Swing and a Kiss: Carolina Waves Series Book 4

by Tina Gallagher

  “Shit, I didn’t think it hit you that hard.”

  Jack whistled. “Wow, that really got you. You know it’s a good one when you can see the seams.”

  I put my shirt back into place and shrugged.

  “I’ll ice it again later, pop some Advil, and be good to go in the morning.”

  Jack snorted. “More like, it’ll still hurt like hell but you’ll play through it tomorrow.”

  “Either way, I’ll be on the field tomorrow.”

  “Can’t show physical weakness to the young guys.”

  “Speaking of, what is up with that Moss kid?” Dan directed the question to Jack.

  “No clue, but he’s a cocky little prick. I can’t believe Mr. Hanover didn’t trade him after that stunt last year.”

  Derek Moss is the shortstop for the Fayetteville Waves. So chances are if he keeps doing well, he’ll end up being Jack’s replacement in a few years. Last year, Jack got put on the injured list after a collision with a runner resulted in a slight concussion. Normally when he gets a day off Oskar Marquez shifts over from second to short. But since Jack was going to be out for an extended time, they called up Moss.

  The kid did all right but he’s too much of a hot dog at shortstop to be effective long-term. He also talks a lot of smack to the opposing team and gets into fights, which is a big no-no as far as Mr. Hanover is concerned. And, as if those two things weren’t enough reason for him to be at the top of the trade list, when he got sent back down after Jack came back, he didn’t go quietly. He plastered his social media with pictures of himself sitting outside the Triple A stadium with the caption, “Stuck in Fayetteville.”

  “It’s a shame. He has a lot of potential. If he’d listen and pay attention, he could be great,” Dan said.

  “I tried with him the first year he was down here, but after that pretty much ignored him unless he approached me.” Jack took a long drink of beer then smirked as he swallowed. “And I might have mentioned that I have my agent negotiating for an eight-year contract when he was nearby.”

  “He must have lost his shit when he heard that,” I said.

  “He definitely didn’t look happy. I think he’s expecting me to leave when my contract is up at the end of the year and that’s definitely not happening. You guys done?” he asked, pointing at the containers.

  Dan and I nodded, easily following his change in topic. But since he’d brought up his contract renewal, I asked, “So what kind of contract are you looking for?”

  “Another three or four years. Whatever works out better.” He stacked the empty containers on top of one another and closed the others. “If he wants to stay with the Waves and has half a brain, he’d talk about shifting over to second so he can move up and take over Oskar’s spot when he retires after next season.”

  “He’s cocky enough to think he’s gonna bump you out,” Dan said.

  “Well, that’s not happening for a few years.” He stood and collected the stack of empty containers and walked to the kitchen and dropped them in the trash. “Hell, he’s lucky I found Hannah or I’d probably hang on forever.” He chuckled.

  “It’s weird, isn’t it?” Dan asked.

  “What?” Jack and I said in unison.

  “Talking about the end.” We nodded, looking so solemn you’d think we’re at a funeral. “You watch guys play their last game all through your career and somehow block it out, thinking it’ll never be your turn. But then you blink and it’s right there.”

  “We are damn lucky though,” Jack said. “Making a living playing the best game in the world.”

  “Yeah, and we were fortunate to have played our whole career with the Waves,” Dan added. “Mr. Hanover can be tough but he’s fair and he values experience. As long as you can perform, he’ll keep signing you no matter your age.”

  And thank God for that.

  Maybe Jack and Dan have moved toward planning their exit from the game but I’m still in the hang on forever category. I’ll play as long as the Waves will have me. What else am I going to do with my time? Hang out by myself at the ranch? I mentally shrugged. Maybe Penny and Kenny will get married and give me a bunch of nieces and nephews I can spoil because right now, a family isn’t on my horizon.

