girl. She was a college student, so she had summers off. She was our biggest fan. She followed us on road trips, and cheered from the stands. She knew baseball more than any woman I’ve ever met. She didn’t mind splitting her time between us.”
I took a very long sip of beer. It gave me the courage to ask the next question. “And you guys took turns sleeping with her?”
“Sure, sometimes.”
“Sometimes? You mean sometimes you… the three of you would…”
I couldn’t say it out loud. I felt my cheeks blush. Was he admitting to what I thought he was? They would have group sex together?
“I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s weird. And it’s over, anyway. She got a job in finance and moved to New York.” He frowned and looked away.
“No! I’m sorry. I’m just shocked. I didn’t mean to judge you for it. Honest.” It was my turn to put a reassuring hand on his back. The muscles of his upper back were taut and firm underneath his polo. “Back to my original question. Who did Darryl think I was?”
Rafael looked around the party. “We’ve been searching for someone to fill that role again. A woman the three of us like, who doesn’t mind being shared over the course of a season.”
“And Darryl thought I was…”
I thought back to that night in the hotel room. Darryl had smiled and hit on me when he saw me in the room. It was flattering to be thought of that way. As someone that the three of them would want to be involved with.
“Darryl didn’t realize you were a coach,” Rafael said. “He wouldn’t have hit on you if he knew.”
I found myself feeling disappointed at that. To cover up the feeling I asked, “That was weeks ago. Which of these lucky ladies is the woman you’ve found?” I pointed. “Let me guess. It’s the brunette over there with the lopsided boob job.”
Rafael smiled but didn’t laugh. “We still haven’t chosen someone. I think Darryl is hoping to find the right girl at the party tonight.”
“Well, you’ve certainly got some titillating options to choose from.”
“Meh.”
“What? None of these ladies are hot enough?”
“It’s not about attractiveness. Sure, these women are hot. But I want someone I can connect with. Someone who I can talk with about baseball or anything else for hours. That makes the whole thing more meaningful to me. Even if it’s just for a casual relationship during the baseball season.” He glanced over at me sheepishly. “Is that dumb?”
“Of course not,” I said softly. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting a deeper connection with someone. If all you wanted was to get laid, you guys could get a hooker.”
Two skanky girls came walking by, and my eyes locked onto them right as I said the word hooker. They both glared at me and feigned offense, but with Rafael at my side they didn’t dare say anything.
“Looks like those two are out of the running,” I said. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Those two have been hovering around Darryl all night, and I think his willpower was fading. I should be thanking you!”
The two of us laughed and grinned together while the party raged around us. But we were dancing around one topic. And it was one I couldn’t leave without discussing.
“That night in the hotel room,” I said. “Did that happen because you thought of me as the kind of girl you guys could share?”
“No!” he immediately said. “I didn’t go to your room with that intention. It was all about the pitch tipping. Remember?”
“I remember that was the pretext you used to come in. But now I’m doubting your motives.”
He held out one palm like he was taking an oath. “I swear my motives were pure. At least, they were when I walked in. After that…” He smiled softly. “Well, things happened.”
“Are things like that ever going to happen again?”
He hesitated.
“Because I thought they were going to happen that night you invited me to your room to eat wings. But Darryl and Joel were already there. And although we’ve been friendly during practices and games, I get the feeling you’ve been avoiding me off the field.”
He gazed around the party before answering. “I’ve been conflicted about that. I loved what happened. It was amazing. But I’m afraid of someone finding out.”
“You think it would hurt your reputation?” I asked.
He shook his head and leaned close. “Natalie, I’m worried it would hurt yours. You’re a great coach. All the pitchers think so now that