“I could . . .”
“You will not.”
“You didn’t even know what I was going to say.”
“Doesn’t matter. I don’t need a guy to fight my battles for me.”
“I didn’t say you did.”
“Then there’s no reason for you to go all macho and go over there and . . .”
“I wasn’t going to do that. I was going to call my lawyer and see if there’s anything you can do to make sure that doesn’t happen. A restraining order or, I don’t know, at least a ‘you’re on notice, don’t fuck around and find out’ letter.”
“Is that an official legal action?”
“Hell if I know, I’m just a dumb jock.”
I laugh and then let out a heavy sigh, but he doesn’t let the conversation lag.
“How did it go with Mrs Vinch?”
“You knew about that?”
“I went to visit Stew today, and he told me.”
“I should do that.”
“He’d love to see you, but, first, what happened? Did she give you the go ahead on Nakamura?”
“She did.”
“Sullivan, that’s awesome. Why aren’t you out celebrating?”
“Jet lag finally got me,” I admit. It’s been a long week and I’m exhausted. “I’m just gonna crash tonight.”
“Look at us, party animals. It’s barely nine and I’m already in sweatpants.”
“I’m about to be, but I’m still a little bit wired. I need to chill out before I’ll be able to sleep.”
“Okay,” he says. “tell me about the meeting.”
“She’s terrifying,” I say, with a laugh, “and gorgeous. I feel like if you’re a billionaire and part of a major league ownership group you shouldn’t be allowed to also be hot?”
“Says the woman breaking a similar rule.”
“What rule is that?”
“Knowing as much about baseball as I do and also being hot.”
“I don’t think that’s a rule.”
“It should be,” he says, and then immediately pivots. “So, a full green light on Nakamura.”
“As good as one. I’m sure there’s a level that they won’t go to, so our pitch is going to have to do a little more heavy lifting, but I mean . . . there’s something to be said for coming to play where Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, where you can bethe guythat leads an organization to its first championship since the middle of the twentieth century, to own this city in a way no other player ever has before, to give the most loyal fanbase thisside of Chicago 2016 a championship, to make next year intothis year.”
Chapter 14
CHARLIE
