Second Opinion (2 page)

“I’m sure I won’t be the last, either,” I laughed, and I put my arm around her shoulder again. “Come here,” I instructed, and she folded herself against me again.

It felt good.

I crushed her body to mine as I looked down at her. Her brown eyes met mine, and my eyes flicked down to her lips and then back to her eyes.

My lips involuntarily moved toward hers, the anticipation sending waves of nerves coursing through my veins. Holding her and wanting to comfort her felt natural. Leaning my lips down toward hers felt natural, too. She gazed up at me, her eyes starting to close as we moved in toward each other.

“Oh GOD, no. Please tell me this isn’t happening.” My sister’s nasally voice cut through the quiet night, and Avery jumped back from me guiltily.

Motherfucker.

I shot a look over at Avery.

“Tell you what isn’t happening?” I asked innocently.

“The two of you.” She snorted in disgust and I chuckled.

It wasn’t happening—yet—but it had potential.

“What if it is happening, Quinn? Would that really be so bad?”

She stared at us for a moment. She looked irritated. “Yeah, it would be. It’s not a good idea.”

“What difference does it make to you?” I pressed. My sister had some nerve.

She was accusing me of hooking up with her friend when she was
engaged
to
my
friend?

Granted, she hadn’t met Reed through me, exactly. But it was a little hypocritical of her to judge something she knew nothing about.

“I can’t deal with another Kaylee situation,” she warned.

Of course she would bring up Kaylee.

I’d hooked up with one of Quinn’s roommates a few years earlier, and when I didn’t call her back, she’d taken it out on my sister. Let’s just say Kaylee and Quinn were no longer friends, and I knew Quinn blamed me. It really wasn’t my fault. Kaylee was a little bit crazy and quite a clinger.

“There’s nothing going on,” Avery clarified. “I was upset and Grant was just making me feel better.”

“Thank God,” Quinn said. “I mean, you’re my
brother
.” She said the word like it was gross. I guess I could see her point; I didn’t exactly enjoy spending my time thinking about the fact that she shared a bed with my best friend.

“And you’re
Avery
. I know what you do in your spare time.” She laughed after she said it like it was a joke, but it was a little bit of a cheap shot at her friend.

And it also made me wonder what exactly it was Avery did in her spare time.

The slightest hint of anger flashed through my blood at Quinn’s insinuation.

Where the hell did that come from? Why did I feel the need to defend my sister’s friend?

I’d known Avery for a long time, but for the very first time, I saw Avery as an individual, separate from the friendship she and Quinn shared. Her flirtations all night hooked my interest, but it was the tender moment we shared in front of the fire when I comforted her in my arms that kept it.

And it was that moment that lingered in my mind over the next couple of weeks.

CHAPTER 2

“How long is the season?” Reed asked

I was organizing a co-ed adult softball league, something to put my old college skills to the test and have some fun with friends. “Six weeks including a full Saturday single elimination tournament for the championship.”

“So we should be okay as long as we finish by the weekend before the wedding,” he said, glancing at his phone’s calendar. 

“Will Quinn play?” I asked. I took a bite of my Italian sub. We’d gone to Subway for lunch on a rare day when we were able to take lunch at the same time.

He nodded. “She said it sounds fun. Do you need anyone else?”

“If she can fill it with girls, I can round up some guys.”

“You don’t have any girls you can call on?” he joked.             

“I have a nice phone book full of girls, but none who I want to play softball with.”

Reed laughed. “Just all the other games.”

I nodded. “Exactly.”

“How many?”

“Five girls and five men minimum.”

“So you, me, Quinn. Who else?”

“Andrew and Brandon are in.” Both were my friends from college who I still kept in touch with.

“Quinn will probably ask Veronica, and she comes with Jesse.”

“Perfect. That’s five guys. Does Quinn have three more girls?”

“Avery, Reese, and Reese’s friend Jill.”

I felt a strange shudder in my chest at Avery’s name. “Do you think they’d all be in?”

He nodded. “Probably.”

“Find out for sure and I’ll sign us up.”

He tapped out a text. “Done. As soon as I hear back, we’ll need a kickass name.”

“Bitches and Bros.”

He took a sip of his Dr. Pepper. “No.”

I laughed. “Bats and Bras.”

“No.”

“Hot Dogs and Tacos.”

“No.”

“Okay, Boy Wonder, how about you come up with one?”

