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Chapter twenty

Isabelle

I've never been one to be intimidated by a group of women. Especially not women I have already met. Today feels different, however. Because today is going to be the day I finally meet Kai's sister Evie.

At least I'll have Willow, Sadie, and Lark there as a buffer. Not that I should need one, after all, we aren’t a couple.

We’re just friends. Still I can't help but be nervous.

I've heard so much about Evie over the years, and I know they’re very close.

Which means I need to be extra careful to watch what I say.

Kai's eventual reply to the messages I sent him last night left me feeling in the dark about a lot of things. He said he was happy I was coming to the game and reminded me that Evie doesn't know we dated, and she'd probably assume we were college friends the way the rest of the girls do.

But when he didn't mention my last text, it made me feel unsettled. Did he not enjoy our night together? Is he regretting it? Have we somehow ruined any hope of being friends again just because we couldn’t control our freaking libidos?

As tied up in knots as I feel, I have to set aside all of that right now. I have to keep up the pretense of us only ever being friends and not let anyone know what happened two weeks ago.

I make my way down the steps to the block of seats right next to the team’s dugout, where Willow told me to meet everyone.

Apparently, it's rare for her to not have to work during a game, and when she does get the chance, she meets up with the other ladies to watch from the stands. Front row, but still, the stands.

Personally, I thought the box that Mom and I used for that first game was pretty sweet, but I can understand the appeal of being in the crowd full of fans, getting swept up in the excitement.

And that's exactly how it feels. I’m surrounded by a sea of Trident green and gold.

It’s a gorgeous, warm day, and the anticipation in the air is palpable.

The smell of popcorn and hot dogs is nostalgic and makes my stomach growl.

Down in the front row, I can see Sadie's bright red hair sticking out of a baseball cap and Willow’s tall body standing next to her.

I can only assume the dark ponytail on the other side of Sadie is Evie, Kai’s sister.

I don't see Lark anywhere, but then I hear her voice calling my name from behind me.

Stopping just a few rows above the women, I turn and wait for her to catch up, a baby wearing ear protection strapped to her chest.

“Hey!” she says, pulling me in for a quick side hug. “I’m glad you could come. This is Stella.” She turns so I can see a sweet little baby, fast asleep.

“She’s gorgeous.” I smile at the little one. “And clearly she doesn’t mind a noisy baseball stadium.”

“Heck no, I think the sounds of a game lull her to sleep.” Lark laughs as we walk the last few steps down to the others.

Willow’s closest and hugs us both. Then Sadie, and then…

“Isabelle, this is Evie,” Willow says.

Kai’s sister looks at me, a smile on her face that is so eerily similar to Kai’s. I’ve seen pictures of her, but in person, it’s different.

“It’s great to meet you. And I’m sorry for whatever stupid stuff you had to witness my brother doing in college. Please tell me you have some good stories that I can use against him later.” She grins, and again, it’s just like Kai’s.

I choke out a laugh. “I’m sure I can think of some.”

“Awesome. You’re sitting next to me so we can heckle him together.” She hip checks Sadie. “Do you mind moving down?”

“Of course not.”

Everyone shuffles down a seat, and the next thing I know, I’m sitting next to my ex-boyfriend’s little sister.

This should feel weird. Shouldn’t it? I expected it to. But apparently, the Yamaki siblings have a lot in common. More than just their appearance. Evie has the same ability as Kai to connect with someone instantly. It already feels like we’ve known each other for years, and we just met.

The team takes the field to warm up, and everyone starts to cheer.

It’s kind of adorable when the catcher, Dan Montgomery, jogs over to where we’re sitting and blows a kiss at Lark and his daughter.

The Tridents’ dugout is on the third baseline, making it the perfect position for Rhett Darlington, who I know is Kai’s best friend on the team, to also make his way over.

“Hey honey,” he calls out with his southern accent.

Evie slings her arm over my shoulder. “This is Kai’s friend from college, Isabelle. I’m gonna get her to spill all his secrets!”

I blush as Rhett chuckles. “Nice to sorta meet you, Isabelle.”

“Sorry about that.” Evie grins as Rhett jogs over to his position at left field to warm up with one of the other players.

“I’m just really excited to finally meet you.

I work over on Vancouver Island, so I’m not here all that often.

The downside to living out of town most of the time is I miss the good stuff.

When I heard the gossip that Coach Stirling’s new wife’s daughter was Kai’s college friend, I couldn’t wait! ”

Hearing my connection to Kai and the team described that way is a mouthful, but Evie’s exuberance is kind of endearing.

“It’s fine, it’s kind of fun to meet everyone and catch up on where his life is now. We haven’t seen each other in a long time.”

Evie studies me as she takes a drink from her water bottle. “It’s weird, I swear I’ve seen you before. I mean, I know we’ve never met, but I don’t know. You’re familiar, somehow.”

I have to bite my tongue from saying just how familiar she is to me. I’ve seen her photos in Kai’s college dorm room and his current apartment plenty of times. I’ve heard him talk about her lovingly. Heck, I’ve even been in the room when they’d have phone calls years ago.

I just shrug. “Maybe I’ve got one of those faces.”

Instead of letting it go, Evie’s eyes widen.

“Oh my God. Wait. Kai has a picture of the two of you on his dresser, doesn’t he?

It’s a strip of photos, actually. Like from a photo booth.

I remember seeing it one time when I was grabbing a hoodie to borrow.

” She leans back, folding her arms over her chest, and eyes me.

