Room One Hundred and Twenty Nine (Club Sin: Seattle Session 2)

Chapter 2

Nicholas

“Go, Bailey, go!” I shout after she hits the ball and starts running towards first base. Bailey is not a fast woman, but she has good instincts for which base to stop at. She hit it far and gets to second base by the time they get the ball back to the pitcher.

For the last few years, I’ve been coaching an all woman’s softball team. Why they got a dude to coach an all-women’s team I don’t know. My sister is how I got the job. She organizes these softball games and when their last coach had to stop, she called me. I think she had a baby or something.

I played baseball in high school and college so I guess that’s why she thought I could do it, even though they’re two different games.

The Sunday afternoon sun beats down on us as Bailey gets to second plate. Marsha, who was on third, is now home. I stick my hand out and she claps it as she returns to the dugout. Next to the plate is Haruko Kaswell. She came in a couple of years ago and she is something. Long dark hair, big brown eyes and a smile I swear could light up the eastern fucking seaboard. She’s perfect. She’s also my employee.

On the weekend I’m a cat owner, animal figurine collector and softball coach. On the weekdays, I work at Juniper Enterprises as one of three CEOs along with Elijah King and Parker Kincaid. Parker is my buddy from college and I met Elijah a few years after graduation.

We work in real estate and we were looking for an assistant a while ago and typically we pluck a lot of our employees from the intern pool. But we were looking for some new blood, so we opened it up to anyone qualified.

We had a lot of good people come in, but Haruko stood out. Fresh out of college, she was hungry for work. Her mother being in real estate and the fact that she seemed unfazed by three giant men at the head of a table so it was a no brainer. Well, for me it was. Elijah wasn’t convinced. He thought we needed someone older and more experienced. But Parker agreed with me.

There was one problem. I liked her. The instant she walked into the office wearing a burgundy turtleneck, grey slacks with black heels, her hair in a French twist with minimal makeup, I was hooked. Which meant I should’ve turned her away. But a part of me couldn’t do it. I was compelled to see her every day. So, we took a vote. Parker and I voted yes. So, she got the job.

After a while, we discovered a couple of things.

I’m the only one attracted to her.

I‘d seen Parker lean against her desk, being friendly as fuck. Fortunately, or unfortunately, that puts him in the friend zone. I know because I saw her shoulder punch him after a joke. Friends do that.

As for Elijah, his hesitation to hire her was more complicated. He definitely likes her, too. For him, it’s complicated because for one he’s 40 years old which is nearly twice Haruko’s age, which he could get over, but his best friend, not one of us, is her father. Simon Kaswell was Elijah’s friend in college and they’re like brothers. While I could always count on Elijah to get out of a jam, Simon was different. I think because they don’t work together, it allows them to have a different relationship.

But it’s been two years, and nothing’s happened. And nothing is likely to happen. Parker is her friend. I think she’s scared of the grumpy Elijah and I’m her coach. We’re not even near boyfriend material, which is probably good. Because in the end, she’s still my—our—employee. And we don’t get to date our employees.

Honestly, her being our employee and Elijah's best friend’s daughter is only two-thirds of the problem. The last part is us. Elijah, Parker and I. Parker and I are kind of a thing. Not a romantic thing. Well, we might be, but we do everything together. Including date. Which is why we’re still single, because for most women, a foursome is nice for a good time but not a long time. Either that or they feel it’s too much. And Elijah isn’t exactly Mr. Touchy Feely either which sometimes bothers people. Thinking that he’s not interested rather than him just needing time to figure out how he feels. But he’s not our third wheel. The relationship between Parker and I is more than just friendship but Elijah is still our best friend and we do pretty much everything together.

That’s why we go to Club Sin in downtown Seattle. There, we’re more likely to meet someone who doesn’t mind three men at once. It doesn’t lead to romance, but it’s more predictable than going to a bar.

Haruko pulls back the bat and as the ball gets tossed, she shifts her hips, swings her arms and hits the ball. She takes off running, her ponytail swinging back and forth as she bolts past first base, then second and gets to third.

Fuck, she’s fast.

Haruko smiles and jumps, clapping her hands as she looks at me, pride all over her face. I give her a thumbs up and a smile, wishing I could give her a hug. But I don’t think I could touch her without wanting more. I brushed her hand once when she gave me a stack of papers to sign and it send a shiver down my spine. I had to vigorously shake my head to return to real life, where my assistant asked if there was anything else I needed. I said no, and she turned away, her ponytail bouncing and leaving me gripping my desk to keep from running after her.

Hiring her was a mistake, but it’s one we have to live with.

Karla steps to the plate, and the pitcher throws the ball. She swings her bat, and everyone cheers as Haruko gets to home plate. The other team fumbles around with the ball so Karla gets a home run and we win the game.

“Woohoo!” the women cheer as they get into a group hug.

I take off my baseball hat and push my hair back before slipping it back on. The coach of the other team comes to shake my hand.

“Good game,” she says, and I nod.

“Sure was.” The next thing I know, I’m being hugged by nine cheering women.

I accept their hug as well as I can, given that there are nine of them. I give Karla a rub on the head before clapping her back as the hug breaks and they go to the stands where their friends and family are watching.

The women on this team range from college students to full-time professionals. These are fun games we do on weekends, so if they can hit a ball and run, they can join. Karla is the youngest at twenty and Tanya is the oldest at thirty. All different shapes and sizes and abilities.

