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  Though Maya was ready to regain her independence, her strength still wasn’t consistent enough for her to come early with Ben to his games every day. Several times a week, Ben arranged for a driver to pick Maya up from their apartment to bring her to the game so she wouldn’t have to drive herself.

  “I don’t know what you and Ben are going to do when I go to the doctor next week and he takes me off all my meds.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Once I’m done with this last round of chemo drugs, the doctor said I should start feeling like my old self.” Maya put her hand on Kari’s. “I can’t wait.”

  “Sounds like you and Ben may need to go car shopping,” Kari said.

  “Oh, he’s been shopping for weeks, and not just for cars.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “His lease came up last month, and he didn’t renew. We’re on a month-to-month now, but he wants to buy a house.”

  “Really?” Kari shifted to face Maya more fully. Even though Ben had spent last winter in Washington, DC, she had never considered that he would settle here year round. “I thought you guys would buy a house in Cincinnati near my folks.”

  “We talked about it, but my doctors are here. I also like the nursing program at the community college here.”

  “It’s already May. Have you applied yet?”

  “I applied for spring term,” Maya said. “Ben and I decided I needed some time after I finish chemo to get my strength up before tackling school again.”

  “That makes sense.” Kari let the new reality take hold and felt a sense of excitement for her friend. “Just let me know when you want to go house hunting.”

  “I was hoping you would want to tackle that adventure with me.” Maya’s eyes met hers. “Are you sure you’re okay with hanging out with me this summer?”

  “Of course I am, as long as you don’t mind having me,” Kari said.

  “You know you’re always welcome to stay with us as long as you want, but I feel bad that we’re talking about me and Ben buying a new house when all of your summer plans changed so completely.”

  “It’s water under the bridge,” Kari said, trying to believe her words.

  “Can’t you do anything about the internship?” Maya asked.

  “I put in a grievance, but that’s all I could do. By the time they review my complaint, the summer will be over.”

  “I’m sorry, Kari. I know you were really looking forward to working at the imaging center.”

  “Yeah, I think that’s the worst part,” Kari admitted. “It was annoying to have the internship ripped away from me at the last minute. I love working with MRIs and sonograms. It’s fascinating how technology can be so effective as a diagnostic tool.”

  Maya rolled her eyes. “I’m certainly well versed in all of those tools.”

  “Yeah, but now we go in expecting good news instead of bad,” Kari reminded her.

  “That’s true.” Maya’s attention shifted to the section to their right. “Uh-oh.”

  “What?” Kari followed Maya’s gaze to where several women were chatting as they made their way to their seats.

  Maya shifted closer. “See the redhead over there with the Strobel jersey?”

  “Yeah. What about her?”

  “She’s Ryan’s ex-fiancée, Brandi.”

  “And?”

  “I’m just wondering what she’s doing in town.”

  Kari watched Brandi greet several women sitting in the rows in front of them before taking a seat. “Looks like she has a lot of friends here.”

  “They’re the other players’ wives and girlfriends.” Maya shifted her attention back to Kari. “How did practice go today?”

  “Better than expected.” Kari’s eyes lit up at the memory of Lanski sliding into second. “I was hoping for an encore at some point tonight, but someone sent the grounds crew out to check all the bases. They cleaned up what was left of the shaving cream.”

  “I wish I would have been here to see it.”

  “Oh, I figured you would say that.” Kari pulled out her phone and showed Maya the video of Lanski sliding into third. In the background, the player going into second was also visible.

  Maya giggled. “Now I really wish I had been here.”

  Kari noticed Ben and a few of his teammates wandering out onto the field to start their warmup. “I have to say, after sitting here all afternoon, I’m ready to see the actual game.”

  “I usually bring a book or something with me for that gap between stretching and start time.”

  “Now you tell me.”

  “Hey, sometimes you have to find things out the hard way yourself.”

  “I may resemble that remark,” Kari admitted. “Did you want me to get us something to eat?”

  “I think we can do better than concessions.” Maya opened her oversized purse and pulled out two plastic containers, handing one to Kari.

  “Is this what I think it is?”

  “If you think it’s curry chicken, then yes.” She took out a plastic bag that contained three plastic forks, opened it, and handed one to Kari. “Ben helped me make some on his last day off. I promised to make some for my friend Henry.”

  “Did someone call my name?”

  Kari looked up to see an older man with a huge grin. His skin was dark and weathered, his eyes bright with humor.

  “You’re just in time.” Maya motioned to Kari. “Henry, this is Ben’s sister, Kari. Kari, this is Henry. He’s the angel who used to help me get home after my treatments before Ben and I got married.”

  Kari offered her hand. “It’s so good to meet you. Maya and Ben have mentioned your name quite a few times over the past several months.”

  “I’ve heard plenty of stories about you too.” Henry shook her hand and took the seat on the other side of Maya. “Now, where’s that curry chicken you promised me?”

  Maya retrieved a third container from her bag. “Here you go.”

  Kari took a bite and rolled her eyes in appreciation. “This is just as good as I remembered.”

  “Glad you like it.”

