job. And that included letting the professionals do what they needed to do to help him.

He’d been thinking a lot about his career and what his life would be like without it. He wasn’t sure he was ready to throw in the towel there. Not before he had all the facts, anyway. He had an MRI scheduled for the end of the month. Money moved things quicker which, in this case, was a blessing. So for now, he’d keep up with regular workouts and check-ins with the team experts.

“I am stretching,” Sawyer said, wincing at the tug of his muscles as Dayton urged his foot further, pressing it in. Sawyer was on his stomach, arms crossed over each other, chin resting there while Dayton checked his range of motion.

“You’ve still got bruising. Did you get needling done?” The guy lowered Sawyer’s left leg and leaned over, doing the same motion with his right. The muscles didn’t scream as much.

“Yeah. So? I read about dry needling and thought I’d give it a try.”

“I could have set that up for you.”

“It’s the off-season. I’m allowed to take care of my own workouts and therapy.”

Dayton finished the stretch and tapped him so Sawyer knew to roll onto his back. He lifted the left leg and applied pressure. Sawyer had to bite down on the inside of his cheek. He hated that his muscles felt shortened. He was healed, damn it. Ready to play. Lots of time to lengthen and strengthen the muscles.

“That’s all true, man. But I’m here for a reason. What, are you afraid I’m going to rat you out for tight hamstrings? A lot of the guys are worrying about the new wellness initiative, but they shouldn’t. I’ve worked for associations that don’t give a damn about how their people are doing physically, mentally, or otherwise.”

Sawyer nodded as Dayton switched legs. “I don’t need a sermon, Day. I’m on board with the wellness thing. I went away for a few days, and a buddy suggested it, so I tried it out.” He didn’t mention that he wanted to try something out without having team docs and therapists weighing in on every little thing. It was no different than getting a massage with Addie the other night. His off-time was his own.

“Okay. You’re done with this. Let’s hit the cable pull.”

Sawyer rolled to his feet and gave Dayton a little shove. “You know I’ve worked out before, right?”

Dayton laughed and followed after him. “Just trying to feel useful, man.”

Before Sawyer could make a smart-ass comment, Mateo walked into the Slammers fitness room. His dark hair was tied back, and he walked with the casual cockiness of a guy who’d barely reached twenty-one. Sawyer hated the urge he felt to add extra weight to the cables.

“Hey, guys. How’s it going?” Mateo walked to the water station and filled his bottle.

“Good. How you enjoying Nashville?” Dayton asked, setting up his own weights.

“It’s all right. Different, that’s for sure. That lady? Carlisle? The one who wants players all happy and healthy? She dropped off this whole, like, welcome wagon package at my hotel. She set up a bunch of apartment viewings for me and even arranged a car. Tell you, I could get used to this. Hot assistant giving me anything I need? Except, you know—”

Sawyer dropped the weights, not flinching at the thud. Mateo’s and Dayton’s eyes snapped to his. “You’re not going to want to finish that sentence, kid.”

Mateo held up his hands and a bit of water splashed out the top of his bottle, startling him. “Sorry, dude. No disrespect. She’s just, you know, hot. And sweet.”

“You’re not wrong on either of those things but again, stop talking.”

Before he could add anything else, Dayton lowered his weights and gave him a huge toothy smile. “Are you dating Addison?”

Mateo grinned and walked over to them. “Whoa. Sorry for real, dude. I wasn’t trying to be an ass. She’s just made it really cool to settle in here, that’s all.”

Of course she did. That was Addie—taking care of everyone else. Taking a deep breath, Sawyer squatted and reached between his legs for the cable again. “Yeah. Addie likes to make sure people are happy.”

“You are a lucky man, McBain.”

He grunted in response, ignoring both of them and trying to get through his workout without being distracted by images of Addie from the last few nights crowding his brain. He knew exactly how lucky he was.

By the time Sawyer finished working out, he’d learned a fair amount about his new teammate. What sucked was, he was a decent kid and Sawyer couldn’t hate him for jumping on an opportunity to play for the team. Even if he didn’t get any actual playing time in the next season, it was a hell of a dream come true for any player.

