A Whole New Ball Game by Lauren K McKellar

Author:Lauren K McKellar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Escape Publishing

Chapter 21

Sawyer

‘Where are you taking me?’ Zoe walked alongside me, our pace brisk despite the warm Sydney air.

‘You’ll see.’ I linked her hand with mine, turning her off George Street and along a smaller alley to the restaurant. Glass lined the walls and opened up to large double doors. A line of ten people waited by the door. Mr Wong’s was popular like that.

Zoe stopped, pointing. ‘Do you think we’ll get in?’

‘Zoe, I’m kind of a big deal. Of course we’ll get in.’ I puffed out my chest in false bravado.

‘You called and booked while I was in the shower, didn’t you?’

‘Ah, yeah. Sure did.’ I grinned, loving that she saw right through me and didn’t think I was the kind of guy who’d act that way.

We gave our name to the maître d’ and were led from the quiet of the street to the hustle and bustle of our table, a small setting for two tucked next to an old brick column. Across from us, three more tables of two sat, women and men tucking into food that smelt like spice and garlic and the ocean, and waiters rushed past, plates and drinks balanced high. I’d only been here once before, but the food had been divine, and I couldn’t wait to share it with Zoe.

‘This place is …’ She shook her head, smiling as she made eye contact with a passing waiter. ‘Amazing. They must have tens of people working here.’

‘I’d say a hundred? Maybe more?’ We’d passed the glass-walled kitchen on the way to our table, and I’d seen more than ten men in there, flipping pancakes, tossing woks. That wasn’t including the floor staff, or the waiters behind the cocktail bars, shaking, stirring and pouring in a percussion all of their own.

‘Wow.’ Zoe nodded. ‘Have you been here before?’

‘Once. When we played here last year, Bra—’ Damn it. I didn’t want her to think I was still hung up on the whole Ava thing.

‘It’s okay.’ Zoe leaned across the table, placed her hand over mine. When did I grip the napkin so tight? ‘I get it. And you can talk about him—about her—with me. That’s what I’m here for.’

I shook my head. She was here because I’d hooked up a training session for her with the women trying out for the Sydney team. And to watch the game on Sunday, of course.

And because I liked her.

I liked her a lot more than I’d ever expected.

‘I don’t want to talk about her—or him.’ I raised my hand and linked our fingers together. ‘Why would I, when I’m here with you?’

A sparkle lit her eyes. ‘Such a charmer, Sawyer Benson.’

‘I aim to please.’

A waiter stopped by our table, gesturing to the unopened menus in front of us. ‘Have you had a chance to decide what you would like to eat?’

‘No, sorry. We’ll need another few minutes.’

‘A drink, perhaps?’

‘A water for me.’ I didn’t like to drink this close to a game—not one as important as this.

‘Same here, thanks.’

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