All Wound Up

“I think you’re an outstanding ballplayer, Tucker. I’ve watched you play and I’m impressed with your talent. I think the Rivers were damn lucky to sign you, and I believe you’re going to have an amazing career as a pitcher.”

High praise coming from someone like Clyde Ross. “Thank you, Mr. Ross.”

“But here’s the thing. Aubry’s not ready to settle down yet. She’s got a year left in residency and she’ll need to take her tests after that, then apply to a fellowship. She has to think about her career, not love or romance. The last thing she needs right now is a distraction from a hotshot athlete like you, or God forbid, to fall in love.”

Tucker didn’t like where this was going, and he wholeheartedly disagreed. “But sir—”

“Let me finish. I’ve worked my whole life to give Aubry the life I feel she deserves. And she’s worked hard as well. I won’t let you take that away from her. So you break this off with her, or you’ll fall asleep one night playing for the Rivers and wake up the next morning pitching for the goddamn Triple-A team again. Don’t think I’m joking here, Cassidy. I will trade you or I will send you down to the minors. You understand me?”

“Coffee for everyone.” Helen came in with a carafe and cups, a smiling Aubry trailing behind her, which effectively cut off the conversation between Tucker and Mr. Ross.

Clyde offered up a friendly smile as if he hadn’t just upended Tucker’s whole world. “Great. I’m ready for some coffee. How about you, Tucker?”

Still barely able to form a coherent thought, let alone words, Tucker nodded and tried for what he hoped was a smile.

Clyde might be able to play the part of doting husband and happy father, but Tucker had gotten the message loud and clear.

He’d just been told to break up with Aubry. Like . . . right now.

No, he hadn’t been told. He’d been threatened. His job—his career—had been threatened. Clyde Ross had made it very clear that if he wanted to keep the job he loved, he had to end things with Aubry.

He just didn’t know what the hell he was going to do about it.

“YOU’RE IN A GOOD MOOD,” KATIE SAID TO AUBRY, frowning at her.

They’d decided to go out to dinner after their shift ended. Aubry dipped her chip in salsa, grinned, then ate it, following up with a sip of her margarita.

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No. But usually these after-work dinners are bitchfests and we’re both grouchy and grumbly. You are neither grouchy nor grumbling about anything. Instead, you’ve got a goofy-ass smile on your face. What’s up with that?”

Aubry shrugged and took another drink. “I’m just . . . happy.”

Katie grabbed her drink and leaned back in her seat. “Okay, what’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Aubry said with a laugh. “Can’t I be happy?”

“Of course you can. But we had a shit day today and we barely had time for a break to pee, yet you’re sitting here all smiles. So spill.”

“Fine. It’s Tucker.”

“Ohh, so he’s the one putting a smile on your face. That makes sense. What’s going on with you two?”

Aubry hadn’t seen him for several days, since that night he’d had dinner with her parents. He’d left after coffee, saying he had an early call at the ballpark the next day, and she knew he had back-to-back-to-back games. But still, her parents had loved him, and so did she.

Things were working out.

“He met my parents.”

“Really. And how did that go?”

“It went really well. I was afraid my dad was going to have a fit about it. One, because you know how my father is, and two, because Tucker plays for the Rivers.”

“And he was okay?”

Aubry smiled. “He was okay. After Tucker left he told me that Tucker was a really nice young man, a professional, and he could see how much I liked him.”

“That’s great. So things between you and Tucker must be getting serious.”

“I think so. Maybe. I don’t know. It’s hard to say how serious either of us can get with the careers we have. We’re both just so busy.”

Katie placed her drink on the table and leaned forward. “Oh, bullshit, Aubry. Stop making everything in your life about your work and take your career out of the equation. How do you feel about Tucker?”

She hadn’t said the words out loud to anyone yet, but she had to. She just had to. “I’m in love with him.”

Katie squealed with joy, got up and came around to Aubry’s side of the table, pulled her out of her chair and hugged her. “I’m so happy for you. Does he love you, too?”

Aubry laughed at Katie’s exuberance. They both sat down and Aubry moved her drink toward the chair next to Katie’s so she could be closer. “I don’t know. We haven’t said the words to each other yet. But I feel it, you know? I think he does.”

“If he agreed to the dinner-with-the-parents routine, trust me, he’s in love with you. It’s only a matter of time before he says the words.”

That was how she felt as well. “So now you know why I’m smiling.”

“And now you know why I’m going to glare daggers of hate and jealousy at you the rest of the night.” Katie lifted her glass toward Aubry.

Aubry laughed and lifted her glass, clinking it with Katie’s. “You will not because you’re my best friend and you love me.”