Just South of Paradise by Grace Palmer

Author:Grace Palmer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grace Palmer

Everyone on the team knows where they’re headed after Drew’s walk-off homer. It’s not like they have a lot of options—Rock Hill, South Carolina, isn’t exactly Manhattan. But there’s only one place to go to celebrate with the town’s boozehounds and single women: Jimmy Buck’s.

Most of the regulars at Jimmy Buck’s Tavern know the team. A couple of them were even at the game, seeing as how there isn’t much else to do around these parts. They greet Drew and the others with whoops of congratulatory joy when the Rangers players walk through the door.

Drew glows from the inside. He approaches the bar feeling like a million bucks, surreptitiously glancing around the bar to see if there are any attractive women to catch his eye. He makes a mental note of a pretty little blonde thing at a table with some girlfriends.

“What can I get ya?” asks David, the weekday bartender.

Drew grins. “Pitchers all ’round. We’re celebrating.”

David starts pouring. “I’m guessing it was a big win?”

This irks Drew, even though he knows that’s a petty grievance. “You haven’t heard?” he asks.

David shrugs. “Guess not.”

Brock comes up from behind and claps Drew on the back with one of his meaty hands. He’s a new rookie, but he’s also tallest on the team, six-foot-five to Drew’s six-even. Drew finds himself a little irritated at that, too, for no particular reason. Brock choked today when the team needed him, and Drew had to tidy things up. He’s got nothing to worry about from the rook.

“Drew here hit the game-winning home run today,” Brock announces proudly. “His pitcher’s on me.”

Drew nods, satisfied. That’s the right attitude from the young gun. Pay respects where they’re due.

“Well, how ’bout that then? Good job, guys,” Dave hands over a pitcher and starts filling another. “I’ll have to get out there and see you play one of these days.”

“Yeah,” Drew remarks acidly. “You should.”

He takes his pitcher to the table where the team is sitting and pulls out his phone to quickly text the news to his parents and sisters. His mom would probably appreciate a phone call, but he’ll get to that later.

He knows he hasn’t been the best of sons recently. He can sometimes go weeks without talking to his parents because he’ll get caught up with his team and forget to return calls. He can’t help it. They’re all so far away, and he has a lot going on. Anyway, they understand, right? He’s busy making his mark on the world.

Drew washes down the faint guilt lining his throat with the first sip of cold beer.

When Drew first came to Rock Hill, he hated it. The town is a little bit bigger than Willow Beach but sits smack-dab in the middle of nowhere. Plus, the summers are hotter than a tinfoil sweater and there seems to be at least one pothole per resident. He can’t wait to get out of here.

Three or four beers and a few “congratulations” texts later, and Drew could walk on water.

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