Hard and Fast

“I suppose.” She shrugged. “I’ve been around you and Daddy enough to spot an injured player. I guessed.”

“You didn’t have proof. He could have denied he was hurt.”

“I slept with him, Kelli. I didn’t want anyone to know. He doesn’t want anyone to know about his arm. We have dirty little secrets neither wants spread. That’s not trust. It’s blackmail.”

Kelli opened her mouth and shut it again, seeming to reconsider what she’d been about to say. “If you need to talk, you know where I am.”

“I do.” Amanda hugged her.

Right now, though, she didn’t want to talk. She didn’t even want to think about Brad. She wanted to put him behind her.

Besides, she’d come up with an idea on what to do with the steroid story. She was interviewing Casey later today and he’d agreed to give her a candid interview about the pressure of going from the minors to the majors. If she couldn’t beat Jack to the steroid story, she could be the one to bring up the forbidden topic first. She was going to ask Casey about the things he’d seen, no names required. She’d do this story in a way that promoted a drug-free sport.

And if that didn’t make Kevin happy, Amanda had to start accepting that she might not be the right person for this job.

***

LATE IN THE AFTERNOON of the team’s final day in Dallas, Brad sauntered into the hotel after his acupuncture appointment. He’d be pitching tonight and he wanted to be at his best, especially with the encouraging news he’d gotten from his agent earlier. Mike reported several conversations in progress regarding Brad’s contract. None of them were with the Rays, but Mike planned to let the team owner know there was competitive interest in Brad, with the intention to apply pressure to re-sign him. It was a relief that teams were seeking him because all the pressure to perform, coupled with all the secrets, was wearing on him.

He spotted Kurt in the sports bar to his right. Or rather heard him. Kurt was talking loudly, pointing at the television and laughing with the bartender.

Brad walked over, noting one of the playoff games was the focus of attention. No wonder Kurt was being rowdy. A few steps inside the bar, Brad stopped in his tracks. In the back corner booth, Amanda was sitting with Becker. Alone.

Everything inside him went cold. Seeing Amanda, wanting her, but not touching her, had been one of the hardest feats he’d ever accomplished. Seeing her in that booth, cozy with Becker, damn near tore Brad up inside. The urge to charge forward and claim what was his overwhelmed him.

But she wasn’t his. The sound of snapping fingers drew his attention to Kurt, who motioned Brad over. Suddenly, he realized he was standing in the middle of the bar making a total ass of himself staring at Amanda.

He scrubbed his jaw as he sat on the bar stool next to Kurt. “They’ve been here about an hour,” Kurt said, without being asked, his voice low, his tone serious.

“I didn’t ask,” Brad said, grabbing a peanut from the bowl in front of him and cracking the shell because he needed to do something with the tension threatening to overwhelm him.

“But you wanted to know,” Kurt said. “We both know you wanted to.”

Brad tossed the shell on the bar. “I decided weeks ago to tune out Becker. I’ve got more important things to worry about than him or some stupid bet.”

“I see,” Kurt said. “More important than Amanda, too, I guess. You know, sitting on the sideline, as I’m doing, gives a clear perspective. If you don’t get your head out of your ass real fast, she’s going to be gone.”

Brad’s gut tightened. He knew Kurt was right. He also knew that if he went to Amanda again, there would be no backing out. No question about it. The next go round would be for keeps.

He needed to work this out in his own time, though. He couldn’t talk with Kurt about it, even as much as he trusted him.

“Mike has contract talks rolling,” Brad said, changing the subject to one he could discuss with Kurt. “Not with the Rays, but he feels that’s coming soon.”

“So why don’t you seem happy?”

“I need surgery on my arm again.” Brad went on to explain the details. “So, here is the dilemma. How can I sign a new contract and not tell them about my arm? For a long time I thought that I’d come back from the last surgery too soon and that once I’d rested, I’d be good. Now, I know better.”

“It’s freaking amazing how well you’ve pitched through this,” Kurt said.

“Acupuncture, man. Amanda’s sister has me hooked for life.”

“The fact that Amanda knows about all of this says a lot,” Kurt commented. “I know. Bad subject.” He held up a hand to forestall whatever Brad might have said.