Page 54 of Wild King
“Where are you going? I’m living vicariously through you, so it better be somewhere good.”
He smiles but doesn’t say anything. I know my brother better than anyone else in the world. This is something good. Ronan always acts like this when it’s a big deal.
I lean over and nudge his arm. “Tell me. Remember, I have nothing going on, so I need to hear some good news.”
“How does a tryout with a minor league baseball team sound?” he says, happier than I’ve seen him in a long time.
“Get out of here!” I say as I stand up to shake his hand. “How? I thought since you didn’t get a chance when you were in college that you wouldn’t get another.”
“A scout saw me playing with an indie league and invited me to a tryout. I go to Florida next week after the All Star break.”
“Holy shit! That’s terrific! Congratulations, Ronan.”
He’s beaming a smile like he’s back in little league and he’s just hit a homerun over the fence. “Thanks. I’m nervous as all hell, but this is what I’ve always dreamed of doing.”
Salem stares at him like she’s shocked. “Congratulations! I had no idea you were a ball player.”
I pat my brother on the back and take the opportunity to brag about him. “Since he was a little boy. Our older brothers taught him to play, and ever since, he’s been a star.”
Ronan winces and shakes his head. “Kellen exaggerates. I don’t think anyone would call me a star.”
“You would have gotten a full ride to college on a baseball scholarship if you hadn’t taken a semester off. I’m glad someone’s finally noticed your greatness. I thought they would in college, but this works too.”
“I hope it works out for you, Ronan,” Salem says as she stands to leave.
“You don’t have to go so soon, do you?” he asks and gives me a side eye.
“I do. I have a ton of work to do, and I want to catch some people before they head out for the Fourth of July holiday. Yournews made my day, though, so thank you. I hope I get to hear you’re on a major league team someday soon.”
She leaves, and I do nothing to stop her. I don’t even know what to say to make her want to spend time with me now.
Meanwhile, my younger brother seems to be making points with her all over the place.
Once she’s out of earshot, Ronan turns toward me and chucks me on the shoulder. “What the hell are you doing? She was here, and you just let her go. No wonder you’re not making any progress with her. Jesus, Kellen. This should be like shooting fish in a barrel for you.”
I sit down on the chaise lounge and gulp down a mouthful of beer. “Normal Kellen, yes. I don’t know what the hell this version of me is doing. Well, other than sitting around day drinking.”
He shakes his head and fold his arms across his chest. “She’s a captive audience. Why not try to talk to her and get to know what she likes? Believe it or not, women actually like that.”
I don’t tell him, but I’m not exactly an expert in that kind of thing. Getting women into bed is easy. I never have a problem with that. I’ve never tried to do anything else. Now that I’ve found a woman I would like to try to be with for more than one night, I’m like a fish out of water.
So this is what happens to players when they get feelings. I need to find the person who decided this was a good thing and slap them upside the head.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Salem
Two hoursof being told my client is far too toxic and I’ll need to wait to see what the public decides about him gives me a splitting headache. Let the public decide? Who do these people think they’re talking to?
I’m the best fixer around. I make sure the public sees what they need to see and then decides my clients aren’t villains. If I let them decide based on what the media feeds them, the public would be storming the front door of this house and threatening to tar and feather Kellen.
God, I need a break, and I mean that on multiple levels. I could use a stiff drink to take the edge off this workday, and I need one big media outlet to stop peddling the bullshit they’ve been going with for the past two months when it comes to him.
Frustrated, I wander out of the office and head toward the kitchen. After gazing into the refrigerator for five minutes and seeing nothing I want, I grab one of the cheesecake desserts that meal service delivered. Not exactly the healthiest snack, butwhen work gets to me, there’s nothing like sugar to take my mind off things.
While I enjoy my treat, I look out the window at Kellen and Ronan laughing and having a good time out on the patio. Even though things have been strained on occasion between Kellen and me while we’ve been here, I like seeing him enjoying himself with his brother. I got the sense that night at Matthias and Ava’s house that the King boys weren’t going to be close for a while, but as I watch the two youngest Kings now, I’m happy to see them getting along once again.
“There really isn’t a bad looking one in the bunch,” I mumble to myself.