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I move to take his place at the stand, glancing around to make sure no other teammates or trainers are nearby.

“Yeah,” I admit. “I mean, I want there to be potential there. She intrigues me. We haven’t spent a ton of time together, but the impression I get from her is that she’s the type of woman I’d want a relationship with for the long haul. I want to find out if that’s true, but I don’t know if Danae could see any kind of future with me.”

“You won’t know unless you ask. It’s clearly eating at you. I understand that you’re thinking it through, but don’t think too long,” Adrian says. “We leave for Arizona in a little over a month. And we both know how hectic life will be once the season starts. If you’re serious about Danae, you've gotta give her enough time to come around to the idea before we leave town.”

Huffing my way through a set of triceps dips is the perfect excuse to delay responding. But as soon as my feet drop to the floor, Adrian gives me a pointed look when I glance over.

“I know.”

ME

Hey Danae, it’s Griffin. I was wondering if I could swing by sometime this weekend to talk to you about something?

I zoom in to enlarge the words, triple checking that the voice-to-text got everything right. I hit send and practically throw my phone across the table. After training wrapped up, I arrived home just in time to get another lecture from Sam before she left to meet a friend for dinner.

Her pressuring logic sounded eerily similar to Adrian’s. So much so, I’d almost think they’re actively coordinating their efforts. Regardless, their individual or collective methods worked, and I decided to take their advice.

I’ll shoot my shot, and at least I’ll know one way or the other if I have any chance with Danae.

My brain needs to free up some focus for training. I need to either take Danae out or move on if she’s not interested. Although, I have a niggling feeling that the holding pattern of my thoughts might continue to hover around her regardless of which way this goes.

No notifications ping through on my phone. I click it open and see that my message is read. But no reply. I get antsy standing around waiting for her response, so I move to my home gym. Lifting weights beats pacing a three-foot area while staring at my phone.

The more minutes that tick by with no text back, the more frenetic my energy grows. I channel it into squats since we focused on upper body at training today. When my phone finallypingsfifteen minutes later, I almost drop the barbell. After carefully securing the bar in the rack, I pick up my phone.

DANAE

I’m going to be honest—I will lose my mind if we wait until this weekend to talk about whatever it is you’re wanting to talk about. Could you text me about it now?

I’m sorry. I know that’s pushy. My thoughts tend to spiral to worst-case scenarios whenever someone sends me a “Can we talk?” text. I won’t be able to focus at school tomorrow, and I have kindergarteners, so focus is a must.

I fight a smile at her response. I picture her pacing her small living room, staring at the phone trying to work up the courage to send those texts. The thought makes me smile even bigger.

ME

Sure thing. I didn’t mean to worry you. Just wanted to talk in person. I could swing over there now if you’re free?

Three dots bounce and disappear, bounce and disappear. Finally, her response comes through.

DANAE

Um, sure, ok. I’m getting ready to read to Jason in bed, but if you get here in like thirty minutes, he should be asleep by then. The kid’s a cliff sleeper.

ME

That works. I’ll text you when I arrive so you can let me know if you’re ready or not. And you’ll be explaining what in the world a cliff sleeper is.

DANAE

Deal.

I rush to take a quick shower and style my hair. I decide on jeans and a plain long-sleeved t-shirt rather than anything branded with the Crowns logo. If I’m going to convince her to go on a date, I think I need to come across as much like a normal guy as possible. Not a baseball player.

Fifteen minutes later, I park in the same visitor spot as last night. I send a text letting Danae know I’m here, and then I wait.

And wait.

I drum the steering wheel on beat to the music, trying not to wonder what’s taking so long. It’s only been thirty-five minutessince Danae texted me to come over. Jason may be taking longer to go to sleep than usual. Or they got caught up reading. That wouldn’t surprise me at all.