She inhaled, let out a small sigh and sat, enraptured, through the rest of the game. Since she’d gotten to know Shawnelle and Haley, she paid particular attention to Dedrick and Tommy. Dedrick played third base, and Tommy was a relief pitcher, right now set up to pitch in the middle innings if needed. He didn’t get to see a whole lot of action. But Haley had told them they were grooming Tommy to be a starter.
Gavin had gone one for four on the night, which wasn’t his best, but he did knock in a run. The nail-biter came in the ninth when the bases were loaded and Dedrick was up. The game was tied so if he didn’t bring a run in, they were going to extra innings.
Elizabeth leaned forward in her seat, her fingers clasped together as Dedrick stared down Milwaukee’s closer. Dedrick dug his toe into the dirt, leaned in, and swung. It skidded along the third-base line, and Elizabeth held her breath, certain it was going to slide outside the foul line.
It didn’t. It stayed fair, and the runners took off from first and second. She leaped from her chair and squealed with delight as Jose charged around third base toward home while the right fielder scrambled for the ball. As soon as Jose touched home plate, the game was over. They only needed that one run to win the game.
The stadium erupted into chaos. The Rivers had won.
“That was a great game,” Ty said, turning to her with a grin.
“It was, wasn’t it?”
“Thanks for bringing me. I’m new to the city and haven’t had much of a chance to get out to meet too many people. Since the move to the U.S. after the trade to the Ice, I’ve been busy finding a place to live and playing hockey. And then changing agents, of course. It’s nice to get out and do something for a change.”
“But you like the team change?”
“Of course. I was the one who wanted the change. Davis resisted.”
Elizabeth leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. “Why?”
Ty shrugged. “No clue. He just said I should stay with Toronto, that change was never good.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Your stats were abysmal in Toronto. Since the trade, you’ve been kicking ass on the ice. And with the Ice. Sometimes change is exactly what a player needs.”
“That’s what I thought, too. But hey, that’s why I’ve got you and not him. He and I never saw eye to eye on my career. You and me mesh.”
She grinned. “Yes, we do. And I’m glad you’re happy. Now you can relax, play excellent hockey, and enjoy life in Saint Louis. The guys on your team are great. You should get to know them.”
“I have. A few of us are making plans to go out this weekend.”
“Settle in and make this your home. From what I hear from the team owner, you’re going to be here awhile. He likes you and your style of play.”
“Hey, Ty, want a tour of our fine facility here?”
Ty perked up at Clyde’s suggestion. “Love one. Come on, Elizabeth.”
She shook her head, not wanting to go anywhere near the locker room. “I’ve seen the place, but you go ahead.”
“Come with us, Elizabeth. Afterward, you and Ty can come with Helen and Aubry and me. I’m buying dinner.”
Crap. Schmoozing the owner was on the top of her list of things to do, and she never turned down an opportunity to hang out with him. “What a nice offer. We’d love to, wouldn’t we, Ty?”
“I’d consider it an honor. Thank you.”
Clyde took them on the standard tour of the ballpark, from the executive offices all the way down to the players’ locker room. Elizabeth opted to wait outside the locker room with Helen and Aubry while the guys went inside, but she was certain Ty would get a kick out of meeting some of the players.
Elizabeth preferred not to see Gavin. In fact she hoped like hell she could avoid it.
“That guy is gorgeous,” Aubry said.
“Which guy? Oh, Ty?”
“Yes. Makes me wish I had a nanosecond of free time to date. The only men I get to hang around with are the other medical students.”
“Well, you do have a lot in common with them.”
“True. My mother tells me I’m destined to marry one. She’s probably right.”
“Or a baseball player.”
She rolled her eyes. “The last person I would ever marry is a baseball player. I’ve been surrounded by them my entire life. I think I’ll stick with doctors. Baseball players have entirely too much ego.”
Elizabeth laughed. “And doctors don’t?”
“Okay. Good point. But I think I’ll take my chances with doctors. Their egos I can handle. Baseball players on the other hand? Ugh.”
“You’re right about that, Aubry. We’re horrible.”
Aubry’s eyes widened. “Gavin. You know I didn’t mean you.”
Shit. Elizabeth turned around. Gavin stood outside the locker room door with Ty.
Gavin grinned at Aubry, didn’t even look at her. “Just teasing you, Bree.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
Aubry blew out a breath. “You scared me, dammit. You know some of those guys really have inflated opinions of themselves. I might hurt some feelings.”
Gavin hugged her against him. “Not me. I don’t have feelings.”
She laughed and so did Helen. “Gavin, you played well tonight.”