  Karen

  * * *

  Chloe filled the blender with ice then added heavy pours of tequila and triple sec and topped the mixture off with lime juice. She pushed the button on the small appliance and the sound of the whirring machine and crunching ice drowned out everything else in the kitchen.

  I finished rimming three glasses with salt as the noise of the blender stopped.

  “Just in time.” She popped the jar off the blender and filled the three glasses with her famous margaritas then stashed the rest in the freezer. “How are the nachos coming?”

  Glancing over my shoulder, I watched our friend Hope sprinkle cheese over tortilla chips she’d topped with seasoned meat, lettuce, tomato, and guacamole. My stomach growled at the sight.

  “Voila!” She held up the platter for us to admire before bringing it into the living room and setting it on the coffee table.

  I picked up two of the margaritas and three plates and followed her, then handed her a drink before plopping onto the couch. She settled into the chair across from me and licked at the salty rim before taking a sip.

  “Mmm Chlo, amazing as always.”

  “Thank you,” Chloe said, as she sat on the other end of the couch, her own drink in hand, which she held up and waited for us to do the same. “To good friends and the perfect storm.”

  Hope and I echoed her toast before we each took a drink.

  I placed my glass on the table and handed out the plates, which we each filled with loaded nachos.

  “I still can’t believe you’re both here,” I said.

  When Chloe toasted to “the perfect storm” she was referring to the fact that both she and Hope are in town at the same time. I’ve been friends with them since junior high but they go back further than that. Once I started dating Jason, they took me into their fold and we’ve been inseparable since. That is until Chloe started traveling regularly for her job and Hope moved to Manhattan to work as a makeup artist at a swanky salon.

  Hope comes to visit her parents whenever she can, but that usually ends up being when Chloe is away for work. So anytime the three of us are in town at the same time, we make the most of it. And since my parents whisked Jeremy off to Orlando this afternoon, we can have a true girls’ night. In fact, the ladies are spending the night so they don’t have to worry about getting home.

  “Okay ladies, spill. What’s been going on since I was here last?” Hope asked.

  She already filled us in on her fancy-schmancy life and the pseudo-celebrities she runs with in the city. Not to mention the hot guy she’s been dating for the past six months. If they’re still together the next time she comes to town, she promises to bring him along so we can meet. Things must be feeling serious if she’s even thinking about that.

  Chloe jumped in, sharing the news she’d told me earlier in the week.

  “I got a promotion at work. In addition to working with regions throughout the country, I’ll also be handling some of the international sites as well. I’m going to Switzerland next month and I’m so excited.”

  Hope finished chewing a chip and swallowed, then took a drink.

  “You know, I feel like you’re the Chandler Bing of this group. You know, like from Friends.”

  “I know who Chandler Bing is, I just don’t know why I’m him,” Chloe said.

  “Because I know you make big bucks but I don’t have a clue what it is you do for a living, even though you’ve told me a million times.”

  “I’m a market research analyst. How hard can that be to remember?”

  Hope shrugged and took another sip of her drink before setting the empty glass on the table. “That went down too fast.” She stood and smiled. “Let’s see if I can take my time with the next one.”

  Th
at said, she skipped into the kitchen and retrieved the rest of the margaritas from the freezer. She refilled each of our glasses before settling back onto the chair with her legs tucked beneath her.

  “Any men worth discussing?” The question was directed at Chloe of course. Hope knows I never have anything to share in that department.

  Chloe shrugged. “Not really. I met a guy on one of my trips to Chicago and we spent some time together the last few times I was there. He’s left me a couple messages, but I haven’t called him back yet.”

  “Why not?” I asked.

  “What’s the point? He’s divorced and has two kids so if we did get involved, it’s not like it can go anywhere. He wouldn’t be able to move here and there’s no way in hell I’d live in the Windy City.” She took a drink and shook her head as she swallowed. “We had fun but it’s time to cut ties before any real feelings get involved.”

