The Ninth Inning (The Boys of Baseball #1) - J. Sterling Page 0,68

guess I just wondered if they would show up at your hotel or if you’d see them again? Do they know you have a girlfriend now? Would they even care? Do you have, like, a set girl in every state?” I asked before covering my face with my hands. I felt so dumb. Dumb for asking all these things and dumb for never thinking of any of this before.

“I’m not going to lie to you,” he started.

My stomach clenched as I dreaded what he might say next. I’d asked the hard questions, so I had to be prepared for the answers.

“There are guys who do have girls everywhere we travel. You’d be surprised at exactly who. But I’m not one of them.”

“You’ve never hooked up on the road before?” I asked.

I knew there was no way he hadn’t at least made out with random girls while he was away. That seemed way too far-fetched for any single guy to resist, especially the guys on this team. They weren’t just hot commodities in the state of California. They were known all over the country for being the best. Everyone wanted a piece of something like that, no matter how small.

“I didn’t say that. But I’ve never brought a girl up to my room. And I’ve never left with a girl. It was never worth the risk.”

“Okay. So, will there be girls on this trip?”

“There’s always girls,” he said. “They find out where we are and show up there. They hang out in our hotel and wait for the team bus. But …” He stopped and reached for my hands, his thumb moving back and forth.

“But what?”

He smiled. In the middle of this sort of uncomfortable conversation about girls who waited in hotel lobbies, he was smiling!

“But it’s my choice. It doesn’t matter who shows up. I’m not interested or looking or willing.”

I knew I should have been satisfied with that answer, but clearly, it wasn’t enough. “But what if it’s someone you’ve been with before? Someone you know? And she’s expecting it to be like last time?”

Cole looked at me like he would entertain my what-if scenarios all night long if I asked him to. He wasn’t even remotely irritated that I needed more information. He indulged me.

“Let me put it to you this way. Any girl could show up at my door, naked, holding a six-pack, and it wouldn’t matter. I’d slam the door in her face. Might take the beer first,” he said with a grin, “but never the girl. You’re the only one I want.”

I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry, so I think I did a little of both. “Really?”

“Yes, really. And while we’re on the subject, it goes both ways, you know?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not the only one out of town.”

“I’m not following,” I said. I’m not going anywhere, so what is he talking about?

“You’re here without me too. You could meet someone and fall in love while I’m gone,” he said, and I laughed because just the idea itself was completely ridiculous. “See, you laugh, but I worry too. You never know what could happen while I’m away.”

“But I’m not even looking for anyone else. I wouldn’t even entertain the idea. I’m so happy with you, Cole.”

“Exactly.” He gave me a pointed look, and I knew that I’d just proven the point he was trying to get across to me earlier. “We will be fine. I promise.”

And we were.

He texted me all the time, more than usual, and I knew he was doing it to make sure I was comfortable. I appreciated the messages and always responded right away to let him know I was thinking about him and missed him too.

Just landed. Miss you.

Can’t stop thinking about you. Don’t fall in love with any waffles while I’m gone.

Heading to dinner with the team. Call you when we get back to the room. P.S. I hate the time difference

He called before and after every game, and we FaceTimed each night. He shared a hotel room with a teammate I didn’t know very well, and he made fun of Cole for being “whipped,” as he called it. Cole never even argued with him. At least, not while I was on the phone to hear it.

And when miniature snow globes from various cities started appearing on top of my desk, I realized that Cole had been buying me one from each airport he landed in without telling me.

When I confronted him one night, he simply

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