Chapter 2
SPENCER
A FEW MONTHS LATER
Ipeer up from my phone as I approach the restaurant.
I’ve heard teammates rave about it, but that's not why I'm here. It’s the end of the baseball season, or rather our batter struck out at a key moment running up to the World Series, so our team is out early, and hopefully, the batter is getting traded for next season.
I was finishing up some meetings with my agent and publicist when I got the message that added another complication to my life.
I should be in my car with music on full blast while I drive back to Lake Spark.
Instead, I’m walking down a sidewalk in downtown Chicago with a few people noticing me, but I have no intention to smile and sign autographs.
It’s not because I’m an ass, it’s because I’m on a mission. Okay, I’m not a fan of people either.
Opening the restaurant's door, I glance at the screen on my phone and see my mother sent me a message with a picture. It causes my lips to tug, but my mouth doesn’t commit to a full smile as the message is a reminder of another life that I keep under wraps.
Arriving at the hostess station, a brunette smiles at me and flicks her hair behind her shoulder. Her eyes fill with recognition. “Hi. Welcome, can I get you a seat?” I can tell she is a supporter of my career—or wallet—by the eagerness of her voice and overdone smile.
I swipe my sunglasses off my face and tuck them into the pocket of my black button-down. “No, thanks. I’m here to meet someone.”
“Oh. Nobody mentioned you would be joining us tonight, but we are happy to have you here.” Her smile doesn’t falter. She seems keen.
I scan the busy room. It’s 7pm which means those who worked all day are now carrying on their evening with business dinners. That was never my scene. I’m more of a "throw back beer with the guys" type of man.
“It’s kind of a surprise,” I mention, as I now search the room, determined.
Ah, bingo. I spot her.
Wearing a black dress and hoop earrings, it kind of suits her, but I don’t think about it for long. She is next to the window and sitting across from a guy, wasn’t planning on that, but this day is already hell enough, so what’s one more obstacle?
“Found her. If you don’t mind, could you send over a scotch on the rocks and make it a double? Thanks, you’re a doll.” Before the hostess can answer, I’m walking at a fast pace to the table by the window.
I’m not in baseball season which means I don’t need to think twice about drinking alcohol. In season, I stay off the hard stuff and only have a beer if it’s a few days before a game. I haven’t committed years to the sport to throw it away to a bad practice or game because I’m hungover.
Assessing the scene, I sense that I’m witnessing a date, clearly.
Grabbing a chair from a nearby table before I reach my destination, I pull it up just in time to hear the mystery guy talking about anesthesia, and April is politely listening until she does a double take when I appear in her vision.
“Spencer!” April shrieks when her eyes land on me, obviously surprised by my presence. Her brown eyes grow big, almost in wonder that I’m in front of her. And hell, I could think of many other people who I would rather be sitting in front of right now. This woman detests me.
And in a moment where logic left me, I found her bratty ways attractive enough.
“Oh, hey there! Am I interrupting? Surely, I’m not interrupting.” My cocky smirk is out in full force.
The man who could use a steak or two looks at me peculiarly. “Aren’t you Spencer Crews?”
“I am. And you must be…?”
He answers me in awe, “Ted.”
“Ted’s a doctor, a cardiologist actually,” April pipes in, and I’m instantly amused that she feels the need to try and level the guy up.
Now I have to grin. “You know, I think I read once that cardiologists have like, I don’t know, the highest rate of heart attacks or burnout due to stress, plus long work weeks. Must be grueling for your future wife.” No clue why I decided to highlight this stranger’s faults to April.
April’s face is fuming, and I can tell that I’ve hit a nerve. “As opposed to baseball players who retire by thirty?”
“Are you retiring? Shit, now the Bluelights are going to suck,” Ted adds his commentary.
“Spencer lives next door to my uncle,” she explains.
I turn my attention back to the guy. “So, you are April’s new boyfriend?” I internally question why I'm curious.
He grabs a piece of bread from the basket. “It’s actually our first date.”
“Oh, wonderful. And here I am interrupting.” I lean back just as the hostess hands me my drink. Perfect timing, as I could use the liquid encouragement right now for what’s about to go down. But my confident look doesn’t fade.
“How the hell did you know I was here?” April asks, clearly agitated.
I tilt my head gently to the side. “Your love of cameras.”
