A Complete Game (Washington DC Soaring Eagles #3) - Aven Ellis Page 0,1
pair of nose hair clippers at him but, instead, I leave.
I push open the door and decide to head to the ballpark early. As I walk down the street in Alexandria, heading back to my apartment to get my car, I pick up my phone and call Hayley Jensen, one of my very best friends in DC.
She answers on the second ring. “Hey, Addison!”
“I’m done,” I say as the wind blows my long red hair right into my lipstick. Crap, now it will smear all over my face, and of course, it’s a vibrant shade of bright coral. It will look lovely against my porcelain skin. Probably a splatter effect, like a Jackson Pollock painting.
“With?” Hayley prompts.
“I am done with men. I did the online dating app that you and Katie suggested and got nothing but losers.”
I pause for a moment, my memory kicking in. Back in December, I did meet someone special off that app. Ryan didn’t seem to be a loser at first. He was sweet and wonderful and bright and made me feel, for the first time in years, special.
And after three blissful weeks of dating—and my one weekend busy with stuff for Hayley and Brody’s wedding—he started dodging me and said he liked me too much and wanted to focus on grad school again. The only man I had liked after my high school love, and he disappeared.
Until I found out that Ryan had updated and reloaded his dating profile.
While I’m over that hurt, I can’t say I trust any man at this point.
Mr. Nose Hairs proves why. I mean, reading my journal?
I clear my throat. “Just now, I had a guy hit on me in the coffee shop who actually read my private journal, and he had overgrown nose hairs, and I’m just done.”
Hayley bursts out laughing. “This is the first time in my life I’ve heard the words overgrown nose hairs in conversation.”
“Go ahead and laugh. You didn’t have to look at him.” I march along the cobblestone street. “Not only did he read my thoughts, but he also commented on them! Brody would never do that,” I say, referring to her husband.
“No, he wouldn’t.”
“And Brody is smart and funny and gorgeous,” I tick off. “Sincere. Genuine. Loves animals, too. I have yet to find this elusive combination.”
“Do I need to remind you I met him in a coffee shop? Maybe Mr. Nose Hairs has potential,” she teases.
“Yes, if I buy him a pair of clippers and teach him the basic rules of personal space and respecting another human’s right to privacy.”
“Okay, not him, but there might be another awesome guy there.”
“I didn’t hang around to find out. I’m going to the ballpark early,” I say. “Besides, if I get there early, I can play with the animals.”
My mood brightens at the thought. Animals are so forgiving of who you are. They don’t care what you look like or what you do for a living. They are open to receiving affection and love and give it back. I love nothing more than being hands-on with the animals we rescue.
I own two pets myself. My boys—ferrets Willy and Petey—are everything to me. They are very in tune with my emotions, and when I have a bad day? They are right there to love me. This is one of the many reasons why I adore ferrets.
“Brody is bringing Pissy for the shoot,” Hayley says, interrupting my thoughts as I near my apartment building.
I smile. Brody is not only her husband but the star catcher of the Washington Soaring Eagles, who are partnering with us for this fundraising calendar. Pissy is Brody’s baby, a gray cat who pretty much hates everyone except for him and Hayley.
“Will she cooperate?” I ask, wondering how she will do with a photographer and people standing around to watch.
“Please. Brody is the cat whisperer,” Hayley says.
I laugh. “That’s an excellent point.”
“AJ is bringing all three of his Great Danes,” Hayley continues.
Another connection. AJ is AJ Williamson, centerfielder for the Soaring Eagles and engaged to Katie McKenna, Hayley’s best friend, who is now one of my friends, too.
“This is going to be such a great shoot,” I say, excitement taking over. “And we have some cute puppies and kittens that we’re bringing from the shelter for players who don’t have pets.”
“Be sure to hook up Brady.”
I smile to myself at the third weird connection in my life. Brady is Brody’s fraternal twin. I met him back at Brody and Hayley’s wedding in December,