Chapter 8
Rhys
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
I hopped down from the top of the dugout, and I could tell my face was burning red.
My heart was working overtime, an erratic pulse pounding in my ears, drowning out the crowd and walk-up music that poured from the speakers around the field as whoever the fuck was on deck made his way toward home plate.
Fuck.
I kissed her. I fucking kissed Sloane.
A semi-shaky hand speared through my sweaty hair as I snagged another ball cap from the equipment manager and ignored my teammates’ quizzical stares. None of them knew there was something (and by something, I meant a contractual agreement) between the two of us.
Everyone had met her before; she was basically an honorary member of the team. But both Sloane and I have vehemently denied being involved for so long, and witnessing our kiss left them all with shocked expressions.
Any other time, I would’ve given them shit for the dumbfounded looks on their faces. But today… shit, I got it. I fucking kissed her.
God, I hoped my acting was a lot better than it was yesterday, and she couldn’t tell how fucking nervous I was.
My stomach whirled again as I replayed the moment in my head, from the jealousy that got me over the dugout in the first place to the twisted mess of nerves in my stomach when my lips finally touched hers.
Since I realized I was in love with her, I’d definitely pictured our first kiss in a million different ways.
I never thought it would be at the fucking baseball stadium in front of a shit ton of people while tasting vaguely of beer and nacho cheese.
But dammit, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love every second of it.
I scrubbed a hand down my face, attempting to wipe away the grin tugging at my lips as I plopped onto the bench, but absolutely nothing could spoil the mood I was in.
We could end up losing the game ten to four.
I could walk every single batter from here on out until they pulled me from the game, but I’d still be grinning ear to ear.
Dom stood in front of me, fastening the Velcro of his batting glove with a shit-eating grin plastered to his face.
“Shut it.” I laughed, shaking my head.
Dom threw his head back laughing, then grabbed his helmet and pushed it onto his head. “You’re so fucked, bro. Royally. So fucked.”
***
As it turns out, the high I was riding from finally knowing what it felt like to kiss Sloane fucking Taylor only helped my game.
We finished with a win, and I pitched one of the best damn games of my entire life. Another no-hitter. It was a damn good day. I caught her attention a few more times throughout the game, noting the way she bit back a grin whenever I winked at her.
I kept telling myself not to read into it, but there was still a little twinge of hope deep in my chest that told me she had also felt just how natural it felt to finally have my lips on hers. And fuck the way she grabbed my jersey? Dom was right. I was a fucking goner.
I could feel it in the air around us when I leaned down to invade her space, and as much as she tried to act unaffected, I heard that small gasp of breath she took when I turned my back.
God, I wanted to let myself get carried away.
It almost felt worth it. I only had six months with her.
Six months to hold her hand, and plan as many outings as possible so I had every reason to savor small, intimate moments without raising suspicion.
Six months to soak in what it would be like to really have her as more than just a friend.
But after six months, we would ‘break up,’ and I would go back to loving her from a distance. That thought alone made it feel like barbed wire was winding its way around my heart, digging deeper with each beat.
I pushed the thought from my mind, running a hand through damp hair while discarding the towel I’d used in a small wire hamper by the door. I’d already texted Sloane to stay put, but I rushed through the post-game shower, afraid she might sprint out to avoid facing what happened earlier.
With everything on her plate right now, her immediate coping mechanism with stress was deflection, and I was hoping to catch her before the walls came up and the deflection started.
I pulled the locker room door open, skidding to a stop when she stood out in the hallway, leaning casually against the concrete wall.
I took a deep breath, rolling my shoulders in an attempt to shake off the attraction burning through me like wildfire. Damn, I’d forgotten what her legs looked like in those shorts.
Sloane’s smile was wide, her whole face lighting up when she saw me. “Rhys!” I laughed as she staggered toward me, throwing her arms around my shoulders, her cheek resting against my pec as my hands reached for her hips to steady her. “I had a lot of beer.”
“I can tell.” I chuckled, noting the flush on her skin.
I could also smell, and right now, her usual sweet summer scent was overpowered by what I could only assume was enough beer to take down half the team.
“You good?” I allowed my hands to slide from her hips to the small of her back, pulling away the smallest amount so I could get a better look at her.
