Over the Fence: Lyssa Layne's Baseball Romances Read Online Free
Author: Lyssa Layne
from me, but she and I have completely different interests too. I was born playing sports while she is a complete and total book nerd.
Softball, basketball, soccer… You name it, I played it, although soccer was my primary sport. That’s how I met Jace. I was playing at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles while Jace was the all-star baseball pitcher. We both grew up in the area, so we spent our summers conditioning together until he decided to leave school without even saying good-bye.
Before Meg and I can continue our conversation, our waiter approaches the table. He frowns as he takes us both in. “Señoritas, we don’t allow sad faces here. Instead… we drink tequila!” he exclaims, as he plops a sombrero on each of our heads and sets two shots in front of us.
My sister and I laugh as we clink our glasses. With the first shot, I feel the liquid burning down my throat, but by the third one, it slides down with no problem at all.
***
It’s only ten, but after two pitchers of margaritas and four, maybe five shots of tequila, Meg and I decide we’d better call it a night. I stumble out of the cab, giggling to myself. We had some intense girl talk about Jace, Mark, and even Grant once the tequila started flowing.
I pull on the door to my building but it doesn’t open. I fumble through my purse looking for my keys. I jiggle the lock but it still won’t budge. I’m about to ring my neighbor when Maddox, the middle-aged homeless man who lives outside our building, says in a chipper voice, “Read the sign, Colie!”
Maddox and I are on a first name basis since I bring him home leftovers from the ballpark during the season. I squint in the dark, reading the sign in the glow of the streetlight. It reads CONDEMNED. I stomp my foot and let out a frustrated scream.
Maddox laughs and pats the blanket beside him. “I’ve got room for you here, Colie.”
I narrow my eyes at him as I punch a number into my phone. It only rings once when a low, husky voice answers. I can tell that I’ve woken him but in this moment, I don’t care.
“Grant, my building is condemned because of you!”
“Colie, have you been drinking?” he says and I can hear rustling in the background. Great, I probably interrupted him and some mystery woman.
“You called your friend and now I can’t get in my building. I’m going to have to share Maddox’s blanket and sleep with him on the sidewalk tonight!”
Maddox’s eyes light up at the mention of his name.
I hear Grant curse under his breath before he answers. “I’m on my way, Colie. Go to the diner across the street and don’t share anything with Maddox.”
He hangs up with me before I can object. A cool gust of wind blows down the street. I glance over at Maddox, who smiles deviously and wiggles his eyebrows. I sigh and nod toward the diner. “Have you had dinner?”
Maddox doesn’t miss a beat. He jumps up and holds out his arm for me like any gentleman would do. He leads us to the diner and I let him order for both of us, knowing he’ll eat everything. Sipping coffee, I try to sober up before Grant arrives. That’s when the realization that I’m homeless hits me.
Thirty minutes later and I’m on my third cup of Joe while Maddox licks his plate clean. The bell above the door rings. Glancing up, I see Grant searching the faces in the restaurant. He frowns when he sees me sitting with Maddox. The two men have met before and Maddox couldn’t care less that Grant is a famous athlete.
I sit up a little straighter as Grant approaches our table. Our eyes meet but he doesn’t say anything at first. I finally look away when Maddox lets out a loud, stinky burp. I smile at the bum and comment, “I take it that you liked it.”
Maddox flashes me a toothless grin. Then, as he realizes for the first time that Grant is there, his smile disappears and he starts to fiddle with his silverware. Grant shakes his head and grabs the bill on the table, muttering at me to
Softball, basketball, soccer… You name it, I played it, although soccer was my primary sport. That’s how I met Jace. I was playing at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles while Jace was the all-star baseball pitcher. We both grew up in the area, so we spent our summers conditioning together until he decided to leave school without even saying good-bye.
Before Meg and I can continue our conversation, our waiter approaches the table. He frowns as he takes us both in. “Señoritas, we don’t allow sad faces here. Instead… we drink tequila!” he exclaims, as he plops a sombrero on each of our heads and sets two shots in front of us.
My sister and I laugh as we clink our glasses. With the first shot, I feel the liquid burning down my throat, but by the third one, it slides down with no problem at all.
***
It’s only ten, but after two pitchers of margaritas and four, maybe five shots of tequila, Meg and I decide we’d better call it a night. I stumble out of the cab, giggling to myself. We had some intense girl talk about Jace, Mark, and even Grant once the tequila started flowing.
I pull on the door to my building but it doesn’t open. I fumble through my purse looking for my keys. I jiggle the lock but it still won’t budge. I’m about to ring my neighbor when Maddox, the middle-aged homeless man who lives outside our building, says in a chipper voice, “Read the sign, Colie!”
Maddox and I are on a first name basis since I bring him home leftovers from the ballpark during the season. I squint in the dark, reading the sign in the glow of the streetlight. It reads CONDEMNED. I stomp my foot and let out a frustrated scream.
Maddox laughs and pats the blanket beside him. “I’ve got room for you here, Colie.”
I narrow my eyes at him as I punch a number into my phone. It only rings once when a low, husky voice answers. I can tell that I’ve woken him but in this moment, I don’t care.
“Grant, my building is condemned because of you!”
“Colie, have you been drinking?” he says and I can hear rustling in the background. Great, I probably interrupted him and some mystery woman.
“You called your friend and now I can’t get in my building. I’m going to have to share Maddox’s blanket and sleep with him on the sidewalk tonight!”
Maddox’s eyes light up at the mention of his name.
I hear Grant curse under his breath before he answers. “I’m on my way, Colie. Go to the diner across the street and don’t share anything with Maddox.”
He hangs up with me before I can object. A cool gust of wind blows down the street. I glance over at Maddox, who smiles deviously and wiggles his eyebrows. I sigh and nod toward the diner. “Have you had dinner?”
Maddox doesn’t miss a beat. He jumps up and holds out his arm for me like any gentleman would do. He leads us to the diner and I let him order for both of us, knowing he’ll eat everything. Sipping coffee, I try to sober up before Grant arrives. That’s when the realization that I’m homeless hits me.
Thirty minutes later and I’m on my third cup of Joe while Maddox licks his plate clean. The bell above the door rings. Glancing up, I see Grant searching the faces in the restaurant. He frowns when he sees me sitting with Maddox. The two men have met before and Maddox couldn’t care less that Grant is a famous athlete.
I sit up a little straighter as Grant approaches our table. Our eyes meet but he doesn’t say anything at first. I finally look away when Maddox lets out a loud, stinky burp. I smile at the bum and comment, “I take it that you liked it.”
Maddox flashes me a toothless grin. Then, as he realizes for the first time that Grant is there, his smile disappears and he starts to fiddle with his silverware. Grant shakes his head and grabs the bill on the table, muttering at me to
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