Pace grabbed a Dr Pepper with an utter lack of guilt since he was done playing for a while—Christ—ignoring Wade’s knowing grin as he popped it open.

“Want to talk about it?” Wade asked.

“No.” He nodded to the laptop. “What’s up?”

“Not you. It didn’t get out yet.”

“Yeah, well. Holly knows.”

Wade leaned back in the chair. “So?”

“So . . . she’s a reporter, in case you missed that.”

“Maybe she’s not wearing her reporter hat with you. You ever think of that?”

“I don’t think the hat comes off just for me.”

“Then she would have reported it in her blog by now, but she hasn’t.”

“Not yet.”

Wade shook his head. “You know, I thought it was your shoulder that was fucked up, but really, it’s your head.”

“You’re that sure she’s not our leak?”

Wade was quiet a moment. “Actually, I thought you were that sure. Look . . . you keep waiting for her to screw up so you can be over her, but she isn’t screwing up, at least not that we know of, so what’s next? How will you push her away now?” Wade shook his head. “Hope you have a parachute for that fall, buddy.”

“What fall?”

“The one you’re taking for her. You’re falling hard and fast.”

Which was just true enough to scare the hell out of him. And suddenly, the cool clubhouse felt hot, way too hot. “I need a water.” He set down the soda.

Wade handed over his Nalgene water bottle, which was only a quarter full but Pace took it. Downed it.

Sam came into the room, carrying her newly printed brochures for the upcoming Poker Night. “Pace? You okay? You look pale.”

“I’m fine.”

Gage came in next and also gave him a funny look, but didn’t say anything. Pace managed to avoid sitting next to him, sitting instead next to Ty, who had returned from pitching practice with Red and was now leaning back in his chair, eyes closed, waiting for the rest of management to arrive. Ty could be counted on not to ask questions. And also to carry water. Spying Ty’s water bottle, Pace picked it up and chugged it, and finally began to relax.

When Pace set the empty bottle back down, Ty opened his eyes, looked at what Pace had done, and said, “Hey.”

“I’ll get you more—”

Ty stopped him from getting up. “Don’t worry about it. But I had a mix in it.”

“Tucker’s vitamin pack? Or did I just drug myself?” Pace joked.

Ty laughed. “Yeah, good thing we’ve already both had our testing for the season.”

“Yeah.” So he’d just doubled his vitamin intake today. Hell, maybe it would perform some miracle on his aching body. His shoulder was killing him, and he couldn’t get comfortable no matter what position he did.