Page 1 of Bad Run

Prologue

Gwen

“Holy hot guys in baseball pants. That was amazing.” My best friend, Jenna—ever the dramatic actress—exhales as she collapses into the leather seat beside me, with her arms over her eyes.

“J, you act as if you haven’t been to a baseball game before.” I bite back a grin and roll my eyes at her. Jenna has been my best friend since the moment we met. She was decorating our dorm room with pictures of Chris Evans and Helen Miran when I walked in with my suitcases.

Let’s just say, she had me at Captain America, who is gorgeous and looks like my long-time crush.

Jenna squeals as she sits up and shimmies. “G, this wasn’t just any baseball game. It was the World-freaking-Series, and the Evaders won.”

“True,” I admit with a chuckle.

Before me, she knew nothing about baseball. Now she’s a huge fan and rocking a brand-new Evaders jersey, bouncing in her seat like a kid on Christmas morning.

After thirty years, the Los Angeles Evaders have finally won the World Series. And it was one hell of a game.

Cameron Miller pitched seven hitless innings, breaking the league record with eighteen strikeouts in a single World Series game. Nico Romero, the catcher, hit a three-run homer during the ninth inning. And to put the cherry on top of the sundae, our first baseman, Lance Taylor, made a crazy, super-stretch catch to nab the final out, clinching the win.

If my grandfather, good old Ted Montgomery Sr., were here, he’d be ecstatic. Being the owner of the Evaders was his greatest accomplishment in life. He put his job above all else, even his family.

My dad, Ted Montgomery Jr., is like my grandfather when it comes to his pride for his baseball team, but not his family. Ted Jr. adores his family. Even after my grandfather passed and Dad took controlling ownership of the team, he prioritized us as much as he could.

Although I prefer Evaders Stadium, the view from the opposing team’s luxury suite is amazing. I lean back in my chair and watch the fireworks shoot across the sky as the team goes wild celebrating their win. It’s a shame they won here in New York and not at home in LA.

Jenna bumps me with her shoulder. “Did you see that last play? I didn’t know men could stretch like that. Taylor practically did the splits. No wonder you’ve got a crush on him. Can you imagine what else that man could stretch? Hell, I’d let him stretch me out if he wanted to,” Jenna teases.

I can feel my cheeks heat as I picture Lance stretching me out. Legs wide, his face only millimeters from my aching core …

“Ha! You’re totally thinking about it right now.” She shoves me in the shoulder again, popping my dirty daydream bubble.

“Stop,” I hiss as her shoulders shake with stifled laughter.

“What? All I’m saying is, I see the appeal.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me.

“I am never telling you anything again,” I whisper-yell at her, looking around to make sure no one else is listening.

Jenna barks a laugh. I shrink into my chair, with my cheeks pink and heart racing.

My best friend is the worst.

She knows way too much private information and at any time can use it against me.

“Relax. No one heard me. Your secret is in the vault, bestie.” Jenna drops the subject, and we both return our attention to the field celebration.

The stadium lights shine brightly and victoriously as the confetti cannons go off and shoot blue and silver glitter into the sky.

I can’t help but feel bad for some players on the New York Hawks as they sit in their dugout, eyes glassy and full of dejection, while their field crew arranges the platform in the middle of the infield for the trophy ceremony for the other team to celebrate.

As usual, my eyes scan the crowd, looking for him. I watch a group of Evaders players lift a jug full of yellow sports drink and pour it over Coach Anson’s head, while another talks to cameras, and then I see him.

Lance Taylor.

My stupid, silly heart leaps in my chest when Lance turns around with a wide grin on his face.

He’s devastatingly handsome.

Without his hat on, I have a clear view of his chiseled jawline, blue eyes, and dark blond hair that shimmers under the lights like the confetti falling onto the baseball field.