Page 65 of Hard to Lose

“You’re not wrong.” I love the pride I hear in his voice.

“And the kids? How are those two munchkins?” I ask of his adorable fraternal twins.

“Getting big and growing up faster than I ever thought was possible.”

“Who would’ve thought that one day I’d be talking to Easton Wylder and listening to all the love in his voice when he talks about his wife and kids?” And I mean it. It’s insane and awesome at the same time, how finding Scout changed everything about him in all the best of ways.

“Scary, huh?”

“Very.”

“You’re next.”

“Funny. Very funny, Wylder.”

“And this is where you change the topic, because you’re silently freaking out on the other end of the line.” I don’t say a word because he’s right. So damn right, and I refuse to give him the satisfaction of knowing it. Instead, he bursts out laughing. “See? I was right. You are freaking out. I’ve been there, Chase. If it makes you feel any better about how much life changes in a short time, it feels like just yesterday I was single and hitting on you.”

“Hardly.” I snort. “I was too young for you and much wiser than my years to know better than to do anything more than have a couple of shots in a bar with a professional athlete.”

“Smart girl, but I think somewhere along the line your sisters missed that memo,” he says. Yep, the irony that my three sisters are all attached to athletes.

“Clearly,” I deadpan but grin. “And the broadcasting gig is going well? You’re happy with how it’s all going?”

“Yes, to the first question and yes, I’m still with that bastard of an ex-boyfriend of yours to the second question.” He laughs over our inside joke in regards to Finn Sanderson. “No, I’m not transferring agencies.”

“One of these days you will,” I tease, only partially disappointed I’ve yet to pull Easton over to KSM. He’s a rarity in my business. Genuine, professional, kind, and trouble free. Plus, he’s highly sought after—just what I love in a client. “But that’s not why I called you.”

“What’s up?”

I spend the next few minutes explaining about The Center and Gunner and picking his brain on the best way to find them donations or help. How to get them on an MLB team’s radar for a possible sponsorship.

“Sounds like a great program. Let me look into some of the resources I use with the foundation Scout and I set up, and see if they can help narrow down the best places for you to look.”

“Really? I was merely asking for advice, I didn’t expect you to pull any strings or ask a favor of you.”

“I know, but it’s for kids and under the circumstances, all of us owe them our all given what they’ve sacrificed for our country.”

“You’re the best, Easton. Thank you.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

I’m just about to put the phone down when it rings in my hand.

“Kelly!” I say to the empty room when I see his name on the screen, and then answer. “Hi.”

“That’s a very enthusiastic greeting if ever I heard one,” he says through a laugh.

“It was?”

“It was.” I can see him nodding. “And you have every right to be preemptively enthusiastic, because I found your man.”

“You did?” I clap my hands together like a little kid. “Tell me everything.”

“I’m sending it over in an email right now. Where to find him. All about his background—”

“You did a full PI background on him without me even asking? Thank you, Kell,” I say, scrambling to get my computer and download the email despite the hotel’s shitty Wi-Fi service.

“I figured you’d want every in on how to find him.”