8. Man of Mystery
EIGHT
MAN OF MYSTERY
RYAN
“Fletcher!” Coach shouts across the dugout as I’m heading back to the clubhouse.
“Coach?”
“Sports24 wants you for the post-game interview again.” He shakes his head and walks out of the dugout.
Shit. This isn’t exactly what I wanted when I devised my plan. I don’t want to have to explain it. I just wanted her to hear it. But I suppose that’s the consequences of my own actions here to bite me in the ass.
“Great to have you here with us, Fletcher!” Annie flashes her bright teeth at me in that perfectly concocted television smile.
“It’s great to be here, Annie.” I offer her a warm smile in return.
“Now, before we get into the details of the game, I want to start with the elephant in the room. Or the field as it were.” She chuckles softly at her joke.
I force out a laugh in response. “You’ve had the same walk-up song since you started with the Suns.
Today, you changed it for the first time in six years and went on to have a pretty stellar game, if I do say so myself. What inspired the change?”
“Always with the hard-hitting questions, Annie.” I chuckle as I try to brainstorm the best response that won’t give too much away. “There’s not really a good answer for you, unfortunately. Just felt like it was time for a change.” I shrug, hoping she’ll drop the topic.
She gives me a knowing smile. “Yeah, but that really felt like it was meant to be a message. So, tell me, Ryan”—she uses my first name in an attempt to make it seem like she’s asking this question in casual conversation with a friend instead of an interview on live television—“who do you want to be friends with?” she asks with a smirk.
It takes every ounce of control to keep my attention fixed on Annie and not flicking toward where I know Isa is hovering behind the crew and cameras.
“Can’t a man have a little bit of mystery in his life, Annie?
” I give her my signature smirk which seems to appease her before she starts rattling off my stats from the game.
She wasn’t wrong earlier. I had my best game yet with the Suns tonight.
I’m usually good, not to brag, but tonight, I was great.
I hit a homer on my first at bat and then a three-run homer later in the sixth. We crushed Arizona ten to three.
And I’m attributing it all to Isa. I switched my walk-up song as a way to talk to her, without actually talking to her and putting her job at risk. And suddenly, I have my best game. I’m not usually so superstitious, but I have nothing else to attribute it to.
Before I know it, the interview with Annie is over and I’m shaking her hand with a smile and thanks before heading to Jamie to take the earpiece off me.
“Thanks, man.” I clap him on the shoulder.
“Anytime. Great game, bud. One day you’ll have to give us the real scoop on the song change, alright?” He gives me a sly smile, like he sees right through me.
I offer him a polite laugh. “I’ll think about it,” I say before I start to walk off toward the dugout which conveniently has me going right past Isa.
“Sup, firecracker?” I whisper from behind her.
She whips around to face me, and I get a whiff of coconut from what must be her shampoo. It’s my new favorite scent. She takes a quick look around to see if anyone’s paying attention to us standing together. They’re not—I checked before I approached.
Once she’s sure the coast is clear, she leans close. If a look alone could start a fire, her glare would do it. “What on earth did you do?” she whisper-shouts at me, but it doesn’t hold nearly enough ire to scare me off.
I simply offer her a shrug, which only further stokes the flames in her eyes. “Did you eat your protein bars?”
A muscle in her jaw tics like she’s grinding her teeth to avoid biting my head off. “Yes, I did. Thank you.” The words come out forced like it takes a lot of effort for her to say them.
I nod in approval, trying not to let my smile grow too wide. “Good, good. We’re heading off tomorrow for an away stretch, so I won’t be here to make sure you’re eating,” I tease.
She rolls her eyes and some of the anger ebbs. “I’m well aware of your travel schedule. The TV crew isn’t here when the team is away, so I don’t have to be here. I’ll have plenty of time to focus on things like my feeding habits.”
I clutch my hands together at my chest and shoot her a beaming smile. “Aw, babe, are you keeping tabs on my work schedule?”
She raises an eyebrow at me and the fire in her eyes reignites.
“First, I am not your babe. Second, your home schedule is my work schedule. So yes, I know your schedule but for no reason other than to know when I’m working from the office versus here at the stadium.
And when I get to have a damn day off. Like I do tomorrow. ”
I chuckle. She’s so fun to rile up. And she’s damn gorgeous when she’s angry. I should really talk to a therapist to see if it’s normal that her rage turns me on as much as it does. “Good, I’m glad you’ll be eating. Any fun plans for your day off?”
She lets out an exasperated sigh as if she’s annoyed by our conversation.
But the fact that she’s still entertaining it, tells me she’s not nearly as irritated as she wants me to think.
“Unfortunately, no. I’ll be spending the day getting my car towed and seeing what the damage to my bank account will be. ”
I nod in understanding. “Right, your car. Almost forgot about that. Need a ride home?” I offer, hoping and praying she’ll accept.
She smirks and I know I’ve lost. “Nope, my roommate is picking me up.”
“Damn, we could’ve had another fun adventure at In-N-Out.” I give her a solemn head shake.
She scrunches her nose in disgust. “Sorry for your loss, but In-N-Out two days in a row sounds like torture.”
I gasp and clutch at my imaginary pearls. “You take that back!”
She crosses her arms over her chest and gives me a stubborn lift of her chin. “I will do no such thing. You really need to pick a new post-game ritual.”
I let my eyes trace her body. She’s in that fucking purple suit again. “I’m sure I could come up with something.” I throw a wink her way, pressing my luck.
She stiffens for a moment, and I fear I’ve gone too far before she relaxes again with an eye roll. “I need to get back to work.”
Well, it was fun while it lasted. “I’ll get out of your hair. See you in a week and a half, firecracker. Try not to miss me too much! I’m sure it’ll fly by.”
“I hope it doesn’t,” she mutters under her breath.
I let out a laugh as I jog back to the clubhouse.