Her eyes fill with recognition as they don’t blink, and since her dress is hanging low at her tits, then I notice her breath pick up.
I’m quick to clarify. “You posted on your social media story a photo of your cocktail, and the logo of the place was on the napkin. You really should work on safety first.”
Her hands nearly claw the tablecloth. “And why the hell would you be looking at my social media?”
“Do you two need a moment? I feel like I’m missing something,” Ted says, but neither April nor I look at him, as we are too busy in a standoff.
“How about I just steal this pocketful of sunshine away for a moment?” I suggest to Ted.
April’s body stiffens, but she gives the doctor a tight smile. “Just a minute, I’ll be right back, and then we can order dinner.”
Ted gives us an odd look. “Oh, uhm, sure.”
Clearly, their date wasn’t going so great anyways.
April grabs my arm. “Two minutes,” she grinds out.
She pulls me out of my seat, and I follow, only I don’t like being towed along. I step forward and place my hand on her lower back to take the lead, for a second, I appreciate the fact that her dress is a little snug around her hips.
I lean in and nearly murmur, “Don’t you have a sweater or something?”
She flashes me a death stare. “Why?”
“I just think Hudson would appreciate that I’m watching out for his niece and ensuring Dr. Stress keeps his gaze appropriate,” I attempt to justify.
But fuck me, Hudson may kill me for what is transpiring and what I did with his niece who is his goddaughter and wife’s best friend.
I should have probably thought about the rules of our friendship a little more, but then again, Hudson is laid back and even attempted to push me in April’s direction once or twice, like at the baby shower a few months back. I’m not blind.
The moment we are at an empty spot near the bar, she shakes me away and turns her full attention to me.
“No sweater.” Her tone is clipped. “Which, by the way, it's a little late to be concerned with manners that my uncle would approve of.” Her brows arch; she’s in a feisty mood.
“Our first contact in months, and I already feel like knowing you is a regret. Now explain why the hell I am being graced by your presence this evening?”
My lips quirk out as we both take a beat to look at each other.
I haven’t seen April since that night a few months ago.
Her blonde locks are in waves around her face; it looks natural, but I get the feeling she put in the extra effort with her hair tonight.
I guess her skin is tanner too. I heard she went to Italy for a little while in place of the honeymoon that she had hoped to go on.
Piper told me when I ran into her on my driveway, which makes me wonder if Piper knows…
“Does anyone know about—”
“Hush your mouth!” She is quick to interrupt and steps closer, a sort of warning as she nervously searches the room. “And what? Admit my mistake? God no.”
I debate my words for a second, but I can only chuckle nervously. “Okay, well, we have a tiny problem.”
Her brows raise in curiosity, and I see concern spread across her face. “What do you mean?”
I look over her shoulder to ensure nobody can hear and lean closer to whisper, “The video.”
Her entire body tenses, and concern is replaced with fear. I notice because she peers her eyes up, causing our breaths to mingle, as we are close in proximity. “The video?”
I scratch my cheek. “You know, the one we accidentally made while we were—”
Her palm lands against my chest to stop me from continuing, and it creates space between us. God, this woman touches me like she knows exactly which spot awakens a feral need inside me. It’s downright infuriating.
“Do not say the words,” she nearly barks then throws on a small fake smile when the barman walks by our spot to collect a glass.
The moment he passes, our eyes lock, and I see the fear, but it’s laced with… heat. I know it’s there.
“You deleted the video. I saw you delete the video.” Her voice has panic in it.
Licking my lips, I’m about to bite the bullet. “I did… but I kind of…” It’s dragging out.
Her nails sharply dig into my arm. “Kind of what?”
“I forgot that it autosaved to my cloud.”
“Of course, it saved to your cloud. What kind of person doesn’t know that you need to delete it from your phone and the cloud. Fuck.” Disbelief is strong in her tone. She steps back, and her hand fans her face as she is clearly trying to calm down. “I knew you were trouble. Holy hell, this is…”
I lean against the bar to watch her, but admittedly, guilt does ping inside of me. “I’m sorry.”
Her eyes draw a line up to my own again. “Wait, why are you telling me this?”
I’m quick to straighten my posture and land my hands on her arms to have her full attention. “I was hacked, and I’m not quite sure what will come of it.”
“Oh my God!” She is about to melt down. “This isn’t happening. No. Nope. This. Is. Not. Happening.”