Her eyelids were heavy, and the lipstick she wore earlier only remained on the very edges of her lips. “I’m tired.”
“Let’s get you home, then.”
She smiled sweetly, tilting her chin to look up at me, and damn if my heart didn’t skip a few beats. “Okay, but you know what sounds really good?”
I bit back a grin, knowing exactly where this was going. “A smash burger and fries from Sullivan’s?”
Her eyes widened again, and I couldn’t hold back the laugh that bubbled up my throat.
“Yes! How did you know?”
For as long as I could remember, Sloane had always craved a burger and fries from Sullivan’s after a night of drinking. Sully’s was the only local pub open past midnight in the area, so what started as a last resort years ago turned into the only acceptable option as adults.
“I know you, Pip.” My chest tightened at the look of adoration that flashed in her eyes. I gave myself a few seconds to pretend that it wasn’t the beer making her look at me like that.
I almost hated how natural it felt to hold her like this. My hands rested on the small of her back, her arms draped lazily over my shoulders, while she beamed up at me.
This is how it should be, I thought to myself, this is exactly as it should be, and she will only ever see you as a friend.
A dull ache built in my chest, and suddenly, I remembered why I put so much distance between the two of us in the first place. I remembered why I stopped answering her calls or returning her texts. It was too much.
It hurt too badly.
Yet here I was, fighting tooth and nail to get her to agree to this fake relationship just to torture myself with some phony version of her for six months. I could feel my face flush, embarrassed that I put her in this place to begin with.
The high from the kiss came crashing down, instantly replaced by shame.
Sloane’s brows furrowed, her head tilting slightly as she stared up at me. “Why are you embarrassed?”
Fuck.
It was a blessing and a curse that we knew each other so well.
Her observation only made the flush in my cheeks deepen.
“I’m—nothing. I’m fine.” My hands dropped from around her, slapping against the outside of my thighs.
I could tell she didn’t believe me. Even after throwing back enough beers to knock a lineman on his ass, she could still read me so easily.
But thankfully, she could also tell I wasn’t up for discussing it.
Her hands dropped from around me, but her eyes still stayed on mine. Instead of pushing, she simply stepped aside, gesturing for me to lead the way.
“Come on, Pip. Let’s get you—” Her body landed on my back, and my sentence was cut short with a grunt.
She climbed onto me with the grace of a house cat clambering to get out of a bathtub.
“A warning would be nice,” I grunted, helping her wrap those long, beautiful legs around my middle while her arms snaked around my neck.
“I need a ride,” she giggled, squirming a little to get a better grip.
My hands gently rested against the bare skin of her thighs, every single brain cell screaming at me to ignore the soft skin I was gripping.
Unfortunately for me, this was one of those moments where the more I tried to ignore it, the more and more obvious it became.
“I figured,” I rasped, trying again not to picture all the other ways I’d love to have her thighs gripping me like this.
I took a steadying breath, her chin resting on my shoulder. “Whatcha waitin’ for?” She whispered.
I cleared my throat, ignoring the shiver that wracked through me when her breath warmed my neck. After making sure she was secure, I started down the hall.
***
“It’s basically science, Rhys. I can’t help it if you don’t understand.”
I looked over at my beautifully adorable best friend sitting in the passenger seat of my car, her eyes closed while she stuffed another fry into her mouth.
“Explain it to me again.”
Sloane looked over at me with narrowed eyes. “You’re making fun of me.”
My lips twitched, holding back the smile that threatened to give me away. “No, Pip. I’m serious.” My voice dripped with sarcasm, but she didn’t pick up on it.
I watched with amusement as she sat up straighter, letting out a soul-deep sigh.
“Okay. Listen. I’m not sure what it is about Sully’s fries, but I swear to god, it’s got some magical drug in it that keeps you from being hungover in the morning.
The burger? I don’t know what’s in the grease, but I’m pretty sure it sobers you up.
” She took a bite out of the messy burger, wiping ketchup from the corner of her mouth with her eyes closed.
Definitely sober.
“When does that kick in?” I asked, chuckling when she shoved my shoulder.
“You have to give it time, Rhys.”
I pretended to check the imaginary watch on my wrist. “I am.”
Her pretty blue eyes rolled. “This is what you should’ve picked up instead of that stripper.”
I shook my head. “Nice.”