8. Monroe

CHAPTER 8

MONROE

J ust friends fucking sucked.

Cobb wanted me to come to the game. He'd asked me. Normally, I would've thought that meant something other than he wanted to be friends, but we were both clear on that.

I liked him, but being friends would have to be enough.

Not to mention it seemed like he had more reason to not want to date than I did, though he never told me what that reason might've been.

For now, I focused on getting ready for the game he'd invited me to. I pulled my hair into a higher ponytail so that it wouldn't be lying on my back. Summer was warm in Michigan and tonight was no exception. Then I changed into a pair of jean shorts and the only Kalamazoo Knights T-shirt I owned. My dads had bought for me when I'd gone to a game with them last year because they'd been wearing their Knights T-shirts and said that I couldn't be the odd man out. I tucked the front of the shirt into my shorts and let the back hang out then pulled on some no-show socks and Converse tennis shoes.

We hadn't discussed a time that his sister was going to pick me up, so I wanted to be ready early.

Then I waited.

I'd never met his sister, so as I sat on the arm of the couch, my leg bounced with excitement. This would be fun.

I'd started getting ready at four and around five-thirty, my phone dinged with a text.

I'm Camden , it read. Here to take you to the game. Did you want me to come to the door or would you rather come out?

I quickly typed that I'd be out in just a moment then grabbed my crossbody and hurried out the door.

A blue car sat at the curb in front of our house where Cobb had parked earlier. Maybe not parking in the driveway was a family trait, but in this case, we were just going to leave, anyway. There was someone in the back seat of her car, which made me unsure where to sit. With the passenger seat open, I decided to go there.

"Hi!" The woman driving smiled widely at me. "I'm Camden." She had the most beautiful shade of brown hair—chestnut, maybe—and kind, hazel eyes.

"Monroe," I greeted her.

"In the back seat is Everly. She's my brother Urban's girlfriend and is joining us at the game today."

"Nice to meet you," I told the woman behind Camden. Everly had golden-blonde hair that was pulled away from her face and bright-green eyes that looked like that had gold specks in them. "Thanks for picking me up."

"Not a problem."

"Your brother wanted to drive me home after the game, but I have no idea why." Then I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Actually, he said he wanted to hear my take on the game. Or something like that."

Camden and Everly both laughed under their breaths. "Do you like baseball?" Everly asked.

I turned slightly so that I'd be sort of facing her. "It's fine. My dads are huge baseball fans, so I've been to some games and know some things, but I wouldn't call myself a diehard."

"I knew nothing about baseball beyond the fact that you use a bat," Everly told me. "I'm picking it up a little here and there, but it drives Urban crazy that I have no idea what he's saying when he talks about the game."

"He's desperate for her to learn," Camden offered as we came to a stop at a light. "If your dads are diehards, have they met Cobb yet?" I shook my head. "You should make sure they meet. Cobb is one of the best in the league. Probably will get a Cy Young award this year." Her hazel eyes looked over at me. "That means he's really good."

I snickered because I had a feeling that she was going to explain a lot of things as the night progressed.

We talked about Everly's and my lack of knowledge the rest of the way to the park. Camden, of course, knew everything, it seemed, when it came to baseball. Of course, she had brothers playing and she said her father was headed to the Hall of Fame, too. She'd grown up with it, so it made sense.

When we got out of the car in the parking garage, Camden, Everly, and I met at the trunk and I followed Camden's lead as to where to go. I'd never been in this lot before.

"I can see why my brother likes you," she said. "You're easy to talk to. Like we just did a twenty-minute drive and I feel like we're friends."

"Me too," Everly agreed.

We stepped out into the sun that had passed over the crest and would fully set before the game was over, so I pulled my sunglasses out of my purse and put them in place.

"He doesn't like me."

Camden stopped and turned to me, pulling her sunglasses down her nose so that I could see her eyes. "He asked me to bring you here. He likes you."

Right. "Yeah. Sorry. As a friend, sure. I thought you meant something else."

A slow smile pushed her cheeks up. "I did, but we'll say as a friend." Then she turned and continued on her way with me scrambling after her as Everly snickered.

"No, seriously," I said. "I have the worst taste in men."

"Same, sister." Everly pumped her arm in the air.

