Chapter 36
“The skipper told us to make it an early night, but I thought… I mean if it’s all right with you. I could come over. I should just go home, though. You did say you took Denny home, so I can’t give them pointers.”
Which was not even the main reason he’d wanted to go see Mel. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this nervous talking to someone on the phone. It was not at all like him.
Yet, he couldn’t shake it.
“You could still come over,” Mel said. “Although I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble. Does your coach actually have you on that strict a curfew?”
Rhys laughed as he opened his car door. Was that Alfie walking in the other direction? He wasn’t even coming over and talk to him? Rhys thought they were okay, but maybe he had been wrong about that.
He should go home. Before he went and messed up yet one more relationship. They were going to realize he wasn’t worth their time after a while.
“Rhys? Are you still there?”
He shook off those dark thoughts and forced more lightness in his voice. “Yeah, just getting into my car. So, do you want me to come over?”
“Not if it’s going to get you in trouble with the team.”
Right. They’d asked about the curfew. “It’s not a curfew exactly.
” He put phone in a cradle on his dash and put the call on speakerphone while he buckled so he could keep his hands free and be able to talk.
“The skipper was mostly warning us not to go out drinking. It would have been nice to celebrate our win, but the game starts just after noon tomorrow. That means we’ll have to be at the field before eight.
The guys are rough enough that early, without adding a hangover on top of it. ”
“You’re there that long before the game?”
“You didn’t think we just showed up right before the game and went home right after, did you?”
“Well, I used to. Caleb explained that wasn’t really the case, but I still didn’t think you were there that early.”
That misconception wouldn’t usually make him smile.
There were people who were adamant what they did wasn’t work.
Anyone could go out there and play for nine innings.
They didn’t do anything to earn the money they made.
Sure there were harder jobs out there, but when his hip acted up, he certainly didn’t feel like he didn’t earn the money.
“We play six days a week,” he said, “and we practice every day before the game. We aren’t football players who bash each other only one day a week.”
He loved the sound of Mel’s laugh.
“I am thankful for that. I mean, I wouldn’t want you getting bashed around.”
“Oh, I take my share of hits.”
“I bet.” There was that laugh again. He’d even accept it at his expense. He probably deserved it.
“It’s not my fault I’ve got a pretty face. It makes a nice target.”
“Uh huh. That’s the reason.” They were quiet for a minute then said, “If you really want to come over, I’ll give you my address.”
“I would love that.” He meant that with every ounce of his being.
There wasn’t anything he wanted more than to sit and talk with Mel.
Even if the thought made his palms clammy.
He could chat up a stranger in a club without breaking a sweat, even knowing they would be seeing him naked.
That was his body. He never had to let any of them see deeper.
Just sex, and he could keep all the broken pieces of himself hidden.
What would they care, when it wasn’t like they would see him again?
He wanted to see Mel again.
“I’ll let you go so you can drive now,” Mel said.
“I have it on speaker. I can still talk.” He pulled out of the parking lot. If they stopped talking to him, they’d realize this was a mistake. They’d tell him it would be better if he just went home. He’d have to find a way to settle down and sleep.
“Then, you can listen to me speed clean because I haven’t had company in… I don’t even know how long.”
“You certainly don’t have to do that for me,” Rhys said. “I can deal with a bit of a mess.” He doubted it could be worse than his place. He barely did more than sleep there during the season.
“Well, it gives me something to do to not be nervous before you get here.”
“You know there’s no reason for that. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to. I know how some of the blogs write about me. I like sex, but I don’t take advantage of people. I can just go home if you don’t want me there.”
Mel was silent, and Rhys worried they had already changed their mind.
Their breath gusted out through the phone.
“I do want you to come over. I feel like I shouldn’t.
I have so much going on. With the center, with my siblings.
I’ve been told I let everything else take over and partners don’t appreciate that.
But, this isn’t a relationship. So, yes, please come over, Rhys. ”
That shouldn’t have felt like a blow right to his chest. Of course, it wasn’t a relationship. He’d never done one of those. He wouldn’t know how to. The closest he’d ever come was with Alfie. Look how that always turned out. No, it was better to keep things casual.
It would be ridiculous for him to think he could ever ask for more.