“What do you do for nightlife around here?” Mateo asked as they walked to the locker room.

“To tell you the truth, I’m not all that social.”

Mateo laughed. “Yeah, man. I’ve read that. But still, you must do something for fun.”

Sawyer opened his locker and pulled out his phone but looked at Mateo. It hit him then that his idea of fun had changed somewhere over the last several years.

“There’s a couple of great clubs. Don’t know if you’ve hit Salvation yet but that’s Cruz’s sister’s club. They have awesome bands and it’s a great vibe.”

“Cool. You want to grab a beer?”

He was tempted to say yes for no other reason than to show the kid there were no hard feelings, but his phone vibrated, and when he looked down, he saw his mom’s number on the screen. Sawyer’s jaw clenched and he gestured to the phone. “Rain check, kid.”

Mateo nodded and walked away as Sawyer put the phone to his ear.

“Hey.”

“Hey? That’s it? I don’t hear from you for weeks, you don’t return texts or calls, I read about you on social media, and all I get is ‘hey’?”

Sawyer sighed and sank down to the wooden-slat bench. “How’s it going, Mom?”

“It’s busy and stressful, that’s how it is. I promised your brother and Lena that I’d give them a perfect engagement party, but my credit card got declined. I think there’s something wrong with it.”

He almost laughed. Maybe he would have if she wasn’t 100 percent serious. “Yeah. It’s called overusing it. I just paid that off, Ma. And tell Brooks to plan his own damn party.” His lawyer was finalizing the paperwork, and Sawyer planned on sitting his brother and mom down for a long chat.

“Well excuse me for being excited that one of my sons is getting married and wants to start a family. They’re all I have, you know.”

It wasn’t a question. “Right. So then why are you calling me?”

“Don’t be like that, Sawyer. I’m your mom.”

Which was the only reason he answered the damn phone. “What do you need?” It was the easiest route to ending the call.

“A couple thousand and your promise that you’ll show up.”

He waited.

“Your Grams says you brought a girl to meet her. Why do you stay close to that woman, Sawyer? You know she hates me.”

“Jesus. She’s your mom.” If he could put up with her, she could put up with her own mother, especially since she was a great woman. “And she doesn’t hate you, Ma. She doesn’t like the way you try to put her in the middle of me and you. Why’d you call her?”

“Who’s the girl?”

She was going to find out anyway because he wasn’t attending Brooks and Lena’s party without her. Still, he didn’t want the poison that could be his family to seep into someone as sweet as Addison.

“Just a girl I’m hanging with. No big deal. Why’d you call Grams?”

“Only way I can get any information on you, isn’t it?”

He rolled his eyes, ran a hand through his hair. “I’m right here if you ever want to visit and just hang out. You could try doing both without asking me for something.” Despite everything, a piece of him wished she would. That she’d want to repair the rips in their relationship for no other reason than they were family.

He didn’t even know why he said it. Nothing ever changed. He could predict her next words even before he heard them through the phone.

“You never had to ask me for a roof over your head, food in your belly, or money to play baseball. Family shouldn’t have to ask.” He hated the hitch in her voice.

Letting out a deep sigh with all his anger, he stood up. He thought of Addison and how she handled even the most tenuous of situations with grace. If he wanted things to change, maybe he needed to be the catalyst. “You’re right, Mom. Anything I can do to help with the party?”

“Oh, sweetie. You’re such a good brother. Let me tell you what we have planned.”

He only half heard the details as he got ready to go home. He didn’t want to go through his life feeling the way he did toward most of his family. His grandmother had been such an important force in his life—would his own kids have anything like that? Addie’s parents. The thought brought him up short. They’d barely gone public. Why did his thoughts jump there? He shook off the uncomfortable itch between his shoulder blades.

He wasn’t sure what he was looking for from his family, but maybe it was time to stop expecting something in return. Addie was rubbing off on him.