He thought for a minute while I popped a chip into my mouth.

“Crazy Pitches,” he said with an air of finality.

“Done.” It was perfect.

Our first game was that Friday. We hadn’t practiced, but everyone we had discussed at lunch was in. We determined we’d be meeting at the bar across from the fields an hour before game time. Quinn was in charge of rounding up her friends and communicating the times.

It was tradition to drink a few pitchers before and after each game, and my mind had been on Avery the entire week. Shit, my mind hadn’t left her since our moment in front of the fire at the engagement party, but knowing she was going to be on my team—knowing I’d have an excuse to hang out with her every Friday night for at least the next six weeks—lit up all of these unfamiliar feelings inside of me.

Andrew and Brandon were already halfway through their first pitcher when I arrived. “Hey!” They were both yelling and holding their cups in the air in a toast to me as I approached the table. I set down my bag holding my lucky bat, my glove, and a few softballs.

It looked like they were actually already a pitcher or two in. “You aren’t supposed to get drunk until after the game,” I said.

I glanced toward the door when it opened. The doors were shaded, so when they opened, a bright ray of sunshine caught my eye. Some hot girl walked through it, but she had long, dark hair. I was waiting for a girl with long blonde hair to walk through that door. I turned my attention back to the guys.

Wait.

I ignored a hot girl in favor of my friends?

I was
waiting
for Avery to walk through it?

What the fuck was that?

I poured myself a beer from their pitcher and turned my attention to the team roster.

I was doing my best to focus on the task in front of me instead of on Avery’s words from the night of the engagement party. They replayed in my mind for about the hundredth time since she had said them. “That way you’ll know what name to yell out once I finally get my shot with you.”

It had to have just been a flirtation. A silly joke.

But what if she hadn’t been kidding? What if she had been serious?

And why was I so goddamn excited to see her?

I slated each player where I figured they’d play best based on what I knew about everyone.

I’d be pitching, and Reed would be at shortstop. Quinn filled me in on who could play where, so I put Avery at second and my sister at first. By the time I filled in the other players, I found myself with an empty cup, so I refilled it.

And as I refilled it, the door opened again.

This time, a gorgeous blonde woman walked through it. She glanced around, and the door closed behind her as she flipped her sunglasses on top of her head. She had dark black smudges of eye black beneath her eyes (a little dramatic for co-ed softball, but sexy nonetheless). She was wearing a black tank top and pink mesh shorts. She had on hot pink knee-high socks and sneakers. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, and she looked athletic and beautiful all at once.

Her eyes met mine from across the room, and a grin immediately lit up my face. I waved her over, and she hoisted her bag on her shoulder, licked her lips, and walked toward me.

I glanced away, trying to play it cool, but she’d hooked me in. It was so strange; I had known her for years, but I’d never thought twice about her. And now here she was, and some strange feeling grabbed hold of my chest and wouldn’t let go.

I’d never had that reaction to a woman.

Not even with Rachelle.

What I’d had with Rachelle had certainly been love at first sight, at least for me, but I’d never felt the thunderous pang in my chest I felt when Avery’s eyes met mine. This was new territory, and it was terrifying.

I couldn’t do this with her. I couldn’t do that to my sister.

It wasn’t anything serious; it couldn’t be. I didn’t have that in me anymore. Rachelle had broken me beyond repair, and it was going to take more than a hot blonde with a raunchy promise to fix that.

“Hey, Avery,” I greeted, glancing back down at the roster. She’d be at second. That meant she’d be playing just behind me. That meant she’d be watching my every move.

Why did that suddenly intimidate me? I was a confident guy. I was a ballplayer. That was my
thing
. So why did the thought of the gorgeous Avery inspecting my every move suddenly have me nervous?

Goddamn, I wasn’t used to this shit.

Avery sat next to me, and her foot bumped mine.

I didn’t want to be a dick, but I also couldn’t admit I was feeling things for her I wasn’t prepared to be feeling.

So I moved my foot, playing it like I was going to change into my cleats anyway. I changed my shoes because it was something to do to keep busy.

“Hey, I’m Andrew,” I heard my friend introduce himself to Avery.

“Avery.”

I was busy tying my shoes—maybe a little tighter than was necessary—as they made their introductions.

“Avery. A beautiful name for a gorgeous girl.”

