Maria rolls her eyes as she offers me seconds. “Most women don’t like the starved scarecrow look.”
I’m definitely not skinny by anyone’s definition except hers.
Javy pats his belly, which is definitely thicker than back in our playing days. “I earned every inch of this while we were playing.”
“I bet Frankie Sullivan won’t mind a few extra pounds,” Maria adds in, still dishing more pasta with some of the spiciest fra diavolo sauce I’ve ever had onto my plate.
“Who said anything about Frankie Sullivan?” I ask, glaring at Javy.
“I didn’t say anything,” Javy insists, raising his hands in innocence.
“He didn’t have to,” Maria teases. “I remember back when you were both with the Dodgers – you complained about her almost nonstop. There’s not a man in the world that talks about a woman that much unless he’s interested.”
I can feel the color rising at the back of my neck and she pounces.
“Oh my God, did something happen in Montana? Or, wait, you went to Arizona after too! Are you two . . .”
“We’re not. We’re very much not. We work together.”
“Well, the only person I was ever worried about Javy cheating on me with was you, and you two worked together for fifteen years.”
“I would never cheat on you, and he’s not my type,” Javy insists.
“Please, your bromance was legendary. They used to do fan art of you two.”
Javy groans. “Oh God, and the writing. Do you remember? That one website with the stories?”
“Ha!” Maria laughs. “A couple of the otherWAGs loved to send me links to those.”
“Aww, babe, were you really jealous?”
“I’m always jealous,mi amor,” she says, coming up behind him to kiss his cheek, and when Javy reaches up to pull her into his lap, I push my plate away and stand.
“And that’s my cue,” I say, slapping a hand over my eyes like a traumatized child as I leave the kitchen. “Tomorrow I start looking for a place to live.”
“You’re welcome to stay here with us as long as you need,” Javy calls back, with Maria’s giggles punctuating every word.
“Nah, I want to get out of your hair. I’ll find a place up here and then I need to get a spot in Clearwater. It’s not the Pacific, but the Gulf views aren’t bad either. Good night, you two. Don’t defile that table. Your children eat there.”
There’s no response, just more giggling and the echoing sound of a plate crashing to the floor as I climb the stairs as fast as my stupid knee will let me.
Chapter 13
FRANCESCA
I’ve only ever been to Hannah Vinch’s office by myself once. It was on my first day, when she summoned me upstairs to the office suite that overlooks the ballpark from just below the upper deck. It’s right behind home plate, prime real estate for ticket sales, and would fit a few luxury suites that would bring in thousands every game, but the ownership group decided to keep it intact so they’d be able to observe the team from on high whenever it struck their fancy.
The views, even from the waiting area, just beyond the large double doors, are stunning. It’s up high enough to see Prospect Park laid out in front of me with lower Manhattan in the distance, a sea of muted greens and browns, oranges and yellows and an outline of shadowy skyscrapers beyond.
Nancy, the assistant who runs the office even in Hannah’s almost continual absence, greets me with a smile and gestures to a chair set up against the dark wood-paneled walls, but I prefer the view. It already feels enough like I’m being called to the principal’s office, about to be reprimanded for something that, while it isn’t exactly my fault, was still my responsibility. Sitting down will just make it worse.
I was supposed to bring Ethan Quicke back into the fold or let him go on our terms. I wanted the latter, but thought I had done the former, even if Charlie was the one to get the deal done.
The last time I was here alone she called me in to congratulate me, talked about how there aren’t enough women at the top in baseball and that she was thrilled to give me this opportunity. But she made it clear that’s what it was, a chance. No guarantees.
I wonder if this means my chance is up.
“She’ll see you now,” Nancy says, standing up to open the office door for me, though I have no idea how she knows Hannah is ready to see me. “Ms Vinch, as requested, Francesca Sullivan is here to see you.”
