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t’s time to pay up.” I grin as I walk Ryker into an empty office in the baseball facility. It’s set up with two chairs opposite each other, and my new camera, thanks to Coach Warren, is on a tripod.
“Joy,” he mutters, plopping onto one of the chairs, his arms folding across his chest.
I ignore his grumpiness, keeping the cheerful smile on my face. “Correct, this is going to be so much fun.”
Ryker only stares at me, unsure what he’s getting himself into.
“All right, so this is how it’s going to work. I’ll ask questions fans sent in, and you’ll answer them. If there’s anything you’d rather not answer, just say pass.”
I begin the video, then sit behind the lens so that I’m not seen but you can still hear my voice.
“Hi, everyone, today we have a fan favorite with us, Ryker Lewis. The talented third baseman and infamous team grump.”
Ryker raises a single brow at that but says nothing.
“We have some burning questions here from your fans, so are you ready to give us some answers?” I give him a thumbs-up, letting him know he can take the floor now.
“I can’t wait.” He raises the corners of his lips slightly, then drops them just as quickly, clearly unenthused.
But this is exactly what his fans love, so I’ll take it.
“First question. If you weren’t playing baseball, what else would you be doing?”
He doesn’t miss a beat and answers immediately. “I’d have my own tattoo shop.”
“I could see that. You’re very talented,” I compliment him, then realize it’s supposed to be a professional interview.
I clear my throat and ask the next question. “Favorite music?”
“Anything in the rock genre from the ’60s to the ’90s.”
“Favorite season?
“Summer.”
“Are you dating anyone?”
Wait, what?
I look down at my questions and double-check that I read it correctly.
I did.
Ryker’s head tilts back, thrown off by the question. He swallows once, then in his deep, rough voice, says, “No. I’m married to the game. There’s no time for that.”
There should be no reason why his answer affects me, but it does. It cements the fact that despite my crush on him, it’ll only ever be that. A one-sided crush. He doesn’t want love in his life, nor does he have the time for it.
I school my features, hoping my disappointment doesn’t show as I ask my next question, not thinking twice, my voice an octave higher than normal. “What is your ideal date?”
“If you wanted to hang out, you could’ve just asked, princess.” His lips twitch, a hint of amusement on his face.
My mouth gapes. “No, that’s not what this is.” I flip the paper to him, pointing at the question. “It’s right here, look.”
Ryker shrugs, unconvinced. “You printed them, didn’t you?”
“I did, but I didn’t get a chance to look them over.”
He takes pity on me, relenting on his teasing as he answers the question. “If, and emphasis on the if, I ever took a girl out, I’d do something she likes. That would be my ideal date, seeing her in her element, happy.” His voice takes on a more serious tone, his eyes locked onto mine.