I rolled my eyes at Andrew’s cheesy line, but I felt a little stab of envy when I heard Avery’s giggle. I didn’t like witnessing the flirting between my friend and the girl who I was suddenly more interested in than I wanted to be.

Reed and Quinn arrived shortly after, and then the rest of the team slowly trickled in. We shared another couple of pitchers, and then it was time to head out to start warming up.

I was just having a hard time playing it cool in front of the girl who I was suddenly interested in.

Somehow despite our lack of practice, Crazy Pitches came out victorious. Of course that called for celebration.

We headed back to the bar and I ordered two pitchers – which was just about enough for everyone to have one beer. I already knew this was going to be a good season.

Avery claimed the seat directly next to me. “Great pitching,” she said.

“Great job on second,” I replied, taking a sip of beer. Goddamn, it went down smooth after a ballgame. “That was an awesome catch in the third inning.”

She shrugged and smiled.

“Have you played before?” I asked.

“Not for a long time. I played my freshman and sophomore year of high school. I always loved it, but then I stopped playing.”

“Why?”

“High school drama,” she said, looking down at her feet. I didn’t press for more, but it made me curious.

“I’m sure you know how that goes, especially since you teach it now.” I leaned back in my chair and crossed one leg over my knee.

She nodded and changed the subject. “Quinn said you played in college.”

“Shortstop.”

“Why did you pitch tonight, then?”

“Reed played short in college, too. Besides, pitcher does a lot in slow pitch ball.”

She leaned in close to me. I glanced around at our group. Veronica and Jesse were telling a story that had everyone laughing while Avery and I were in our own little world. I had to admit I kind of liked being in my own little world with her. “You looked hot pitching that ball tonight, Grant.”

I grinned. “You look hot in those pink socks.”

I was rewarded with a beautiful Avery laugh. “I think I’m going to enjoy playing softball this season.”

“I’ll make sure of it,” I murmured.

“Maybe you can help me with my batting practice.”

My raunchy response came naturally. “I’d be glad to show you how to hold it properly.”

“Do you have enough balls for something like that?”

Banter with Avery Peterson was entertaining.

I lowered my voice. “I’ve got plenty of balls. I don’t know if you could even handle all of my balls.”

I saw her eyes heat over with lust. “Play your cards right and you’re looking at a homerun.”

“You gonna hit it out of the park?”

She grinned. “You’re gonna hit it.”

“Avery!” Quinn called her attention away from me. I ignored my sister and focused on Avery for a minute. I liked flirting with her. I liked the way she looked at me.

And most of all, I liked how she made me feel.

We rejoined the group conversation, and slowly people started leaving. Jesse and Veronica were first. Jesse was a better player than I’d been told, and he killed it on third base.

I saw Andrew and Brandon hitting on some girls from another team at a table near ours.

Quinn and Reed took off next, that nearly-newlywed look in their eyes that disgusted the brother of the bride.

Reese and Jill left, and suddenly I found myself alone with Avery.

Our pitchers were empty and our friends were gone. There wasn’t really a reason for us to stay apart from getting to know each other.

She got up to use the restroom, and that’s when I really thought about what I was doing.

I was flirting with my sister’s friend. It was an all-around bad idea to get involved with her.

It had to just be lust. She was an attractive girl, and while I’d certainly noticed before, I was definitely seeing her in a new light. Maybe it was the fact that she was interested, or maybe it was the fact that I was horny. Whatever the case, it wasn’t right.

“You ready?” I asked when she returned. She nodded, and I bought us each a bottle of water for the car ride home.

I walked her to her car, which happened to be parked one row behind mine.

“Good first game,” I said, grinning at her as we approached her car.

“Awesome first game.” She popped her trunk and stuck her bag in it. She closed it and leaned against her bumper.

“If you need batting practice, just send me a text,” I joked.

“Will do.”

I leaned in a little closer to her, feeling a strange urge to kiss her even though I knew it was wrong. I could feel the heat from her body close to mine.

My eyes flicked down to her lips. They were full and they looked so soft.

I couldn’t help but imagine them against my own mouth, against my skin, trailing down, wrapping around my cock.

Jesus.

Her eyes flicked down to my lips and back up to my eyes.

Just from that, I knew she wanted me to kiss her. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t fuck her over. I had a pattern with women. She deserved better than what I was willing to give of myself.

So I leaned in, kissed her check, and bid her goodnight.

I headed to my car, dissatisfied with how I ended things even though I knew it was the right decision.