He kissed the top of her head. “The day is just getting started. I have one more surprise up my sleeve for you today.” His gaze traveled to a few families with strollers lined up outside the front gate, chatting excitedly. “But first, we should try and squeeze in a quick peek at the animals you want to see before the chaos starts.”
“Let’s do the elephants and kangaroos, then I’ll be good.”
* * *
Tim’s second surprise also shocked her system. Arriving at the stadium where the Fresno Flying Squirrels minor league baseball team played, Gemma spied a queue several hundred people long snaking around the side of the facility.
Adults and children alike chatted animatedly. Many of them wore neon-green shirts and yellow hats.
Gemma’s eyes traveled to the man standing closest to the car, talking on his mobile. “Wait, the logo on the man’s shirt. It looks exactly like the Sloths’ logo.” Tim turned off the ignition and waited. She glanced at the shirt again, then back to him. “It is the same. It says Scottsdale Sloths. Why would the Sloths be in Fresno? Isn’t Scottsdale in Arizona?”
“Surprise! The Sloths are on a national tour holding open auditions for the team.”
Gemma was slow on the uptake. “So you brought us here to watch the Sloths’ tryouts?”
“Yes!” Tim’s enthusiasm hit a twenty out of ten. “I’m so excited for you to see it all. It’ll be just as much fun asCupid’s Arrow.There are three rounds before prospective players even get to show off their baseball skills. First, the Sloths ask to see someone’s dancing ability, then it’s all about karaoke, and finally, if a player does well enough to make it to round three, they progress to the trick showcase.”
“And what does the trick round entail?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” He winked.
Stepping out of the car, Gemma looked again at the line in dismay. They might have to wait several hours before they’d make it inside. Her shoulders hunched. “Where does the end of the line even begin? It looks almost as long as the Wimbledon ticket queue.”
“Lines are for the rookies. I’m a former player. I have connections.”
They sauntered right up to the front entrance, where Tim had a short conversation with the security team, then was let inside. He gestured for them to turn right and walk down toward the field.
“What time do the main gates open to the public?” Gemma asked.
“At ten.”
“And how long will the auditions run?”
“Until six.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Is that enough time to see all the prospective players?”
“I hope so.” Tim scratched his forehead. “My friends were telling me that this is the first year the Sloths asked people to register online. Theoretically, all the basic info should be in the system. Each person auditioning has a ninety-second limit to show the three judges what they’re made of. Then they’re scored from one to ten. The people with the highest scores at the end of two rounds move on to the final round.”
“I think I get it.” Gemma pecked him on the cheek. “And at least I’ll have my own resident expert by my side to break things down for me.”
“Definitely.” He puffed out his chest. “Let’s see if we can grab seats near the front before the gates open.”
Gemma shaded her eyes as they walked out toward the pristine emerald-green field to the lowest level. Tents had been erected with stages out front in three different areas of the field. White banners labeled each tent. There was one for registration, one for costume pickup, two for dancing, and two for singing.
“Timmy!” shouted two men in green shirts and white baseball trousers as they vaulted over the barrier between the field and the spectator area. Gemma stepped to the side as they clapped him on the back and mobbed him in excitement.
“The Flaming Bat is back in the house! Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?” one of the players asked. “We could’ve had a mini team reunion at dinner last night.”
“Because, Brett?.?.?.Timmy has an actual job.”
“I knew that!”
“Pfff, I doubt that.”
“Guys!” Tim exclaimed. “There’s someone I’d like to introduce you to.”
They froze, released him, and both turned to stare at Gemma. She held up her hand. “Hello.”
