18. Nicole
NICOLE
I shove Guy awake.
I’m still naked, but I jump out of bed and grab the first T-shirt I see and pull it over my head. I run to the windows by the front door and look out. Sure enough, the moving truck is already sitting outside. Damn. I run back to the bedroom. “Guy.” I shove his shoulder again. “Get up.”
He raises his head slowly and holds one hand out toward me. “Come back to bed. You know I like waking up with you next to me.”
My heart does a stupid little flip even though I’m panicking. I grab his hand and tug. “You have to go. You have to get out of here.”
That wakes him up. “What’s wrong?”
I throw a hand up. “My dad and some of the guys are going to be here any minute. You have to go.”
He’s alert now, but he seems completely unfazed by the fact that my dad is about to show up at my apartment and find him naked in my bed. “Guys? What guys?”
I grab his clothes from the floor and throw them at him. “Your teammates. They’re helping Dad move my stuff in. I can’t believe I didn’t set an alarm. The moving truck is already outside, which means my dad is probably two minutes away. You have to go.”
Guy starts pulling on his jeans. “What the fuck are they doing here? We don’t need them. I’ve got this.”
I roll my eyes. “My dad asked them to help.”
He shoves his thumb against his chest. “Well, he should’ve asked me.”
“Guy.”
“I would’ve moved all your stuff.”
“I know you would have, but right now I need you to move yourself.”
I shove him toward the window. He stops and looks at me. “You are not seriously pushing me out a window.”
I groan. “My dad knows we’re seeing each other, but he doesn’t need to know everything.”
He shakes his head. “He’s not stupid.”
“I know that. But there’s a big difference between knowing we’re dating and finding you half naked in my apartment at eight in the morning.”
Guy looks like he wants to argue, but another truck door slams outside. I push the window open. “Go.”
He puts one leg through the opening and then stops. His eyes move down my body. “You’re not going out there like that, are you?”
I look down at myself. “Are you serious right now?”
His jaw tightens. “I’m very serious.”
I put a hand on my hip, and it brings up my shirt, showing even more of my naked lower half. “Guy!”
He points toward the area of the front of the apartment. “It’s my teammates. A bunch of guys.”
“So?”
“So you’re mine.”
The possessive way he says it sends heat through me even though I’m trying to get rid of him. “Fine. I’ll put more clothes on. Obviously, I’m not going out there with my ass hanging out.”
A loud knock sounds from the front door. “That’s them.” I lean through the window and kiss him quickly. “I’m sorry about this. Bye, Guy. I’ll call you later.”
He looks completely unhappy with the situation. “This is bullshit.”
“I know.”
I push lightly against his shoulder. “Go.”
He finally climbs the rest of the way out, and I close the window behind him.
I grab a pair of shorts and pull them on as I hurry down the hallway.
I know I probably look like a mess. My hair is wild, and I’m pretty sure I look exactly like a woman who spent most of the night getting ravaged by a professional baseball player.
There’s nothing I can do about it now. I open the door, and my dad is standing on the other side. “Hey, sweetie.”
I smile like everything is completely normal. “Hey, Dad.”
He points toward the moving truck and the group of men already gathering outside. “We just need the key and we’ll start bringing everything in.”
I turn and start searching for my purse. “I can help.”
Dad shakes his head. “We’ve got it. You just tell everyone where things go.”
I find the key and hand it to him. “Everything is labeled, but yeah, I can do that.”
He kisses the top of my head before heading back outside.
As soon as the door closes, I rush into the bathroom.
I brush my teeth, run a brush through my hair, and splash cold water on my face.
When I look at myself in the mirror, I groan.
There is no fixing the satisfied smile I can’t seem to get rid of.
I walk back into the living room as the guys start carrying boxes inside.
For the next twenty minutes, I point them toward different rooms and try not to wonder where Guy went.
I know he parked across the complex last night, so I assume he made it to his truck and left.
I’m almost disappointed. Which is ridiculous because I’m the one who shoved him out the window.
The guys are on their second load when someone backs through my front door carrying one end of my couch. I recognize the broad shoulders immediately. Guy.
Finn Peters, the Bears’ second baseman, is carrying the other end. “Look who we found,” Finn says as they maneuver the couch through the doorway.
My face heats. “Oh. Hey, guys. Thanks for doing this.”
Finn flashes me a smile. “Anything for you, sweetness.”
My eyes instantly move to Guy, and his jaw tightens. Oh no.
Finn has flirted with me the few times I’ve seen him around the stadium, but I know it doesn’t mean anything. He flirts with everyone.
Guy apparently doesn’t care. They set the couch down and stare at each other.
“Thanks,” I tell them.
A few more guys carry boxes through the apartment before heading back outside. Finn and Guy both stay behind. Finn turns toward me. “Hey, so I was wondering if you’d want to go out sometime. I know you’re new to town. I could show you around.”