“You two looked a lot more than friendly in those photos. I tried asking him about them, but he just gave me shit for snooping.”

Crap. I look away, out at the guys on the field. My mouth goes dry. What the hell do I say? Pretending we were just friends is one thing, but outright denying the truth when I’m called out on it feels so much worse.

“Were you and my brother, like, together?” Evie leans in, her voice dropping lower.

I force myself to turn and face her. The crowd around us fades away as I nod. I can’t read her reaction. And that’s more than a little worrisome.

Until she breaks into a huge grin. “That’s so crazy! Wait, why does everyone think you two were just friends?”

“Because we worried it would be weird with my mom now married to his coach,” I say, glancing around, praying no one is listening in.

Thankfully, the other girls and the people behind us seem absorbed in their own conversations.

“Can we not talk about it here? Please?” I try to plead with my eyes, hoping she understands the importance of what I’m asking and why.

Given her quick nod, she does. And I breathe a sigh of relief, sinking back in my seat.

“But later, I want to know everything.” Evie leans in close, then snorts with a small laugh.

“Okay, maybe not everything. I’m starting to understand why he gets weirded out by Rhett and me.

Because thinking about my brother with you that way is kinda gross.

I like you, but…” She shudders, then smiles. “Your secret’s safe with me. Promise.”

I give her a grateful look just as the announcer asks everyone to stand for the singing of the national anthems.

It’s a very unique experience watching a professional baseball game from the front row, surrounded by the wives and girlfriends of the home team.

Very unique.

The guys keep flashing their smiles or waving at their respective partners, the cheers are even louder than I’m used to, and the good-natured heckling is hilarious. I can definitely see myself hanging out with Willow, Lark, Sadie, and Evie when I come to visit Mom in the future.

But then my damn brain has to betray me and point out the fact that someday, there will be someone else in my seat. Kai’s partner will befriend these women, and when I come to visit, I’ll just be…me. The head coach’s stepdaughter and Kai’s college friend.

When the game ends, with the Tridents winning by two runs, we all stay seated as the crowd around us leaves. Apparently, this is what they always do when the women watch from the stands. Once everyone’s gone, security will open the gate, and we can go through the dugout to find the guys.

I have to give Willow credit, she’s got exceptional hearing. And exceptional patience. Because it isn’t until the last person around us has gone that she leans forward and gives me a penetrating stare.

“So. You and Yami. I knew there was more to that story.”

Evie, maybe sensing my floundering or maybe just being protective of her brother, jumps in. “Willow, shh. No one can know. And how the heck did you hear that?”

Willow just smiles. “I’m the head of media relations. It’s my job to listen to everything when it comes to the team. And you weren’t all that quiet, Evangeline Yamaki. But I don’t think anyone else was paying attention, just me.”

“And me,” Sadie pipes up, flashing an apologetic look. “Sorry, Isabelle. I know you said it needed to be a secret, so I won’t say anything, but it was hard not to overhear.”

I cringe, suddenly panicking if the strangers behind us heard. Once again reading my reaction, Evie pats my arm. “It’s impossible to hear what’s being said in front of you, trust me. I’m sure no one else heard.”

“I didn’t, so could someone fill me in, please?” Lark leans over. “Isabelle and Yami?”

“Dated in college,” Evie replies. “I’ve already made her promise to share all the stories. Well, all the ones that are acceptable for a younger sister to hear.”

The women all laugh, and I force myself to relax. No one’s upset, and I have to trust Willow and Evie’s judgment when they say they aren’t worried about anyone overhearing.

“Please, just, don’t let it get back to Tony?” I ask, looking at them each in turn. “I don’t want it to be weird for Kai. Or my mom. Or Tony.” I wince. “I’ve got to live with them until I go back to Italy.”

Lark crosses her heart, well, as best she can over the baby carrier, and gives me a solemn nod. “We won’t say a word.”

The others all express their agreement just as a security guard comes over to open the gate onto the field. “Alright ladies, you ready?”

We file onto the field and immediately turn to take the steps down into the dugout and through to the hallway outside of the locker room. The sounds of the team filter through: laughter and upbeat conversation, as well as some very peculiar, yet somewhat familiar-sounding music.

“Who let Dan be in charge of the postgame tunes?” Lark groans. “He’s going through this very weird obsession with 1980s remixes.”

The door to the locker room opens, and the other ladies look expectantly over to see who it is. When Tony walks through the door, I try to make myself invisible against the wall.

“Ladies.” He gives the group a nod, then stops, his gaze zeroing in on me. One eyebrow raises, and then the smallest of smiles graces his face. “Hey Isabelle. Hope you had a good time.”

“She did,” Evie pipes up, then slams her mouth shut. Oh my God, could she be anymore obvious?

“Thanks, Tony, it was great.” I force a smile.

He nods. “Goodnight everyone.”

He walks away, and I swear, we breathe a collective sigh of relief.

“Evie girl, we have got to work on your poker face,” Lark mutters under her breath and we all burst out in giggles.

Crisis averted. But then the door opens again, and this time, it’s the players. And when Kai walks out and sees me with the others, his face softens for just a second before his cocky smirk is back in place.

In that second, I see an alternate reality, where there isn’t someone else taking my seat to watch the game. I’m there, wearing a jersey with Kai’s name on the back. And he’s coming up to me during warm-up, blowing kisses and flashing that smile that’s just for me.

I shake my head to clear the fantasy.

Because that’s all it will ever be.