Page 20 of Draft Pick
Crew nods, his gaze drifting to my outfit ever so subtly. “I won’t argue with that. That makes two of you, then. Right, Doodle?”
Did he just check me out, or am I imagining things? And how dare he call his daughter the cutest nickname ever?
“I didn’t realize when Addie said you love baseball that she meant you loved it so much, you’d actually be the one playing.” I laugh, pointing a finger at the cutie on his hip.
Addie giggles while Crew explains himself. “To be honest, I thought to mention it, but didn’t think you’d actually come. Doesn’t seem like your kind of thing. Guess I was wrong.”
My kind of thing?
“Well, now I know.” I swivel my head around the ballpark, a slow smile working its way up my face. “This is fun. I haven’t been able to really experience Atlanta since moving here, so this is nice. Thank you for the invite.”
“Of course. It is opening day, after all. No better way to break you into the local Atlanta traditions than a fired-up home game.” He turns toward Addie and taps the tip of her nose.
“Dr. Wilde, can you please, please, please come meet my friends?” Addie rambles. “There’s Uncle Gus, Auntie TT, Uncle Cal, Uncle B, King Size, Auntie Kodi, Auntie Sailor, Unc?—”
“I think that covers just about everyone, baby girl,” Crew interrupts. “Maybe sometime soon, okay? The game’s about to start.”
Addie wraps her arms around Crew’s neck and nuzzles against his cheek. The sound of the announcer projects across the park, and the crowd stands to cheer for Strikers Nation.
“Game time. Gotta go,” Crew rushes before setting Addie on her feet and nodding to Sergio to take over. With a quick kiss to her forehead and turning my way, he backs up and says, “Good to see ya, Doc. Enjoy the game.”
I smile softly and raise my fist in the air. “Score a big one.”
Score. A. Big. One.
Val bursts into hysterics, finally deciding to make herself known after surrendering to silence for the entirety of that conversation. “Score a big one? What an encouraging message you left him with. How ever will he recover from such charisma? Damn. You’d make a horrible good luck charm.”
I wait until Crew enters the dugout before shoving into my seat and attempting to hide my face. “Oh, shut up. Where were you the past ten minutes anyway? Conveniently in Lala Land? I don’t wanna hear your shit.”
Val snorts. “Well, you’re gonna hear it anyway because that was entertaining as hell. And truly an eye-opening experience, if I must say.”
I blink, keeping a mental track of Addie’s whereabouts beside me. I’m instantly at ease when I see she’s already back to chatting it up with Sergio while he buys her a tub of cotton candy from one of those stadium hawkers.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
The crowd stands and chants around us, but my focus is on Val and her newfound revelation. “Let me set you up on a few dates.”
That’s the big eye-opening reveal?“You’re kidding. Why? I can meet someone just fine on my own.”
Her brows rise. “Yeah, looks like it. No, but seriously. I know some people who know some people.” She winks. “You wanted to start fresh, right? Finally meet a guy worth having a future with? At least let me help you get back into the dating scene with some men who come with a decent recommendation.”
I exhale. “Decent? How comforting. And stop making it sound so technical.”
She waves me off and lays her head on my shoulder. “It’s not, I just want the best for you, babe. They’re good guys.” She points to where Crew just vacated. “Similar to that one. Worst case, younever see them again and hopefully meet someone the organic way.”
Like a good old-fashioned conversation. Hi. How are you? It’s nice to meet you. Yada yada yada.
I mean…it doesn’t sound like a horrible idea. I do really want to meet someone, and seeing as how I don’t know anyone other than Val in Atlanta, it’s worth a try.
Plus, I have more free time to date now that I run my own practice. Office hours are my hours unless I get an emergency call. But still, I guess there really is no better time than now.
“I think I’m ready for that,” I tell Val truthfully, finally accepting my fate. “Not that my conversation with Addie’s hot dad was what I needed to come to terms with my singlehood, but it definitely helped.”
“He’s probably married, anyway.” We laugh together, and at this moment, I’ve never been more grateful for my best friend.
“Set up the date, Valentina. I’m ready.”
Without warning, she stands to attention. “Excellent. Now that that’s been decided, Queen Addie,” Val calls out to the mini ray of sunshine, “Ready to boo for the losing team?”