  “I keep telling her that if she’s not careful, she could put the food court out of business.” Henry scooped up a bite and wagged his fork in the direction of the concourse. “Seriously, this is a golden opportunity.”

  “I only cook for my special friends,” Maya said with a laugh.

  Kari leaned forward and grinned at Henry. “We both have excellent taste in friends.”

  “I agree.”

  Chapter 3

  Ryan sat on the grass between Ben and Gavin while all three men stretched. Ben nodded toward the stands. “Ryan, it looks like your friend is back.”

  “Which one?” Gavin asked with a friendly smirk.

  Ryan winced as Gavin’s question echoed through his own brain. He deliberately didn’t look in the direction Ben indicated, instead waiting for an answer.

  “Brandi.”

  At the mention of her name, Ryan had to fight the urge to look. “I wonder what she’s doing here.”

  “I don’t know,” Ben said. “I stopped following her on Twitter after you two broke up.”

  “I didn’t,” Gavin admitted. “But she didn’t mention anything about being in town. My guess is she’s here to surprise you.”

  “I don’t like surprises.”

  “Sure you do,” Gavin countered, “or you wouldn’t have helped Ben line the bases with shaving cream.”

  “What makes you think I had anything to do with it?”

  “I saw you jump out of the way when Lanski slid into third, just like Ben did when he came into second.” Gavin stretched his back and glanced over at some of their teammates playing catch. “What I want to know was how you managed to frame me.”

  “What do you mean?” Ryan asked.

  “I came back from practice to find my helmet filled with shaving cream,” Gavin told them. “Coincidence? I don’t think so.”

  Ryan tried to smother his laughter but cou
ldn’t quite manage it. “Sorry, Gavin, but we didn’t have anything to do with that.”

  “Yeah, man. We didn’t know you’d be the only person called out during our team meeting.”

  “My mom called. She was having an emergency.”

  “She was asking about doing a soup commercial with you,” Ben countered.

  “For her, that’s an emergency,” Gavin insisted. “It had something to do with styling her hair.”

  “Makes me glad my mom isn’t into that kind of stuff,” Ryan said, thinking of how down-to-earth his mother was. She wouldn’t even let him buy her a house or upgrade her tiny two-bedroom apartment.

  “What are you going to do about Brandi?” Ben asked, bringing his attention back to his ex-fiancée sitting in the stands.

  “Pretend she isn’t here.”

  “Good luck with that.”

  “Thanks.”

  * * *

  Kari waited with Maya outside the clubhouse door while Ben finished doing whatever it was he did after a game. She glanced down at her watch. The final out had occurred over an hour ago. “Does it always take him this long to change?” Kari asked.

  “It depends on if he was responsible for the winning run,” Maya said.

  “Which tonight he was.”

  “The press conference should be over in a few minutes,” Maya assured her.

  “Do all of the players have to stay for those?”

  “No. It’s usually just a few of them. Tonight it was probably the winning pitcher, Ben, and Ryan who got roped into it.”

  “No wonder Ben’s sleep schedule is so crazy.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Maya agreed.

  Kari glanced around and noticed the redhead Maya had pointed out earlier. She stood talking to another woman a short distance away.

  “Looks like we aren’t the only ones waiting,” Kari said softly.

  “I wonder how Ryan is going to feel when he walks out here and finds her waiting.”

  “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never met the man.”

  “I’ll have to introduce you to him,” Maya said. “He’s a good guy.”

  Kari sensed movement and turned to see Ben and Ryan heading toward her. She didn’t miss the way Ryan’s gait faltered when his eyes swept over his ex-fiancée.

  Ben must have noticed the change too because he put a hand on Ryan’s shoulder and leaned over to say something to him.

  They were too far away for Kari to make out the words, but she saw Ryan nod as they continued toward them.

  “I’m glad you waited for us,” Ben said, and to Kari’s surprise, he hugged her instead of approaching Maya first. He lowered his voice and whispered, “Do me a favor. Pretend you and Ryan know each other.”

  Before she could respond, he released her. As Ben turned his attention to Maya, Ryan stepped forward. “Thanks for waiting for me, Kari.”

  “No problem,” she said. Though confused, she continued to play along. “Are you guys ready to go?”

  “We are.” Ben draped his arm around Maya and started toward the exit.

  Kari turned to follow them, surprised when Ryan stepped beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. When she saw the ex-fiancée heading toward them, she clued into the favor Ben had really asked of her. Now aware of her role as stand-in girlfriend, she pushed aside the bubble of awkwardness, looked up at Ryan, and smiled brightly. “Are you guys still up for going out to celebrate?”

  “That’s a great idea,” Ryan said, a look of relief flashing in his expression. “We could go to that all-night diner you like so much.”

  “I could go for a milkshake,” Kari said.

  “Me too.” Ben shifted and nearly succeeded in cutting off Brandi’s progress but not quite. She skirted past him and stopped in front of Ryan.

  Brandi’s gaze skimmed over Kari, a touch of disdain appearing in her expression before she focused on Ryan. “Ryan. I hoped I could talk to you for a few minutes.”

  “Oh, hi, Brandi. I didn’t realize you were in town.” Ryan turned to Kari. “Kari Evans, this is Brandi Snyder.”

