"I should have benched your ass after your last fuck up. Your head hasn’t been in the game at all. You’re done. Benched. I’ll give Russo a chance at first base for the rest of the week."
"What the fuck?" Slade slammed his helmet on the ground. Anger boiled in his veins. He stepped closer, hands clenched into fists at his sides. "You can’t do that."
"I can do whatever the fuck I want." Dusty jammed his finger into Slade’s chest, pushing hard with every word. "Keep talking. You’ll be riding the bench for longer."
"Get your hands off me, asshole."
"Asshole?" Dusty's eyes narrowed and he shoved Slade back a step. "You’re done for the season."
"Push me again, old man, and I’ll knock your wrinkly ass out."
Dom, Adam, and the third base coach rushed over. Pulling Slade back, Dom got in between Dusty and him. He nudged Slade, directing him down the dugout steps. "Calm down. Let’s go. That’s enough."
Slade glared at the field where the third base coach was trying to calm Dusty down. "Did you hear what he said? That prick’s trying to bench me."
Adam joined them and patted him on the back. "Let’s get to the showers. You need to cool off."
"Yeah." He headed for the showers, intent on avoiding any conversations and just getting the hell out of the ballpark.
When he left the locker room, Tim from security met him in the hall. After a quick glance around, Tim pulled him to the side. "The GM called Dusty up to his office. Rumor has it that he’s being let go. No official word yet though."
"Whoa. That would make my night. Thanks for the heads-up."
Word had spread fast. The halls buzzed with gossip. Proving once again that they had his back, Dom and Adam entertained the reporters long enough for Slade to slip out.
He tried to put the game and speculation over Dusty out of his mind while he drove to the bar. It was one of a one-hundred-sixty-two game season. They had another game tomorrow. Dwelling on this one wouldn’t help. But damn it, did he have to screw up so badly? No way would he let the old man bench him.
Parking next to Savanna’s car, he realized she was still sitting in the driver’s seat. Seeing him, she jumped out and shut the door. She crossed to him, her red sundress showing off curves he’d touched only hours before.
When her arms wound around his neck and her lips pressed to his, the tension melted from his muscles. He wrapped his arms around her and soaked in the serenity she gave him.
After a long moment, she eased back. "Are you all right?"
"Better now." He kissed her cheek and hugged her closer, and then drew away.
"Tiffany and James are meeting us inside?"
"They’re probably already here." He held the door for her and kept one arm around her as they wove through the room toward his birth parents and half-siblings. Crowded around a booth, the group waved.
James stood when they arrived. "Exciting game this afternoon."
"Not one of my best." Slade managed the smile more easily, but his embarrassment and irritation at his actions on the field still stung.
"Every player has a bad game now and again." James patted him on the shoulder. "You’re a top contender with the fans’ vote for the All-Star team, so just put it out of your mind and worry about the next game."
Slade made the introductions between Savanna and the others, and then they slid into the booth beside Tiffany.
She patted his hand. "I didn’t like the way the manager got in your face when you were in the dugout. He shouldn’t be allowed to talk to you guys that way."
"For him, that was pretty mild. But yeah, I agree. A personality like Dusty’s can become a cancer in the clubhouse." It already had. Most of his teammates were grumbling about Dusty and the tension in the clubhouse was thicker than he’d ever experienced. Who knew what would come of Dusty’s conversation with the GM?
Under the table, Savanna’s hand squeezed his thigh. "I wanted to run down there and tell him to back off. I saw what happened after the game. He’s awful."
He covered her hand with his, pleased at her protectiveness. "Thanks."
His phone buzzed with texts from Dom, Adam, and Liam.
Dom: Time to celebrate. Dusty is officially fired.
Adam: GM is holding a press conference now. Said what happened after the game was the last straw and it was clear Dusty had lost the locker room.
Liam: Dude! Celebration tonight!
The weight hovering over his heart lightened and he couldn’t contain the grin spreading over his face. "I just got word that Dusty’s gone. Fired tonight."
“Good riddance to him.” James nodded and then smiled. "I never liked him as a manager. And I especially disliked his treatment of you. Let’s celebrate."
Slade wrapped his arm around Savanna’s shoulders and turned his attention to the people around the table. Celebrating worked for him.
They sat for more than an hour, over shared appetizers and a mix of drinks, and he got to know the family a little better.
He definitely was less of a stranger to his family than before. But he still felt like an outsider.
SAVANNA
AFTER HIS BIO FAMILY left, Savanna and Slade moved to the bar. She'd been pleased when he'd asked her to go with him to meet them. Curiosity over who they were and the knowledge that Slade needed her had made for an easy yes. "I liked them."
"I do too. I'm hoping that they'll eventually feel more like friends than strangers. Even family."
She squeezed his thigh in reassurance. "I'm sure they will."
Slade wrapped his arm around her shoulder as the bartender set fresh drinks on the table. "I was thinking about vacations for the off-season, and there's something I wanted to ask you."
He was including her in his months-away plans. Heat and pleasure curled through her system. "Ask away."
"How do you feel about swimming with sharks?"
She blinked, surprised at the unexpected
