The Ninth Inning (The Boys of Baseball #1) - J. Sterling Page 0,61

“we’re more than friends.”

“I know that. And they all do too. Promise,” I reassured him because I didn’t want him worrying over nothing.

“You’ll tell me if anyone’s inappropriate with you, right?” he asked.

“Um”—I looked around, my eyes hidden by my shades—“I guess? I don’t know. I think I can handle guys talking to me.”

I could tell he didn’t like that answer. His weight shifted, and he pulled his hat clean off his head to run his fingers through his hair. It was something he did whenever he was frustrated.

“It’s not like I expect you to tell me about every girl who hits on you.”

“I will. You want me to?”

“No, I don’t actually,” I said, stunning even myself with that answer. I couldn’t give all the other girls that much control or presence in our relationship; otherwise, they would affect it in a negative way.

“Okay.” He put his hat back on. “Well, if anyone gets out of line or makes you uncomfortable, promise you’ll let me know.” It was his version of offering up a compromise.

“I promise.”

He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me tight against him as we started walking again, our steps in time with one another. “I’m not trying to be possessive and crazy, I swear. I just won’t always be here, and I don’t want guys thinking they can do things to you when I’m not around,” he overly explained.

Then, understanding dawned on me.

The team had a road series coming up, and it would be the first time that we’d be apart since officially getting together. Cole was worried. He’d never been in this situation before—leaving a girl at home while he was away for days on end.

“I get it. It’s the same for me. I don’t want girls thinking they have a chance with you. Especially girls in another state,” I said before my stomach twisted—and not because I was hungry.

I’d done my best in the past to not think about what life was like for Cole and his teammates whenever they traveled. But now that he was my boyfriend, I was finding it harder to ignore the fact that the baseball team was a hot commodity—and that didn’t only hold true within state lines.

“You okay?” he said as we reached the double glass doors. He pulled one wide open and allowed me to step through first as the sounds of people rushing, trays slamming, and orders being shouted out surrounded me.

“I’m good.” I offered him a small smile, not wanting to get into it in the middle of the commissary where prying ears could overhear. And trust me, they were prying.

Cole reached for my hand. “Does the word salsa do anything for you?”

“Do I look like the kind of girl who would ever turn down a chance to eat Mexican?” I asked, not knowing what the hell that was supposed to even mean, but he laughed anyway and pulled us toward the small Mexican café.

We reached the line and stood there, preoccupied with each other as we waited for our chance to order. He reached for my chin and tipped it up, pressing a long kiss on my lips, and I almost forgot how to stand or where we were. Kissing Cole was as all-consuming.

In the past, I’d never known when I’d be able to do it again. Our kisses always felt desperate somehow, like my lips might fall off if I stopped. They were something that could be taken away at any moment, so the intimacy we shared had always felt temporary. And it had been.

These kisses were something entirely new. They lacked the frenzied rush. They were meant to be savored and appreciated. Our mouths moved in softer motions, at a slower pace, and were filled with more intimacy than should be allowed on a college campus.

“Ahem,” someone cleared their throat, and the sounds of cheering and whooping filled the air.

My face burned as I saw a table of his teammates fist-pumping the air.

“Oh my God. Cole.” I swatted his arm.

“Why are you mad at me?” He threw a fist in the air back, and they cheered more.

“You can’t kiss me like that in public,” I complained as I steadied myself.

“You can kiss me like that in public,” a voice said.

I turned on my heel to face the female in line behind us, the nerve of her boldness fueling mine.

“What did you just say?” I tried to take a step toward her but was stopped by a pair of strong arms