It’s so much nicer than when I was playing baseball. The pressure of winning and how stupid we were as teenage boys makes me cringe now I’m grown man. I like this better. We play for fun and try to win. If we don’t, that’s cool. As long as we have fun, that’s what’s important. It’s as simple as that.

I try not to stare at Haruko as she bends to get a water bottle from her backpack.

Damn, she’s so fucking pretty.

Despite the need to touch her, I enjoy having her around the office. She’s good at her job and she brings a nice energy. There are a lot of stuffy people in business suits around, and she’s a bright light in the fog of pocket squares. I enjoy having her around. Too much, but not enough to extract myself from her presence. I figure if this is all I can have, I may as well enjoy it.

I walk to my car with the box of bats and balls. I open the back to stow the box in when I hear, “Hey boss.”

I turn to see Haruko leaning against my Jeep with a smile on her face, her backpack slung over one shoulder. Her eyes are so bright I can see the incoming stormy sky reflecting in them.

“I believe that’s Coach Bateman today.”

She chuckles, then waves at me. “Okay. Hey, Coach Bateman,”

Fuck, can you call me that while you’re riding me?

Damn it. Stop it. Don’t go there.

I clear my throat then ask, “Hi. What’s up?”

“I was wondering, since we live on the same street and I think it’s going to rain, can you give me a ride?” she asks, just as what feels like a bucket of rain falls from the sky.

Haruko squeals as I guide her to the passenger side door. After getting her in, I round the car, running, and get into the driver's side.

“Fuck!” I take off my hat and shake my head.

“Oh, my God.” Haruko laughs.

I chuckle too as the sound of rainfall fills the car.

“Wow, that came out of nowhere. So glad I asked for a ride,” she says, pulling the elastic band out of her hair and shaking it. Her vanilla scent wafts towards me and I push down a groan.

“Yeah.” I chuck my baseball cap to the backseat and sit properly in my seat. “Ready to go?” I ask as we put on our seat belts. Haruko nods, and I pull the car out of the parking lot to head home.

It's crazy. This woman's dad and Elijah are best buds, and she lives right next door to us! I say “us” because Parker lives with me and Elijah lives on the other side. Haruko moved there last year, her on one side and Elijah on the other.

That means that every day, when we’re drinking our coffee on the front porch, we see her going for a run. She waves at us, gives us her beautiful smile, and takes off. We sip and unintentionally watch her gorgeous ass in tight shorts. I’ve never been a coffee drinker, but I’ve picked up the habit last year after Parker told me he was.

Is it weird? Probably.

Can I stop? Not really.

Despite my best efforts, I can’t seem to do the smart thing. Instead, any chance I get to be around her, I take. Any chance I get to see her, I take. I guess this is my consolation prize for not pursuing her.

It’s only a ten-minute drive to where we live so we get there quick. I pull into her driveway. It’s still raining like hell, so I reach into the back and pull out an umbrella. Getting out of the car, I walk around and open the door, holding the umbrella for her.

“Thank you,” she says as she gets out and holds the umbrella handle, her hand around mine.

We walk to her door together. We get there, she lets go of my hand and digs through her bag for her keys. When she’s got them, she unlocks her door, opens it and turns.

“Thanks again for the ride and the umbrella.”

We stand silently as the rain comes down harder.

It feels like the end of a date when the guy takes the girl to her door. She even fiddles with her keys as if waiting for a kiss. I know that’s ridiculous. I’m her boss and her coach. Awkward tension builds and before I can do anything stupid, I clear by throat.

“Well, I guess I’ll go. See you on Monday.” I give her a nod and she waves as I get back into my car, driving the fifteen seconds it takes to get into my garage.

When I get into the house, I see Parker sitting in the living room. He turns on the couch and looks at me.

“You really like torturing yourself, don’t you?” From our living room, we can see her front door. He was watching me stand there longer than a normal person would.

I roll my eyes and hang up my umbrella.

“Says the guy who’s got his ass so far in the friend zone it might be an HR violation.”

Parker shakes his head and goes back to his book.

“At least I have some relationship with her. You’re all work or softball. Do you even know her favourite colour? What’s her favourite season? What movies does she watch when she wants to laugh?”

I take a seat on the chair opposite the couch.

“No. And for real my way’s better. Sure, it’s torture, but at least I’m getting a taste of what it might be like to be her boyfriend.”

“What about Elijah’s way?”

I shake my head. “His is worse. It’s not professional to ignore your assistant.”

“Yeah.” Parker puts his book on the coffee table.

He’s wearing a pair of soft white pants and a white and green striped T-shirt. He looks good.

Parker and I aren’t just workmates. We’re not exactly a couple, but at Club Sin, we play together. I’ve kissed him and fucked him. I don’t know if we’re in denial or if this is just as far as either of us can and will ever go. But Haruko entering the picture has been a pleasant distraction from figuring out what we are.

I don’t have the time for it right now. We’ve got deals to make, assistants to try to not kiss and we’re renovating a room and can’t decide on a colour.

Parker wants grey and I want light blue. It’s a nightmare.

I lean back on the chair, slip my hands behind my head, and close my eyes. Images of Haruko enter my mind. We’re at the club and I’m kissing her from above as Parker eats her pussy. Elijah is there too, watching. It’s his thing.

He likes to direct and while Parker is willing, I’m more reluctant. I don’t like being told what to do.

Though if Haruko told me to do something, I totally would.

I sigh.

Fuck, maybe Elijah isn’t the only one who needs to get laid.