“Don’t even try, Slater. Listen, it’s not personal. I like you.”
“Good to know,” I mutter because it doesn’t really sound like it.
“I’m serious.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I used to be a player. I know what life on the road is like and I know the women out there that would do anything to sleep with a player. Hell, that’s how I met Kage. I almost fucked it up so bad that I lost her. If you think I’m going to sit by and watch my sister get her heart tore up while you’re enjoying the perks of your career, you’re full of shit.”
“What happens between me and Marigold, is our business, Green.”
“Bull—”
“It is, but since she’s your little sister, I’ll be honest with you about this.”
He doesn’t say anything, just gives me a hard stare.
I suppose to most men it would be intimidating—especially since this asshole pretty much holds my career in his hands. He drops me from the team, and it will be a hard climb back to where I’m at. I have dreams of making the Big Leagues. If I don’t, I’ll survive. I make a good living doing what I love. That doesn’t mean I don’t want the chance, though. To do that I will have to earn it. I can’t do that without being in the position I am right now. I rub the back of my neck.
“I’m not a stupid man. I know the difference between easy pussy and pussy that’s worthwhile.”
“Fucker, if you refer to my sister again as pussy, you’ll be breathing through a straw.”
I let out an annoyed breath. I know I don’t exactly talk poetic. I just am who I am. I say shit without thinking about it. In this instance, it’s not exactly helping my case.
“I’mtryingto say that I know Marigold is the type of woman a man holds onto. We just met, but I really like her. She’s funny and sweet and spending time with her is so damn good that I want more of it. I want to see where this goes and I’m not going to give up on that—even if you try and sack me from the team.”
He frowns. “Complete disclosure here, Slater.”
“I’d prefer it that way.”
“You’re the team slut. I think you can understand why I don’t want you for my sister.”
I wince. I know I have a reputation and I can’t deny it. I’ve earned the term team slut. I’m even worse than Archer and Santos. Still, I didn’t realize the talk traveled up to Green. Hell, he doesn’t even stay in the team hotels anymore. He travels with his family most of the time and keeps them separate. Still, I’m not going to let this bullshit stop me.
“Didn’t you just say you met Kage in kind of the same way? That’s being kind of sanctimonious if you ask me.”
“No one asked you and it’s different. I just had to deal with my ex at the time and was drunk off my ass. I didn’t realize what I had in front of me. I barely knew my name.”
“Fair enough. Then, know that Idorealize what I have in front of me and I’m not going to do something stupid if there’s a chance that I have a shot.”
“You like my sister that much?”
“I spent hours playing fetch with a damn cow. What do you think?”
He laughs. “You must not scare easily if you withstood Mom and Hamburger.”
“Your mother might be crazy, Green.”
He laughs. “Wait till you see all of us together,” he winks as he gets up. He starts to walk away and then stops. “You know a lot of people say Petal is just like my mom.”
“Petal?” I ask, completely clueless. For all I know Ida Sue may have a pet rattlesnake.
“Another sister—she’s married so don’t get any ideas,” he warns. I flip him the bird which makes him laugh. “Anyway, everyone says that she’s the most like Mom, but you know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think Marigold isjust likeMom,” he says, patting me on the back. “Now, get out there. You’re up and we need Parker to score. I want the lead going into the next inning.”