  Kari gave her a nod in greeting. She felt bad misleading this girl, but she figured Ben must have his reasons for asking her to help. Determined to play her part well, she said, “Nice to meet you. Are you a friend of Ryan’s from back home?”

  Apparently shocked that Kari didn’t know who she was, Brandi stiffened. Her voice turned haughty. “Ryan and I used to be engaged.” She waved a hand toward Kari as though dismissing her. Her words went shrill when she added, “Unlike his current dating behavior, where no one ever lasts longer than a date or two.”

  Whatever sympathies Kari had felt for Brandi dissolved in an instant. Ryan dropped his arm around her shoulder down so he could take Kari’s hand. “I’m sorry, Brandi, but we have plans. I’ll see you around.” He looked down at Kari and gave her an apologetic look. “Come on, Kari. Let’s go.”

  “Lead the way. I’m starving.”

  Together, the two couples left Brandi behind and headed for the parking lot.

  * * *

  Ryan let out a sigh of relief when they stepped outside and into the players’ lot. The look on Brandi’s face when Kari had asked how she knew Ryan had been priceless. Ryan almost felt bad for deceiving her.

  “I think we’re in the clear,” Ben said, glancing behind them. “I guess this is kind of redundant now that you two are practically dating, but, Ryan, this is my sister, Kari. Kari, this is Ryan Strobel.”

  Ryan released her hand and turned to face her. Her brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail that fed through the back of her Nationals ball cap, and her green eyes lifted to meet his. He sensed an innate confidence in her that made her pretty features even more attractive. “Thanks for helping me out back there. It was about to get very awkward.”

  “I had a feeling,” Kari said. “It’s nice to meet you, Ryan.”

  He was surprised when she took a step toward Ben’s car without any further comment. She didn’t mention their earlier ruse of going out to eat or seem interested in getting his phone number. He couldn’t remember the last time he had met a woman who had acted that way, at least not while he was at the ball field.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Ryan,” Ben said, reaching out to open the car door for his wife.

  “Yeah. Tomorrow.” Bewildered, he watched Kari continue toward the car.

  Chapter 4

  Kari had considered staying at home with Maya when Ben went to practice the next day. That decision changed as soon as she found out Maya had a doctor’s appointment and had made arrangements to ride to the game with her friend Henry and his wife.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind coming early with me?” Ben asked as they drove past the Lincoln Memorial. “I can drop you off at the monuments, and you could take the subway to the game.”

  “It’s okay. I’ll have plenty of time to play tourist later, and I’d rather wait until Maya feels up to coming with me.”

  His eyes brightened. “Only a few more days of chemo.”

  Kari couldn’t help but smile at her brother’s expression. Never would she have guessed that her brother and best friend would end up getting married, but after seeing them together at Christmas and again over the past two days, she couldn’t imagine either of them marrying anyone else.

  “You know, you still owe me for setting you up with her.”

  “You hardly set me up.” Ben shot her a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me look. “You let her move into my apartment without telling me.”

  Kari settled back in her seat. “You’re welcome.”

  “You’re unbelievable.”

  “Part of my charm.”

  “Speaking of which, thanks again for helping Ryan out last night.”

  “No problem.” Kari turned to face him. “I have to admit, though, that was a strange way to meet one of your friends.”

  “But it was memorable,” Ben countered.

  “True.” She let herself get distracted by the sights of the nation
’s capital. As they neared the ballpark, her thoughts returned to last night.

  Ryan had played his part well in making it look like they were really a couple. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she had enjoyed that brief connection with him. Perhaps it was the casual companionship she had once enjoyed with Austin that she really missed. It was hard to believe it had been less than two weeks since she had taken such simple things for granted.

  Now, the only consistent contact she had with a man other than her brother was the text messages Austin sent her every day.

  As though on cue, her phone chimed.

  She glanced down to see Austin’s name on the screen with an incoming text message. Please call me. We need to talk.

  Kari deleted the message.

  “Is everything okay?” Ben asked, seeming to have felt the change in her mood.

  “Yeah. I just wish Austin would get the hint and stop texting me.”

  “Maybe you should block his number.”

  “It might come to that.” Eager to change the subject, she asked, “How long do you think it will take before your teammates try to get even with you for the shaving cream yesterday?”

  “Actually, they already got even with Gavin. They thought he was the guilty party.”

  Kari couldn’t help but laugh. “If the team got even with Gavin, I guess the real question is when Gavin will play a joke on you.”

  “I was wondering the same thing.” Ben pulled into the parking lot and waved at the security guard. He slowed as he passed Ryan’s car. “Looks like Gavin has already started.”

  Kari looked out the window to see the team’s logo written in Oreos on Ryan’s windshield. The left side of the curly W started at the passenger’s side and streaked over in front of the steering wheel.

  “He did a good job getting them to stick to the glass,” Ben commented.

  “Yeah. Once you open them up, the filling really sticks, especially in the heat,” Kari said.

  Ben shot her a sidelong glance. “And you know this how?”

  “You taught me.”

  “Oh yeah.” Ben parked and shifted to look at her. “I don’t suppose you want to hang out here and guard my car, do you?”