  I opened my mouth to ask another question but then caught myself and took another drink. Chloe doesn’t do long-term relationships. One lucky guy made it to the six-month mark but that was right when she started traveling for work, so they probably only spent two of those months in the same city.

  It seems crazy to me, but that’s okay. She finds it bizarre that I’ve only dated one person my entire life.

  “And what about you? How’s the world of real estate?” Hope directed her attention to me.

  “Good. Busy. It’s a seller’s market so I feel like I’m always rushing clients from one showing to another. But if I don’t the decent properties get snatched up.”

  She nodded at my answer, then in a semi-related story, told us about her parents' new neighbors. Once she was finished, Chloe smirked and said, “You didn’t ask Karen if there are any men in her life.”

  Hope’s eyebrows raised and she shifted her rounded eyes between my sister-in-law and me trying to figure out if Chloe was being serious.

  “Our little girl has an admirer.”

  Shifting in her chair, Hope wrapped both hands around her glass and looked at me over the rim.

  “Do tell,” she said before taking a sip.

  I shook my head and smiled. What I really want to do is reach over and slap Chloe upside the head, but I’ll keep my hands to myself.

  “It’s nothing,” I said.

  “It’s not nothing.” She looked over at Hope. “It’s Dale Montgomery. Apparently he’s asked her out multiple times since Jeremy started rubbing elbows with the Waves.”

  “Dale Montgomery?” Hope whispered. I nodded. “Shut the fuck up!” She shifted onto her knees. “When? Where did you go? What happened?”

  “See?” Chloe looked at me with a satisfied smirk. “That’s the reaction most people have. They don’t turn him down.”

  “You turned him down? Why?” Hope screeched.

  “Honestly, I’m not even sure what I said when he first asked me out. I must have just said I was busy or something because he didn’t think twice about asking me out again.”

  I tried to remember why I turned him down, but other than being scared shitless, no good reasons come to mind. I’m thirty-four years old and Jason is the only man I’ve ever dated. Ever kissed. Ever had sex with. The thought of putting myself out there is terrifying. I’ve never really been out there.

  Shaking my head, I said, “I know you both think I should start dating again, but do you really think Dale Montgomery is a good first candidate? That’s like skipping a bike with training wheels and hopping right onto a Harley.” I shook my head. “He’s not the first man who’s asked me out since Jason died, but he’s definitely the last I should go with.”

  They shared a look then turned to me.

  “You said yourself he’s a nice guy,” Chloe said. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

  I can fall in love with him and get my heart broken.

  But instead of sharing that thought, I said, “It doesn’t matter because he hasn’t asked me out since last season.”

  “Of course not. You turned him down every time he did,” Chloe pointed out. “What?”

  “What?” I asked.

  Her eyes shifted to Hope. “You see it?”

  Hope nodded. “Yep,” she said, ending the word with a dramatic pop.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “There’s something you’re not telling us,” Chloe said.

  Sometimes it really sucks when people know you too well.

  I rested my head against the back of the couch and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before answering.

  “Hannah invited me to his birthday party tomorrow.”

  “You’re going!” they said in unison.

  Letting out a short sigh, I looked between them and said, “I’m not sure I should.”

  “Why not?” Hope asked.

  “First of all, it’s his birthday and only his close friends are going to be there. And second, he doesn’t know she invited me. What if he doesn’t want me there?”

  “I’m sure Hannah wouldn’t have invited you if she thought that was the case,” Chloe pointed out. “You said they’re all pretty tight, right?” I nodded. “Then she’d know.”

  They both looked at me with such hopeful expressions, I don’t know what they’d do if I said I wasn’t going. And honestly, I don’t want to say that. The invitation has been buzzing through my brain since Hannah issued it.

  I admit that Dale makes me feel all mushy inside in a way I haven’t since Jason. It might be interesting to explore that even if the thought scares the hell out of me.

  Taking in a deep breath I let it out slowly as my friends continued to stare at me.

  “Okay, I’ll go.”

