car when he turned sixteen. The bastard did it, and his C average was brought up to a B, earning him a brand-new truck.
“Whoever can steer away our prince of a third baseman from his Cinderella claims victory,” Saucey says.
“I’m out.” Brax sits back. “I don’t know how else to tell you this, but he’ll never stray.”
“Okay, okay,” Saucey says. “Since he’s a faithful fucker, let’s take odds of when he’ll get her back then.”
Brax leans forward. “Definitely in on this shit.”
I lean back in my chair, gulping down my beer, waiting for their guesses. Surely, I can take a bet that I’m in control of.
“I say, by Thanksgiving.” Oliver slaps his hand on the table.
“I say, two weeks,” Saucey bets.
“What? That’s crazy,” Oliver says.
Brax looks over at me with a clear smirk on his face. “Nope. I know their history. Hell, I’d say tonight if he groveled enough.” Brax jumps up, seeing the Sox score a run. “Fuck yeah.” He points to Oliver. “Told you. Hop on victory train, Ollie. We’ll take your fair-weather ass.”
After Brax does a lap around our table, Saucey stares me directly in the eyes.
“Actually, I say never.” He’s almost testing me, and I’m unsure of where his challenging stature is coming from. “You’ll ruin it, proving my theory that no hot-blooded, testosterone-filled male can deny the power of the pussy.”
Man, either this guy has been hurt, or he is a player to the core.
Oliver and Brax glance over to me.
“What’s the prize?” I ask.
“I’ll give up my master bedroom to the winner after Christmas break.”
Oliver leans in. “He’s got a damn Jacuzzi tub and a shower all to himself.”
“I’m in. I’ll get her back in one week,” I say.
“You have to stay together until Christmas though to earn the room,” Saucey adds.
I place my hand out in front of him. “Deal.”
He shakes. “Deal.”
The other two bring their hands over ours.
“May the best winner win—which will be me, of course because I win no matter what,” Brax brags.
I cock my eyebrow, and again, he swings his arm around my shoulders. “God, it’s good to have you back!”
The friendship part of my heart warms with Brax’s words because I’ve missed the void Noah left.
I've missed Brax. Back in Millcreek, I was a loner, but I should have known when I decided to come to Ridgemont, Brax would never let me be reclusive. As hard as it was to see him again, I'm thankful for him.
The guys are in the backyard, knocking over anything and everything to see who can hit the most. My only assumption is, they stole the fake milk containers from a carnival that ran through town once.
With me bowing out, Saucey didn’t seem too pleased with having to be the catcher for both Brax and Oliver. I almost mentioned that they should do it in front of something that would catch the balls, but after Saucey’s challenge, I kept that suggestion to myself.
I have a week to win and keep her. Man, after the words left my mouth, even I doubted myself for a second. But, with the bragging rights, to have that master bedroom would be a bonus.
Unable to wait to win Ella’s trust again, I pull out all the stops, I go up to my room and grab the one thing that will soften Ella’s rage.
Fifteen minutes later, my truck pulls up to her apartment building, and she’s there. She’s talking on the phone, pacing the floor in front of their large window. Her free hand is on her mouth as she nibbles on her nails. It’s a nervous habit I’m all too familiar with. My curiosity piques as I wonder whom she’s talking to and why she’s nervous.
I climb out, the bouquet in my hand. I toss my fingers through my hair, making sure the hairs are in place after Brax’s obsessive need to give me noogies each time he sees me, and I ring her doorbell. My heart springs when her blue eyes peek out, and then she shuts the door. She slides the metal chain and opens the door.
She hijacks my breath when I see her in a pair of short pajama shorts and a tank top that squeezes her tits so tight that my hands itch and my mouth salivates, like a dog waiting for his reward.
“Crosby,” she says.
I bend down on one knee and reveal the bouquet of chocolate Tootsie Pops from behind my back.
“You didn’t.” A wide smile crosses her face.
I’m instantly assured that I