in the weight room and have wanted to leave earlier than my shift finished. I’ve even offered to stay longer to help out. Not this time.
With my backpack saddled up, I give Vinny a quick wave and head out and down the wide hallway toward the exit of the training facilities. My day is done and I have one thing on my mind: a giant Philly Cheesesteak, salt and vinegar chips, and a movie. Shane and Jerry invited me to their apartment for dinner and video games but I passed, telling them I was tired. Technically I yawned earlier, so that means I’m tired, right? I hate lying to my friends, but I’m not very good company right now anyway. They’d just be annoyed with me.
I open the door to the parking lot and run smack into a very strong and stable chest.
“Just the girl I was looking for,” Carson says, clutching my arms and steadying me. I’m pretty sure I just head-butted his right pec, but he doesn’t seem to mind.
Blinking a few times and trying to gain my bearings, I look up at him and say, “Oh sorry, didn’t mean to run into you.” I wiggle from his grasp and start to move toward my car, but I’m stopped when he comes up beside me.
“Where’s the fire, Coach?”
“Huh?”
He stands in front of me now, stopping my rush. “I’m trying to talk to you.” He laughs.
“Oh, sorry,” I answer sheepishly, even though I know that’s exactly what he’s trying to do.
“I have some things for you. Come with me.” He nods his head toward his parked car and I follow him, staring at his perfectly rounded ass the entire time.
I’m hopeless.
He opens the back driver side door and pulls out a stuffed duffle bag. “Here you go.”
When he hands it over, it falls to the asphalt. “Oh my God, what’s in here, bricks?”
Chuckling, he picks it back up and says, “I’ll carry it to your car for you.”
Following closely behind, I ask, “What’s in it.”
“Shirts, signed baseballs, tickets, and hats.”
“Oh, um . . . for me?”
I unlock my car for him, and he puts it in the back seat and then turns around to face me. “Well, if you want another hat and shirt, sure, but they’re for your little league team. I had all the guys sign balls for them and then I had the PR team hook me up with the rest. It’s for this weekend, so they can come cheer us on. There are enough tickets for each little guy to bring a parent. I’m sure not all of them can make it but if they can, we’d love to have a little cheering section. And I asked if one of the boys can throw out the first pitch. The PR team thought that was a great idea, so I nominated Dennis.” He winks, and I die a little inside.
How on earth am I supposed to hide my feelings now when he does something so incredibly sweet, when he offers up the opportunity of a lifetime to a little guy like Dennis who wants to be just like Carson?
My heart is ramming in my chest, trying to break free, as a warm glow of complete joy passes through my veins. I can’t believe him.
Actually, I can.
“Carson, that’s . . .” I press my lips together, trying to hold back my true emotions. “This is so thoughtful.” Quietly, I add, “Thank you.”
“Anything for you, Mills.” He steps forward and before I can decipher what he’s doing, he wraps both his arms around my back and snags me into a deep embrace. Caught off guard, I stand there ramrod straight until he laughs and whispers, “You can hug me back, you know.”
God, do I want to hug him.
So bad.
I think about it all the time, what it would be like to have his arms around me again, so I take advantage of the opportunity. Arms trembling, I circle his narrow waist and hug him back.
Sighing above me, he tightens the hug, squeezing me harder than before while one of his hands travels to the nape of my neck and cradles my head.
It’s a tiny movement, one I’m sure not everyone would notice, but to me it feels like the most comforting move I’ve ever experienced.
“Does this mean you’re going to come to my games this weekend?”
“I never miss them,” I say, reluctantly pulling away.
His mouth curves into an endearing smile before he starts to move away, but not