"Come on in," Dani called back to him. "I assume you've already heard the news."
"What's that?" Rather than rehash my relationship woes, she slapped a crisp twenty-dollar bill in his palm. He stared at it, amused. "Normally, I have to dance for that kind of cash."
When his eyes met mine, a lightbulb went off. He looked down at the money and then back at me.
"You've got to be shitting me," he said, venom behind his words. "What did he do?"
"Jared—"
"Seriously, how did he mess this up? Because I'll—"
"Jared, stop."
He looked down at me, a fierce protective streak in his baby blue eyes. It was sweet to know he cared, that he had taken onsome sort of protective little brother role in my life. I had told Soren not to write him off as just another arrogant wannabe, and I was glad I had.
"Believe it or not, I think this one's on me. I miscommunicated something about me, and unfortunately, that hurt Soren in the process. But I want to fix it." He still didn't look like he believed me. "I promise, I don't need you to avenge my honor or anything like that. Okay?"
"Fine," he mumbled.
"Good. By the way, I'm excited to meet your mother this weekend."
As if a switch had been flipped, he morphed back into his usual bright and bubbly self. "She's excited, too. This will be her first trip to Oregon. Kayla, too."
"That's your sister?" He nodded.
For Mother's Day this weekend, many of the players and staff had invited their moms, grandmothers, sisters, and aunts. Dani and I had been coordinating with the event staff all week to create content featuring the players' female family members, even those that couldn't make it.
We talked with Pink for a few more minutes before he had to leave for batting practice. Just as I turned back to my desk to plan my day—and how I might apologize to Soren—his words stopped me.
"You know, when I made that bet, I didn't think it would end this way."
The corner of my lips kicked up. "I know."
"You're good for him," he said without a trace of humor.
"We're good for each other."
Soren
Roasters 18-10
Tomorrow was Mother's Day, and frankly, I had never been more excited to hug my mom. And sisters. My entire family was coming for tomorrow's game, which meant I had twenty-four hours to get my shit together and fix this mess between Clarke and me.
I'd felt like shit for going on a week now, from the second I'd walked out of Clarke's trailer after dropping the love bomb on her.
All my life, I had excelled at helping to solve other people's problems. When Shelby and Monty needed a place to stay, they moved in with me. When Mom needed the money for a new roof, I picked up a part-time job. When Pink wanted to beat the crap out of some ableist assholes, I stepped in. How was it that I could help them see through their issues, but when it came to my own, I went running every time? You would have thought that I might figure it out by thirty-four, though thinking about it now, I had my doubts that we ever truly figured it all out.
Here was what Ididknow: I loved Clarke Myers, I had fucked up royally with her, and I was prepared to grovel for however long it took to win her back.
I just needed to figure out the right way to do it.
"Did you pull your head out of your ass yet?"
I turned over my shoulder to see Pink staring expectantly back at me, fresh from the shower.
"Sorry?"
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to." He dropped his towel before slipping on a bright blue pair of boxer briefs. "You know, I used to look up to you, man. Ever since I was a kid. You were who I wanted to be when I grew up."
