Behind the Plate (The Boys of Baseball #2) - J. Sterling Page 0,45
back from the table and stood up before launching herself into this guy’s arms and giving him a peck on the mouth.
“Jared. Hi. What are you doing here?”
Jared shifted on his feet, his weight moving from one leg to the other as he removed her arms from around his neck. I watched as his hands balled in and out and as Danika deflated with the motion.
You really thinking about coming at me?
Danika looked crazy uncomfortable, and while I fucking hated it and wanted to make it stop, Jared seemed to almost enjoy it. He kept staring at her, his expression hard and unforgiving.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” he sneered, and she swallowed hard.
What kind of guy got off on making his girlfriend feel weak? An insecure one, I assumed.
“Sorry. Jared, this is Chance. Chance, this is my boyfriend, Jared,” she said before sitting back down.
He extended his hand, and when I took it, he tried to squeeze me too hard, a silent show of strength that took everything in me to not start laughing in his face.
“You look familiar.”
“I’m in a fraternity. I’m sure you’ve been to our parties,” he responded before adding, “And I’ve been to a few of yours over the years.” I nodded.
“Ahhh, that’s probably it. Anyway, it’s nice to meet you. You have a really great girlfriend,” I said genuinely, not realizing that it would push his buttons even though I should have been more than aware.
“Yeah, I do.” He grabbed her bag and threw it out of the chair before sitting down and wrapping a possessive arm around her. “She’s been spending a little too much time away from me lately though. Wouldn’t you agree?”
His words were like sour grapes in my mouth. He was a bit of an asshole, who seemed nothing like the kind of guy I thought he’d be after mine and Danika’s conversation last night. He had been there for her after her mom died. He was in California with her now instead of staying back in New York. I assumed that she was a priority to him, not property.
“I wouldn’t really know,” I offered, and he scoffed.
“Jared, stop. We already talked about this. We were studying,” Danika argued, but it was weak at best. Her eyes cut to me for only a second before looking away.
“You’re right,” Jared said, his agreement fake. “Babe, can you go grab me a water?”
“Uh …” She stalled before agreeing, “Sure.” She gave me an apologetic look before walking away.
Jared watched her round the corner before he turned to me, his face twisted, his expression angry. “You’re not taking my spot. I haven’t put in all this time to get benched in the last inning.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Figured if I put it in baseball terms, you might understand. Guess I was wrong. I’ve put in the work. You don’t get to reap the rewards.”
“Work for what?” I asked because I had no idea what the hell this guy was even remotely talking about.
“Don’t play stupid, Carter. You know who her father is.”
Was this douche bag actually telling me that he was using Danika for her money? For her dad’s connections or company?
“You’d better not be insinuating what I think you’re fucking insinuating.”
He stood up from the table, slapped my shoulder, and plastered a fake-ass smile on his face. I wanted to hit him and knock it right off.
“You don’t know anything about how Manhattan works. Whole different ball game in the city. Stay in your lane, California boy.”
I shoved my chair back and rose to my feet, thankful that I had a couple of inches on the guy. “Get out of my face,” I growled, and he laughed.
He fucking laughed.
“What’s going on?” Danika’s voice broke us apart.
“Nothing, babe. I was just giving Chance a geography lesson.” When she didn’t say anything in response, he continued, “You know, letting him know how different New Yorkers are from Californians.”
She looked between us, not buying his lie. I willed her to suddenly have the ability to read minds, so she could read mine.
Please see through this charade, Danika.
“I need to go anyway. I have to get to the field,” I said, only hesitating once her eyes met mine. “I’ll text you when I get my grade,” I added, hoping it would piss Jared off.
Danika knew something had happened while she was away, and no matter how badly I wanted to tell her, what was I supposed to say?