I repeat the reassurance after the rookies return to the field post shower, then as we finish stretching, and again when we trot onto the field to practice throws.
From home plate to second.
Groan.
That means I’ll be working with our new catcher, whose number I’d definitely have asked for if I’d met him anywhere but work.
But from this distance, and with Grant wearing a mask, I’ll be fine.
And I am for the rest of the morning. Then Coach sends us to run a mile around the field.
I elevate my ‘fine’ to ‘fantastic.’
I’m one of the fastest guys on the team, and catchers are usually slow as molasses from all that bulk. Hell, the backup catcher, Rodriguez, is playing caboose right now, lagging behind everyone.
Grant is going to eat my dust, and I’ll be glad for the distance between us.
But a minute later, he’s gaining on me, picking up speed as I round the right field corner. “You don’t have to race me, rookie,” I call as he comes into my line of sight.
“I’m not racing you. I’m just . . . faster than people expect.”
I lift a brow. “Sometimes fast is good.”
Then I want to clamp my hand over my mouth. Did I not make a decision not to flirt?
One day into spring training—hell, mere hours into spring training—and I’m already flirting with him.
Subtly, the devil on my shoulder says. You’re flirting subtly. He probably doesn’t even notice.
Blatantly, so damn blatantly, the angel on my other shoulder offers, adding, and you should stop.
“Sometimes fast is everything you need,” Grant quips, and I like the devil on his shoulder too.
Too much.
“Truer words,” I say, as we round the corner at a good clip. We’re quiet for another stretch, but no one catches up to us. The rest of the team is hoofing it, but we’re faster, and much farther ahead.
“Fucking sloths,” I say, tipping my head toward the guys.
“Better to be a cheetah.”
“Always be the cheetah.” Then a bird swoops from out of nowhere, landing on the chain-link fence to perch and watch for mice.
“Unless you can be a falcon,” I say, and I sneak a look at Grant. “The fastest animal on earth.”
“Are they though?” He arches a brow. “Aren’t they the fastest . . . in the air?”
“Aren’t you a wiseass,” I say, laughing. “You want to go toe-to-toe with me in bird facts, I will school you, rookie.”
“Bird facts?” he asks. “That’s your throw down?”
“You weren’t so mouthy when you were covered in ketchup.”
“And I’m not covered in ketchup now. Hence the mouthiness.”
I stifle another laugh. He’s a quick talker when he’s not so damn nervous. Though, admittedly, he was adorable back in the corridor with his tongue tied and words twisted. And he’s adorable now.
Great, fucking great.
But I won’t be seduced by his charm. He’s just one of the guys. Just another teammate.
“And yes, bird facts are my throw down,” I say, and there are reasons for that. Reasons that go way back. Reasons that I will never get into with anyone. But they’re real, and a part of me, and they were a shield for a long, long time. “The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal . . . in the world. That better?”
“Much better,” he says, a smile curving the edge of his lips.
“Gotta say, rookie, I’m impressed you’re keeping up. No one keeps up with me.”
“What if I told you I’m taking it easy right now?” Grant asks, deadpan.
I laugh. “Wiseass.”
But he keeps a stony expression. “Seriously. What if I could run even faster?” He picks up the pace a notch or two.
Holy fuck.
Dude is fast.
But I’m a competitive bastard too, so I push myself, going faster, keeping up.
I want to smack his arm, tell him he won’t win a battle of wills, or strength, or fitness.
But he just might.
Grant is as swift on his feet as he is with his arm.
I clear my throat to segue to other topics, but only sports topics. “You did good with the triple lift.”
“So did you. You had me. One hundred percent,” he says.
I smile. “Excellent. I love nothing more than getting the rookies.”
He casts a quick glance at me, then swings his gaze forward. “And listen, man. Sorry for the verbal vomit in the hallway. I think I was nervous meeting you. You seriously are one of my heroes in the game,” he says, earnest and straightforward, in a voice that does dangerous things to my mind.
Things I can’t allow.
“Good of you to say, but trust me, I’m nobody’s hero,” I reply as we near the end of our final lap. Then I add, “But no worries on the nerves. I was you once. Bright-eyed and eager.”
He barks out a laugh. “Is it that obvious?”
I smack his arm. “Absolutely.”
Then I wink.
Something I definitely shouldn’t do.
What I should do is walk away as soon as we finish the drill.