12. Chapter 12
Chapter 12
G onzo sat down at their gate and pulled his earbuds out of his carry-on bag. As he flipped through his playlist, someone stopped near him. His gaze traveled up to the giant form in front of him. He knew it was Brandon Sims before his eyes even hit the guy’s face. Very few people took up as much space as this guy did. Gonzo popped out one earbud. “Hey man, you ready to hit the windy city?”
“You bet. What about you?”
He rolled his shoulders. He’d be a lot better once they were in Chicago. Soaring through the air in a giant tin can wasn’t natural. But there was no way in hell he was admitting to his teammate that even after all the flying they did, he still hated to fly. No weakness. “I’m definitely ready to kick Chicago’s Ass.” He held up his hand and Brandon smacked it as expected.
“So how’s Bailey doing?” Brandon asked.
Gonzo leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest as he looked up at the other man. “She’s fine.”
“Good, I’m glad she’s feeling better.”
“What do you mean, feeling better?”
Brandon rocked back on his heels and held up his hands. “Whoa, fuck. I’m just making sure she’s okay after this morning.”
“When did you see Bailey?”
“Geez dude, for someone who’s just friends with the girl, you sure have the whole possessive thing going.” Brandon laughed. “Relax man, I’m not after your girl.”
“She’s not my girl,” Gonzo grumbled.
“Could have fooled me,” Brandon muttered under his breath.
“Why were you with Bailey this morning?”
“We both were at Rayne’s for yoga. Bailey hadn’t eaten, so the heat and everything affected her more than normal.”
“What do you mean, it affected her?”
“She got dizzy.”
Gonzo pushed up from his seat. “What do you mean, she got dizzy?”
“Relax, man, she’s fine. I got her a smoothie and some fresh air before her appointment with Rayne. I’m sure she would have said something if she wasn’t feeling well when she got home.”
Why hadn’t Bailey mentioned it to him? “Yeah probably.”
“Rayne would have called you if there was a problem.” Brandon clapped his hand on Gonzo’s shoulder. “Bailey seems really cool.”
“She is.”
“So you and her?” Brandon raised his eyebrow in question.
“Nah.”
“Interesting. So she’s single?”
“No.”
“No? Huh could have sworn she was.”
“Yes, she’s single. No, you can’t ask her out.”
Brandon’s head cocked to the side. “Why not exactly?”
“Because I don’t want you hitting on my best friend.”
If at all possible, Brandon seemed to get even bigger. “Why’s that?”
“Bailey is…” How did he describe her? Na?ve wasn’t the right word. But she lived in a different world than they did. Academia and baseball were light years apart.
“Too good for me?”
“Yeah.” Bailey was too good for everyone. He couldn’t think of a single person who deserved her.
“Right. Nice to know how you see me.” Brandon turned away and then spun back. “For the record, I’m not interested in dating Bailey. She’s not my type.”
Offended on her behalf, Gonzo squared off with his teammate. “Why the hell not?”
“Are you fucking kidding me? First, I’m not good enough for her and now you’re annoyed I agree.”
“What do you mean, you agree? You said she wasn’t your type.”
“Exactly.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means I don’t chase after women who are in love with someone else.”
Gonzo’s chest tightened. Who the hell was Bailey in love with?
“My god, you are as fucking stupid as your friend.” Brandon pinched the bridge of his nose. “The line between friend and lover isn’t that wide, dude. Figure it out.” Brandon turned and walked several chairs over and dropped into one, away from the rest of the team. The big man pulled the headphones from his neck up and over his ears.
What was Brandon talking about? Bailey wasn’t in love with him. What the hell had they talked about that would give him that impression?
His phone buzzed and Bailey’s name flashed across the screen. And a little zip went through his stomach. Fucking Brandon and his bullshit theories.
Gonzo unlocked his phone and clicked on the text. A picture with bottles of bubble bath covered most of his bathroom floor. With the caption.
BAILEY
Umm what?
He snorted out a laugh and texted back.
GONZO
'shrugs'
BAILEY
Nope, you aren't getting out of it that easily
GONZO
What? I like bubble baths
BAILEY
There’s like and then there’s slipping into the problem category. I think we both know where this falls. You have 36 different kinds of bubble bath. Who needs that many?
BAILEY
There’s like and then there’s slipping into the problem category. I think we both know where this falls. You have 36 different kinds of bubble bath. Who needs that many?
GONZO
Hey judgy. If you weren't snooping you wouldn't find shit.
BAILEY
I wasn’t snooping I was familiarizing myself with my new home.
GONZO
In my bathroom?
BAILEY
I figured you’d have bubble bath. But this? WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GONZO
Well with that attitude I’m not sharing.
BAILEY
Ahh come on. I’m just kidding.
GONZO
Too late. You blew it. And yes there’s a lot of bottles but I know what each one is.
BAILEY
Bullshit.
GONZO
I do.
BAILEY
There is zero chance you’re using a bubble bath called Winter Wonderland.
He had a bubble bath called that?
GONZO
I am. It’s perfect for the holidays.
There was no way she could argue with him about that.
BAILEY
You are so busted. It’s pine cone and juniper berry. You HATE all things pine scented. I can’t even believe you have this in your cupboard.
Ew, that sounded disgusting. Why did he have that?
GONZO
Okay I guess I could let you have that one.
BAILEY
You’re ridiculous and just for that I’m taking one of your four bottles of lavender bubble bath. No one needs four bottles.
Four bottles? Why the hell did he have four bottles? Maybe she was right and he had a problem.
GONZO
Fine but only because I’m a good roommate.
BAILEY
Whatever you need to tell yourself, bubble boy.
GONZO
Bubble boy? Now that’s just rude.
BAILEY
If the bubble bath fits…
GONZO
I was going to offer to let you use my tub since it’s better but now I’m not.
BAILEY
Whoa, I can use your tub?
GONZO
Not anymore you can’t.
BAILEY
I’m sorry. If anything you’re the bubble man, not boy.
BAILEY
Now can I use your tub?
BAILEY
Please.
GONZO
I suppose. But that’s King of the Bubbles to you.
BAILEY
Got it. Guess I’m going to have to go back to calling you Ram instead of Gonzo.
BAILEY
Gotta go. I’ve got a steaming tub of bubbles to jump into.
Shit. Now he was picturing Bailey naked in his tub. Not good.
“What’s that look for?” Smitty asked as he dropped into the seat beside him.
Gonzo closed the text thread before looking up. “What look?”
“I don’t know? That goofy look on your face. Who you texting?”
“No one, just Bailey.”
Smitty shifted in his seat. “Bailey, huh? How’s that going?”
“So far, so good.” Surprisingly good, actually. Sure, it had only been five days, but after two he was ready to kill his siblings when they came to visit.
“Not weird living with a girl?”
“Not yet.”
“That’ll change once her stuff starts taking over everything. What was once your half will now become your quarter.” Smitty shook his head.
“Little different when you’re sharing a closet. I’m not too worried about it since we both have our own space.
“Just wait.”
“Yeah, not gonna happen.”