“She’s heading into her first year at Copper Valley University,” Duncan supplies.
I remember him talking about his older sister and how much he adored his niece. He must be happy that she’ll be close.
And that is none of my business.
Friendlyisn’t a word I would’ve used to describe our interaction the other day, which is for the best.
Waverly keeps smiling her kind smile. “Oh, how wonderful that you’ll have family nearby. What are you studying?”
“Sports management.” Paisley’s voice is still barely more than a whisper.
“No. Way. For real? You have to meet Addie. She’s a coach for the Fireballs.” Waverly turns her smile on me.
I used to think it was her pop-star smile, but it’s not.
It’s her normal smile. She doesn’t hold anything back when she smiles.
“Hi, Paisley,” I say with a smile of my own, though mine is definitely more reserved.
“Duncan, you know Addie?” Cooper asks while Paisley whispers a soft, “That’s fire,” and shakes my hand.
“We’ve met,” I say shortly in answer to Cooper’s question.
Fucking Cooper.
He knows we’ve met. And the mischief dancing over his face says he’s about to have fun figuring out why Duncan dropped me off at the ballpark a few days ago. With my arm in the shape it was in, Cooper didn’t push for details.
That courtesy is apparently over now.
“Was it a nice meeting?” he asks.
“I’m the reason she’s in a sling,” Duncan says.
Even Paisley snaps out of it to look at him.
“He isnotthe reason I’m in a sling,” I say to Cooper.
“I am.” Duncan’s voice is so cool it could freeze antifreeze.
“Odds are extremely high that I would have dislocated my shoulder regardless of who was in the vicinity.” I’m still talking to Cooper.
Pretty sure Duncan is too. “I pulled too hard trying to get her out of the dress.”
“In a dress store while I was trying on a dress that I knew was a bad idea.”
“I had a pocketknife on me that would’ve been more efficient.”
For the love of the baseball gods. I snap a look at him. “You can’t just cut up a dress in a store.”
He shifts his gaze to me, cool as ice. “Why not?”
“It went on. It could come off.”
“Clearly not.”
“And then you have to pay for it.”
“Oh, dear me. How would I have ever afforded to pay for a dress that I cut off a woman in a dress store? I’m so broke. It would’ve left me destitute and homeless.”
