Page 44 of Pitcher Perfect (Big Shots #4)

Robbie sang at the top of his lungs to “Freak,” by Doja Cat, even though he was in gridlock traffic and people in the surrounding

cars were openly watching him, probably even taking pictures, if they recognized him. Robbie didn’t care. He was in love.

When the song ended, he reached into the bag Skylar packed him and took out the sandwich, unwrapping it and consuming half

of it with one bite. “She even makes good sandwiches,” he shouted around a full mouth. “I’m going to marry her.” He honked

at a middle-aged man in the Nissan to his right, leaning his head out the window. “I’m going to marry Skylar Page.”

Dude tapped his horn. “Good luck.”

“Thank you.” He swallowed the rest of the sandwich without chewing, then regretted it, because he only had one Skylar sandwich

in the car. “Dang.”

His phone rang where it sat charging in the cupholder.

Robbie picked up the device and looked at the screen. “Hauer again? Come on .” He answered. “What’s up, Hauer?”

“Corrigan. Sorry for the last-minute scramble. Practice is off.”

“What? I just drove from Rhode Island.”

“Yeah. Apologies. All this rain, there’s some issue with a leak at the arena. It’s not even near the ice, but there’s some liability bullshit that says we can’t be in-house while they’re making repairs.”

Hope and anticipation sparked. “Does this mean I can go back to Rhode Island?”

“Yes, but stand by for a possible practice tomorrow.”

“Ten-four, Hauer. Over and out.”

Robbie had barely ended the call when he started looking for the fastest way to turn around. To get back to her. He almost

sideswiped a minivan in his haste to reach the exit ramp, already imagining the softness of sleepy Skylar beneath him when

he crawled into bed with her. How she’d snuggle into him in those flannel sheets and breathe against his throat. God, he never

wanted to sleep any other way. He should stop and get flowers or something. No, forget flowers. He’d buy her some of those

gel pens for her planner. They carried those at gas stations, right?

He stuck a hand out the window, a silent plea to be allowed to cut in front of a truck in his quest to get off the freeway.

“Excuse me. Thank you,” he called to a driver in the next lane. Over and over until he was finally free of the traffic and

free to loop back in the opposite direction. Toward Skylar. The only direction he knew anymore.

Skylar had made a huge mistake.

Upon climbing into the passenger side of Madden’s truck, her heart lurched.

She tried to remind herself about what she’d seen on the website. How many women Robbie had probably made feel insignificant

when they were anything but. He hadn’t even taken the time to learn their names or see them as anything but bodies. She didn’t

doubt that he had serious romantic feelings for her. He did. But could a man go from having so much freedom to sow his oats

to... sowing them with one person?

Logic told her that was unrealistic.

Her chest told her yes. Yes, he could. He had . When they were in each other’s arms or looking each other in the eye, she had full faith. In remembering how perfectly her

soul felt complete around Robbie, she felt sick as Madden slowed to a stop at the first stoplight on the way into town. To

her left was the deli where she’d gotten sandwiches with Robbie. The sidewalk where he’d held her hand, made her feel protected

and special.

He makes me feel so special.

“Is the air on too high? You’re shivering,” Madden pointed out.

“No, I’m fine, I just...” She couldn’t deny the sudden urge to bring Robbie into the conversation somehow. To make him

present. “Just wondering if Robbie made it to Boston yet.”

Madden was silent while accelerating through the intersection. “Do you want to call him and ask?”

While I’m on my way to have a drink with another man? Probably the only man who could cause Robbie to feel insecure?

Wasn’t that the point?

Nausea roiled in Skylar’s stomach. “No, it’s fine. I’ll call him later.”

Madden said nothing for the rest of the drive, his silence doing nothing to decrease her nerves. After they reached the lot

of the bar and he parked, he circled around the back bumper and opened the door for her, holding out his hand to help her

down. There was no tingle, no leap of her pulse when her fingers slid into his palm, when he gripped her hand. There was nothing.

Not that she’d expected there to be electricity. Not anymore. But the total lack of anything resembling attraction only brought

home the fact that she’d come on this date for some kind of vindication. And she hated herself for it.

“Madden, I think I have to go. Can you take me home?”

His brow furrowed. “Is everything okay?”

“I just... I don’t think I should be on a date with you when I’m supposed to be with Robbie.

” Skylar squeezed her eyes shut. “No, not supposed to be. We are. I decided to trust him and I let my insecurities get the better of me at the first whiff of doubt and he deserves better than that. He really does.”

Madden’s energy slowly shifted into what could only be described as rigid discomfort. “Skylar, I think maybe you got the wrong

idea about this. It’s not a date.” He stared off down the row of cars, visibly searching for the correct words. “You’re a

wonderful girl. The best. But I think of you as... family, I suppose.” He shifted right to left and crossed his arms over

his middle. “This is about Eve.” His blue eyes lifted to meet hers. “To me, everything... is about Eve.”

Clarity was a bitch.

Her confusion gave way within seconds, parting like dark storm clouds to reveal the brightest clear blue sky imaginable, a

sun glaring at her from the very center.

Madden was in love with Eve.

Suddenly the way they looked at each other had new meaning. The way they’d looked at each other since high school . Which meant Skylar had been in love with a man who was in love with her best friend. For years.

Skylar held her stomach to keep it from imploding. Not out of jealousy or sadness or anything like that. She simply couldn’t

accept such stupidity from herself. Such a glaring lack of awareness. “Oh my God.”

“You didn’t know?” Briefly, he ducked his head. “I thought I was being so obvious.”

“Not to me.” Skylar marveled over the fact that in the space of a few minutes, Madden had gone from unwanted date to a man clearly lovesick for someone else.

It hurt in a way she couldn’t have expected, because she knew what he was experiencing, she’d been there herself, and unrequited love equaled agony.

Although her technicolor feelings for Robbie made her wonder if she’d ever truly been in love with Madden in the first place. “Have you told Eve how you feel?”

“She’d have to let me close enough first.” His throat moved with a swallow. “She runs from me.”

“Why?”

“If I had the answer to that, I’d do something about it.” He paused for a good ten seconds, his tongue tucked into his cheek

as if he was working up to something. “The reason I brought you here is to ask for your help. Eve has these two children in

her care now and she’s struggling to keep the club. The health insurance alone for three people...” He shook his head.

“If she took my name, they’d have it for free. My contract with the Yankees isn’t on par with some of the more established

catchers, Skylar, but it’s a damn good beginning. I could help her. I could provide for her. For them.”

Skylar took a moment to process all that, suddenly feeling very young in the face of the gigantic problems facing two people

she cared about deeply. And very silly for going out with Madden for a selfish and immature reason when she should have just

talked to Robbie about what was bothering her and resolved it like an adult. “I’ll talk to her for you, if that’s what you

want.”

Madden tipped his head forward on an exhale. “Thank you, Skylar. God knows she won’t talk to me these days.” After a beat,

he nodded at the car. “Should I take you home now so you can give your fella a call?”

“Yes.” Relief permeated her blood. “Yes, please.”

Skylar assumed everything would be fine.

They were home in a matter of ten minutes and she already had the evening mapped out.

Shower, get into her pajamas, and spend some quality time with her planner while she waited for Robbie’s practice to be over.

Then she’d call him and hear his voice and set about forgiving herself for slipping up.

But the night ended much differently, because when Madden pulled them into the driveway, Robbie was waiting for her on the

porch steps.