Before she hopped out, I grabbed her arm. She looked over her shoulder at me, surprised. “Do I need to give you another fake orgasm so you’re relaxed?”

She blushed, pushed her glasses up. “Seventh inning stretch?” A sly smile spread across her face when I had to adjust myself.

She hopped out and I met her by the hood. Through the chain link fence that separated the playing field from the parking lot, I took in the group.

Astrid’s mother, Amy, Michael. Bea. Bunky and Lynn. The former president. Eddie. The wedding planner, Kit, who must have been roped into this. A few others I hadn’t met before.

“Can your mother play softball?” I wondered. While Astrid’s mom couldn’t be more than fifty-five, I figured the only thing she ran to was a shoe sale. She was in black ankle pants and a fuschia blouse. A blouse. To play softball.

“No. But she wouldn’t miss this for anything.”

“But your dad would?” I didn’t see him anywhere.

“Last night there was liquor,” she said.

I mentally added and hookers.

“I’m sure he’s at the hospital. He’ll be at the rehearsal dinner tonight. I’m sorry I never asked if you were okay with this.”

“Softball?” I shrugged. “What can go wrong?”

I should have known with this crowd, probably a hell of a lot.

We walked onto the field and joined the group by one of the dugouts. Patricia turned to us, her assessing gaze raking over us. “There you are.”

“We’re here!” Astrid replied brightly.

Michael came over, gave me a head nod. I’d learned the night before he was an accountant and I’d played against his high school football team back in the day. Out of the guys I’d met, he was as decent as Astrid had said. He wore gym shorts and an old college t-shirt, far from the others in their designer athleisure-wear. Bunky was dressed for the links, not right field. Eddie’s sneakers cost more than a fancy saddle. I didn’t even look at any of the women in their skin-tight leggings and crop tops.

“We’ve already chosen teams,” Michael said. “Amy and I are team captains. You and Astrid are with me, Edward, Bea, Bunky, Kit and her boyfriend, Nix.”

I only nodded because being stuck with Eddie and Bunky? Fucking awful.

“Batter up!” Patricia shouted from behind home plate.

I glanced at Michael, who frowned. “She’s the umpire.”

Astrid came over in a ball cap, the words “Groom’s Team” embroidered on the front. She handed one to me, another to Michael. “Here.”

I looked at it, sighed, and put it on. I’d left my Stetson in Astrid’s room.

“Hey, I’m Nix Knight.” We shook hands. “I know your brother, Huck.”

“Oh?”