Page 143 of Hiding in the Outfield

*sniffs* Our little Olliebear is all grown up

“You heading out, rook?” Schultz stops by my side.

I turn Schultz’s way. “Yeah, just, you know, staring blankly into my locker and getting bombarded by my old teammates.”

He grins. “Yeah, it’s pretty fucking surreal. Come on, I’ll show you where family hangs out.”

I grab my small duffle and throw it over my shoulder. It’s kind of mind-blowing how much shit you get when you start playing in the majors. Fortunately, the Enforcers don’t require us to dress up in suits when coming to and from games, so I’m in my new BDE hoodie and gym shorts.

We head out of the locker room and down the hall.

“Sometimes we’ll get the stray kid running through the locker room. Because kids be kids, you know? One thing I’ve really loved about the Enforcers is they’re super family oriented. There is a lounge and playroom down this way. My wife and my two boys will be there. Maybe my brother too.”

I swallow and shift my bag. I’d love to have who I consider family here waiting for me after a game. I guess we’ll see how Chuck’s discussions went—and how accepting the team is. The last thing I’d want is Frankie hanging out here and having to deal with people being assholes.

A brown-haired boy comes darting out of a room up ahead, a woman with the same color hair and a lightly curved figure hurrying after him. Schultz lights up. He hurries forward and scoops up the boy.

“Hey, Nico! Did you watch Daddy’s game?”

The little boy nods as the woman walks up to Schultz’s side and gives him a quick peck on the lips.

“And? What’d you think? How’d he do?”

The boy shrugs, looking unimpressed. “Eh.”

“Eh!” Schultz says in outrage.

A man steps out of the room—who looks identical to Schultz, just a bit slimmer.

Schultz glares at him. “You totally got him to say that.”

The man grins. Schultz rolls his eyes as he turns to me. “Olander, this is my boy Nico.” He throws a thumb over his shoulder. “This is my brother, Asshole.”

“Jimmy,” his wife admonishes.

He winces. “Whoops,” he mouths.

“Asshole!” Nico says excitedly. I think he’s probably around three or four, but I’m horrible with guessing kids’ ages.

Schultz drops his head in defeat. He points to his wife. “This is Amy. She’s my wife, soon-to-be murderer.”

I bite back my grin and offer my hand to shake. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“Oh, he’s got manners,” Amy says with a teasing smile.

Schultz’s brother slowly rakes his gaze over me, and I still. That was…I’m pretty sure he’s⁠—

“Damn, you’re pretty,” he says. “I’ll take you manners or not.”

My eyes fly wide, and my head whips toward Schultz.

Schultz chuckles. “You’ll have to excuse Ryan. He hits on every single one of my teammates.”

“That is false. I hit on the ones I’d⁠—”

“Ryan,” Amy scolds.

It’s his turn to look chagrined. “Whoops,” he mouths.