  “Yes!” Chloe said as she launched herself across the couch to envelop me in a bear hug.

  Not one to be left out, Hope jumped off the chair and wrapped her arms around me from the other side.

  “What time is the party?” she asked.

  “Six o’clock at Rudy’s Place.”

  “I’ll be over at four to do your hair and makeup and figure out an outfit.” Hope pulled back and her eyes scanned my face. “I have so many ideas. I’m so excited,” she added then squeezed me tighter.

  Now that the decision has been made and hair, makeup, and clothes are being planned, I need to figure out what kind of gift to get the man who can buy himself anything he wants.

  Chapter 5

  Karen

  * * *

  I sat on the edge of my bed, eyes closed, and practiced my yoga breathing. Taking in a deep breath through my nose, I exhaled slowly through my mouth with a haaaaa… sound. Over and over, I repeated the process, trying to calm my riotous nerves.

  Everything was fine while Chloe and Hope were here. It felt like a getting-ready-for-prom party but once they left, the reality of what I’m about to do had me bordering on a panic attack. Hence the breathing.

  I opened my eyes and eased into more natural breaths and mentally talked myself down. Honestly, tonight is no big deal. I’m just having dinner with some acquaintances. I have lunch meetings with clients all the time. I can do this. It’s not like it’s a date or something.

  But, what if—

  Nope.

  I cut off that thought before I could finish it. Jumping up, I headed toward the bathroom to give myself a quick once-over in the mirror.

  Tracing a pinky under my bottom lip, I straightened the line of my lipstick, debating on whether I should wipe it all off. My lips are usually just covered with the slight sheen of Blistex, but Hope applied a Sassy Mauve stain that makes them look huge. The two coats of dark brown volumizing mascara she added to my short pale lashes make my eyes seem larger too. She even filled in my normally-blonde eyebrows with a light brown pencil so you can actually see them.

  As if the makeup wasn’t enough, she’d also curled my straight hair then finger-combed and sprayed until it fell in sexy waves over my shoulders. And the turquoise and white maxi dress Chloe brought is a little lower cut in the front than I normall
y wear, but she insisted it looks great.

  Honestly, I barely recognize the woman in the mirror.

  “I can’t go out looking like this,” I said to my reflection as I reached for a makeup wipe.

  My cell buzzed as my hand hovered over the package.

  You look AMAZING!!! Don’t think about changing a thing!!! Go have fun!!!

  “Geez Chlo, exclamation point much?” I said to my phone.

  It buzzed again. This text was from Hope.

  Do NOT touch your hair or makeup! You look AMAZING!

  The timing of their texts makes me assume they’re together somewhere. It also makes me wonder if they’re spying on me through my phone's camera.

  I dropped my hand, resigned to the fact that I’ll be attending the festivities looking like a clown. Because if I did change something, they’d somehow know and I’d never hear the end of it. I picked up my phone and answered their texts with a thumb’s-up emoji.

  Picking up the clear gloss Hope had given me with strict instructions to reapply every couple hours to make my lips shine, I walked back into the bedroom and slipped on a pair of white strappy sandals.

  I grabbed the small white clutch off the nightstand and headed for the kitchen. There’s no way I’m lugging around my everyday purse with me tonight. Instead, I opened the massive tote and pulled out my wallet, tissues, and tin of cinnamon Altoids and stuffed them into the clutch along with the lip gloss.

  With nothing left to do, I grabbed the gift bag off the counter, tucked the clutch under my arm and, with keys in hand, headed out to the garage. The restaurant is only about ten miles away but it’s through a high-traffic area so I made sure to give myself enough time so I’m not late. I figured if traffic is light, I could always drive around the block or wait in the parking lot so I don’t arrive too early either.

  But, true to form, the traffic on the way went in starts and stops and I pulled into the parking lot at six o’clock on the dot. I turned off the car and prayed Hannah’s already inside. I don’t want to arrive before her and have to explain why I’m there.