"Cobb and I are just friends. He said that's what he wanted too."

Camden slowed down so that she could walk between Everly and me. "I know he did. He has… things going on right now that I'd bet my entire inheritance he'd want taken care of before dating again. I didn't mean you two are something more, just that he likes you. I know my brothers."

Suddenly I was searching my memory for how many brothers she actually had. The wiki had listed them but for the life of me, I couldn't call it up. Everly was dating one of them and that was everything I knew at this moment.

"Why do you have the worst taste in men?" Everly asked while Camden showed her phone to the man at the door.

This wasn't the normal entrance at all. The crowd was down on the corner and we were the only ones at this door.

Quickly, I gave Everly the Spark Notes version of events with Owen. That relationship hadn't even really been one and he was hellbent on revenge right now because I'd hurt his precious car. However, the fact that he was saying and doing what he had been showed that I had terrible taste.

"Is that the only asshole?" Camden asked. I nodded. "Then that's not bad taste. Though I think anyone who would willingly be in a relationship with a professional athlete has something seriously wrong with them, my brothers are decent enough."

"Hey!" Everly protested while giving her a shove.

"How many brothers do you have? I'm an only child," I explained. "I can't remember what the internet told me about your family or if you have any that don't play."

"Four."

"Four? Good lord."

She snickered. "I know. And all four play baseball. On this team. They'll all be here today."

I stopped walking. It took the women only a couple of seconds to realize I wasn't still with them. "What?"

"Yeah. My dad's psychotic plan has finally come to fruition. All the boys are on this team. Cobb is a pitcher, as you know."

"Urban plays first base," Everly added.

"Silas is on second and Brooks is a catcher."

My eyebrows were sky high as I listened to them. "None of them liked the same position?" It was a dumb question, but the only one I could think of.

Camden shook her head. "It wasn't allowed."

There were so many more questions swirling around in my head, but now wasn't the time or the place.

"To comment on your claim that those of us in a relationship with a ballplayer are crazy," Everly began, talking to Camden, "the Briggs men have a way about them. I didn't want to fall for Urban. He made it impossible not to."

Camden shook her head. "I think I just threw up in my mouth." Which caused the three of us to burst out into a fit of giggles.

I liked these women and before the night was over, I'd make sure I had Everly's phone number so that we could all talk more.

Once we were in our seats, I asked, "Are all of your brothers in relationships?"

"No." Camden focused on the field where the team was stretching. "Urban is with Everly and I'm pretty sure Godzilla himself couldn't tear my brother away."

"He better not." Everly raised her hand slightly and it took me a moment to realize that she was motioning to someone who looked like a waiter. "I need a drink. Anyone want anything?"

"I'll take a water," I told her and Camden agreed. Three waters would be on their way.

"They have waiters?" I asked.

"In this area," she told me. That was when I realized we must've been in VIP or something. We were very close to the field, on the left side of the dugout by third base.

"Then Silas is with Amity and we love her to death. I've known her since I was a kid. Her brother was Silas's best friend. But Brooks is single."

It didn't go unnoticed that she hadn't mentioned Cobb. "And Cobb is too, right?"

She glanced over at me quickly then looked out over the field again. "Yeah, of course. And Cobb."

"So did they all become baseball players because your dad was one?" I asked. Cobb had made mention of the situation, which made me think that there was more to the story.

"Like playing the positions they do wasn't a choice, playing also wasn't a choice," Camden explained. "But you should ask Cobb about it. I don't want to spill stories he doesn't want spilled."

Yeah. That made sense, but now every scenario I could come up with played out in my mind. I'd definitely ask Cobb about it.

Right then, the Knights began jogging toward their dugout, which wasn't far from where we were. Some of them grabbed mitts and headed out onto the field while I was just hoping for a glimpse of Cobb.

My wish came true moments later when he glanced over and gave me a head nod. I raised my hand in a small wave and noticed that the palms were sweaty. I blamed the heat, but I didn't really think it was the heat.

It was hard to watch the game when Cobb was right there, hanging his arms over the railing of the dugout with a guy beside him. They'd talk to each other with almost every play and it was there that I realized just how nice baseball pants were.

Men talked about yoga pants and sundresses, but women really should've been talking more about baseball pants.