My eyebrows lift. I’m about to answer when Guy steps beside me and hooks an arm around my waist, pulling me firmly against his side. “Forget it. She’s taken, Peters.”
My mouth drops open. Did Guy Brody just claim me in front of one of his teammates?
Finn looks between us. “Oh.”
Guy’s arm tightens around me. “And make sure the other guys know too.”
Finn lifts both hands and backs toward the door. “Got it, Brody.” Then he looks at me and grins. “But let me know when he’s done with you.”
Guy starts toward him, but I grab his arm. “Guy. Stop.”
Finn laughs and disappears outside before Guy can reach him. Thankfully, Dad is still near the moving truck and missed the whole thing.
I turn on Guy. “What were you thinking?”
He plants his hands on his hips. “I’m thinking that asshole asked you out right in front of me. What was I supposed to do?”
I match his stance. “I don’t know. Maybe let me answer for myself?”
He drags both hands through his hair. “Shit.” He lets out a frustrated breath. “I’m sorry, Nicole. I am. This whole situation is driving me crazy. I don’t want Finn or Max or any of those guys thinking they have a chance with you.” He reaches for me, but this time his touch is softer. “I’m sorry.”
I stare at him. I understand why he’s frustrated. The problem is, I’m frustrated too.
Every time someone else finds out about us, this gets more real. And the more real it becomes, the more awkward everything is going to be when it ends. I hate that I’m already thinking about the ending.
Guy squeezes my hand. “Hey.”
I look up.
“I said I’m sorry.”
I shrug. “I know.”
Before either of us can say anything else, Dad walks through the door carrying a box. His eyes go straight to Guy. “Well, look who decided to help.”
Guy lets go of my hand before taking the box from him. “Couldn’t let you guys do all the work.”
Dad studies him for a second. I suddenly have the uncomfortable feeling that my father sees way more than I want him to. He nods toward the bedroom. “That one goes back there.”
“I got it.”
Guy carries the box down the hallway.
Dad looks at me, and I immediately turn away. “Don’t.”
He laughs. “I didn’t say anything.”
“You were thinking it.”
“Probably.”
I grab another box from near the door and start opening it just so I have something to do. The next hour goes surprisingly fast.
Guy stays and helps with everything. He carries boxes, helps put some shelves together, moves furniture around when I decide I don’t like where it is, and never complains once.
Watching him with my dad and his teammates is strange.
No one treats him like Guy Brody, baseball legend.
They give him a hard time and make fun of him when he carries too many boxes at once, and Guy loves every second of it.
He orders pizza for everyone, and soon my small apartment is filled with laughter and fellowship.
Eventually, most of the guys start leaving until it’s just me, Dad, and Guy left.
I’m in the kitchen unpacking dishes when I glance through the doorway and see Dad and Guy standing near the front door. They’re talking quietly. I probably shouldn’t, but I listen.
They’re talking about the locks on my door. Or I guess the lack of locks.
Dad nods toward me. “This is a decent neighborhood, but I’ll still worry when I’m out of town.”
Guy doesn’t hesitate. “I’m changing the locks and adding a deadbolt today. And If Nicole needs anything, call me.”
Dad looks at him for a long second, and Guy continues. “And if we’re out of town on a series, she can call my family. They’ll come.”
My dad looks at Guy, not even trying to hide the surprise on his face. “Oh. It’s like that, is it?”
Guy looks directly at him. “Yeah. It’s like that.”
My heart stops. Dad studies him for another second before nodding. “All right.”
Guy shifts his stance. “That okay with you?”
Dad lets out a laugh. “I already told you. She’s grown. I don’t get a vote.” His expression turns more serious. “But I know my daughter. She doesn’t trust easily.”
Guy glances toward the kitchen, and I quickly look down at the plate in my hands. “I know.”
My dad clears his throat. “Then don’t give her a reason not to trust you.”
“I won’t.” The certainty in Guy’s voice makes my chest ache.
Dad slaps him on the shoulder before walking toward me. “I’m heading out, sweetheart.”
I hug him. “Thanks for everything.”
“You’re welcome. Call me if you need anything.” He smiles knowingly before kissing my forehead and walking out.
Then it’s just me and Guy standing in the middle of my apartment.
I cross my arms. “You told my dad to call you if I need anything?”
His eyebrows lift. “You were listening?”
“You weren’t exactly whispering.”
He walks toward me. “I meant it.”
“I have a phone. I can call you myself.”
“Good. Do that.”
I roll my eyes, but he keeps coming until he’s standing directly in front of me. “And if you don’t call me, your dad can.”
“You two are going to gang up on me now?”
“If necessary.”
I try not to smile, but I fail.
Guy cups my cheek. “There it is.”
“What?”
“My favorite smile.”
My heart squeezes. This is exactly what I’m afraid of.
I can handle the possessiveness, the way he wants to protect me.
Heck, I can handle the earth-shattering sex.
It’s this part that scares me. Guy fits into my life like he already belongs here.
The more he takes care of me, the harder it’s going to be when this ends.