Page 12 of Leave It On The Field (Grand Slam 3)
My teammate Alex walks across the lobby to join us. “Can you believe this zoo? How are we supposed to get more rest here than at our houses?”
“Right? That’s what I told Joe. It’s crazy,” I say, watching the hotel staff fly around as Drew barks orders at them. “Has Raine gotten in yet?”
“Yeah,” Alex says. “She got here a few days ago so we could spend some time together before the games started. She’s at the pool now. I’m headed up there.”
“What?” I spin around to Joe. “Is she staying here? I thought no girlfriends or wives allowed.”
“Man, keep it down,” Alex says, shoving my shoulder. “She snuck in with Butch and the California crew. None of the front office staff really know who she is. We’ve done a good job of keeping everyone out of our business.”
“You have to get Sophie in here,” I say to Joe. “If Raine—”
“Stop,” Joe says. “No one knows who Raine is. Sophie can’t even leave the house without being recognized. It’s not the same. Although Raine shouldn’t be staying here either.”
“Don’t give me up, Joe,” Alex says. “You either, Seb.”
“No one will give you up. Right, Joe?”
Joe scowls at me but finally nods. “Fine, but if I get one complaint, Raine’s out.”
“Do you want to come with me to the pool, Seb?” Alex nods toward the elevators. “The Cali group is up there.”
“Later. I want to call Sophie. Who all made it in?”
“Mason, Millie, Nash, Elle, Sam, Butch, and Kit,” Alex says. “Hey, did you know Kit was pregnant? Raine just texted me. Butch is going to be a dad.”
“God, help us all,” I say, smiling. “No, that’s great, man. Tell them congrats for me. I’ll catch up with everyone later.”
After Alex walks away, I turn to Roman. “Is the California group staying here too? I thought the team bought out the entire hotel.”
“Sophie asked me to let them stay here, and you know I can’t say no to her,” Roman says. “Besides, the team’s not using all of the rooms. Drew’s so pissed. He went up to the pool and yelled at them. I thought Butch was about to take his head off.”
“I’d pay to see that,” I say. “Drew needs to be taken down a few notches. He’s become a huge pain in the ass.”
“He threatened to move the team to another hotel if I didn’t kick Butch and his crew out,” Roman says, chuckling. “I told him to have at it. The team paid everything upfront. He can leave any time he wants. I’m still getting paid.”
“If he tries to move us to another hotel, I’m going home. Do you have my room key? I want some privacy to call Sophie.”
Roman hands us our keys. “Seb, you’re in the penthouse suite. Only you and Joe have a key to unlock that floor. Joe, your room is a floor below him, but there are two beds in the suite if you want to stay closer to Seb. Let me know if you need anything.”
Joe nods at him as he walks away. “Appreciate it, Roman.”
“You’re not staying in the suite. Don’t get any ideas.”
“Believe me, no one except Sophie wants to sleep that closely to you.” Joe points me toward the elevator. “So, wait, Butch is in town? The Butch that I met at your wedding?”
“Yeah. I told you we bought that town in California. Remember? Blitzen Bay. Butch and all of our co-owners are here. They’re becoming really good friends. Great group of people.”
“Why didn’t you tell me Butch was coming in?”
“Why would I?” I punch the penthouse button on the elevator. “I don’t remember you guys being all that tight.”
Joe looks at me like I’m about half stupid. “Seb, he’s a former Navy SEAL.”
“I know what he is. So is his buddy Mason who’s also on this trip. And their friend Nash is here too. He’s former Delta Force.”
“Damn,” he says, letting out an extended sigh, “you really are as dumb as you look sometimes.”
“I’ve been telling you that for years.”
