Cursive - By Phoebe Lane Page 0,7

voice pulled her from her thoughts. "So, Aislynn, tell me about your love affair with the Rangers."

"Well, I grew up in Texas. That's usually enough," she explained, and they both laughed. "My dad used to take me to the Rangers' games after school, back when they were still struggling as a team. The love affair got out of control the year they made it to the World Series."

"Very nice. Were you able to go to any of those games with your dad?"

"Unfortunately, no. He passed away seven years ago. Heart attack."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's okay," she said with a shrug. "My dad loved the game, and he loved the Rangers. No matter where I live, I'll never root for any other team. I’m afraid he might come back and haunt me if I do."

"He was that kind of fan, huh?"

"Absolutely," she said with a grin.

At that point, Kinsler hit a home run, and she stood up from her seat to cheer along with Evan. She screamed and hollered until Kinsler made it all the way back to home plate, then turned back to Evan. "I would chest bump you, but, you know, I have boobs and it's not very ladylike. So, high five!"

"I just want to let you know I'm running the other way if the Padres mob decides to attack you two," Ellie joked from her seat.

"Don't worry. I know a quick way out of here. It might involve some illegal stuff, though," Jace said.

"I'm game…I think," Aislynn said as Ellie and Evan left their seats to grab more drinks for everyone.

"Ellie said you just moved to San Diego?" Jace asked and Aislynn nodded while taking the last sip of her drink. "What brought you here?"

"Good question…I guess you could say I'm on sabbatical."

"On sabbatical from what?"

Aislynn paused to think of an appropriate yet unrevealing answer. "Everything, I guess."

"Cryptic," he pointed out and paused. "Okay, so why San Diego of all cities?"

"Umm. Well…I spent a few months in Denver freezing my butt off and accepting the fact I lack the gene necessary to navigate the slopes, even the bunny ones, successfully. Then I went to San Francisco for a while but I didn’t care for the wind and fog, so I drove south."

"Los Angeles?"

"One day. Hated it. I kept driving south."

"And here you are."

"And here I am. What about you? What’s your story?" Aislynn asked, desperate to take the focus off her.

"I was born and raised here. Went to college back east, met Waldo," he said pointing at Evan who was now back on his seat and lost in conversation with Ellie, "and then came back home to start the business."

"Did you always want to own your own bar?"

"Not specifically. Evan is the creative force behind Langley; it was really all his idea. I’m more of the financial brain behind it. I started my own investment company after college, and Evan was crazy enough to give me my first shot."

"Wow, that’s great. So you guys are college buddies, then?"

"Actually, we’re more than that. See, my brother, Alex, and his sister, Tessa…something about love at first sight," he said with a roll of his eyes. "They got married last year, so now we’re officially related. It’s been terrible."

"My sympathies," she said with mock sadness as Evan playfully punched Jace in the arm. "Tell me about your house. Ellie mentioned you built a place on the beach?" Aislynn continued.

"Yeah, just finished it. I think Ellie will do an amazing job with the interior design. Believe me when I say, if I had decided to take the decorating into my own hands, I would've ended up on the cover of Bachelor Pad Monthly."

"I really hope that magazine doesn't actually exist," Aislynn said before taking a sip of her drink. "She has amazing talent. I guarantee the place will look incredible after she's done with it."

After the game ended, Evan suggested they all go out to dinner to celebrate the Rangers' win over the Padres. Jace wasn't amused with his level of gloating, but agreed to go nonetheless. He was secretly craving more time with Aislynn.

"So, what do you think of Aislynn?" Evan asked Jace while on their way to the restaurant. They had all met at the ballpark, and the girls were riding in a separate car.

"What do you mean? I thought you said this wasn't a date?" he casually asked, trying to brush off the questioning.

"It's not, but you guys seem to be hitting it off."

"She's really nice. Spunky. Intelligent."

And beautiful. If