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Chapter fourteen

Griffin

“ Y ou’ve got a little extra oomph in your twist today,” Adrian says. “Did you finally get some good news?” he asks, waggling his eyebrows.

I glare at him and throw the medicine ball across my body at the wall again before acknowledging his question. “Possibly,” I evade, although I’m sure the smile I’m fighting is confirmation enough.

The smile that hasn’t left my face since I talked to Danae last night.

Five days of sweating over her silence made her affirmative answer that much sweeter when it finally came.

Honestly, I haven’t really had to wonder whether the women I’ve asked out in the past would say yes or not.

Sure, I questioned whether they were genuinely interested in me but never whether they would say yes to a date.

For a couple of days there, I was convinced that Danae was going to turn me down.

So, yes, I’ve got a little extra oomph in my twist today.

Before I can pass the medicine ball to him, Adrian annoyingly pats my cheek. “She really agreed to go out with your ugly face?”

I shove him away. “Yes, she did. We’re going out Saturday night.”

Adrian hollers in celebration, drawing the attention of the rest of the guys in the weight room.

Our infield players make up a pretty tight-knit group of friends, so everyone came to work out today.

Drew Sheffield, our first baseman, Luke Powers at second, and our catcher, Carlos Diaz, all make their way over to Adrian and me .

“What’s the cheering about? Did West finally manage more than three medicine ball throws in a row?” Luke teases.

I shoot him a look. “Very funny. You know I kept up with you the second the training staff cleared my shoulder.”

“Just kidding, man,” he says, fake jabbing my ribs. “We’re all glad you’re back for the start of the season. For real, though—what’s the cheering about?”

Adrian grins impishly at me, and pretty soon Drew catches on and points one finger at Adrian’s smile and one finger at me. “ Ooo , this has to be about a woman! West, you sly dog, what aren’t you telling us? Is Lily gonna have a new WAG to assimilate?”

Drew’s wife, Lily, is the self-appointed welcome committee for any wives and girlfriends of Crowns players.

And the ongoing social chair for the group.

She’s grounded, easy-going, and friendly, so Lily’s exactly who I’d want to welcome Danae to the WAG club.

But I’m getting way ahead of myself, probably due to the overreactive enthusiasm happening all around me.

Their pestering increases in volume and exuberance until I finally yell at them. “Shut your loud mouths if you want me to tell you.” They decrease the volume but continue their laughing and teasing. “I have a date this Saturday that I’m excited about. That’s all.”

“You’re not usually so evasive about going on dates. What makes this one special?” Carlos asks. He rests his chin against his fists and exaggeratedly bats his eyelashes. “Tell us about her.”

I smack the back of his head slightly harder than necessary. “Stop it, dummy.” They continue snickering and not returning to their workouts, so I decide to get this over with. “Her name is Danae. I met her through Camp Wizard a couple of weeks ago.”

Quickly filling them in with sparse details, I give enough information to get them off my back without sharing too much about Danae.

She seems like more of a private person, and protecting Jason’s story is definitely something that would be important to her.

So I’m quick to shut down further questions and shove everyone back to their weight machines.

“You’re fired as my friend,” I mutter to Adrian, who merely cackles .

“Whatever, man,” he says. “You could never live without me. Let’s hit those throws. You've gotta keep that bod in shape for your lady.”

“She’s not my lady,” I correct with a roll of my eyes.

Adrian’s eyes twinkle. “Not yet .”

Pacing in the living room, I check my watch. “Hurry up, Sam!” I yell.

“Coming!” Her faint voice calls back from her room upstairs.

“You’re not even the one getting dressed for a date! What’s taking you so long?” I holler again.

Sam appears at the top of the stairs and jogs her way down. “I was getting a couple of things ready for Jason tonight.” She holds up a deck of cards.

“Please don’t teach the kid Texas Hold’em. Danae will never see me again if she comes home from our date to find Jason dealing poker hands,” I say.

Sam walks over to me and pinches my cheeks. “Don’t worry, I’d never do anything to ruin your shot with Danae.”

“Knock it off.” Smacking her hands away, I smooth down my beard.

She smiles at me, a genuine smile instead of her sassy smirk. “The beard trim looks good. As does the suit. Knocking her dead is your strategy, huh?”

“My only strategic move for tonight is taking her somewhere we won’t get the overblown attention she witnessed at the bookstore. I want time to talk and really get to know her better without all the distraction. To try and figure out what it is about her that I’m so drawn to,” I say.

Sam smirks. “You really don’t know why you’re so enthralled by her?”

I quirk an eyebrow. “What, like you do?”

She huffs a laugh. “Of course, I do. But I’ve always known you better than you know yourself. I’m gonna give you a little time to try and figure it out on your own. ”

“I thought you said you wouldn’t do anything to ruin my shot?

Why not clue me in?” I grumble. Sam shakes her head.

Her antagonism is making me antsy. And I was already infinitely more nervous for this date than any past date, ever.

My nerves are on par with my first game back after rehabbing my injury.

I subconsciously reach up to massage my left shoulder, even though it feels fine.

Sam’s hand squeezes mine on my shoulder, calling my attention to her eyes, which are warm, not teasing. “Stop worrying. I think this is a good match for you. Danae’s a real one.”

“I know. I think that’s what’s making it more nerve-wracking,” I admit. She gives me a sympathetic look. “Let’s go.”