steps forward, eyeing me carefully. Placing a finger under my chin, he lifts it so we’re eye to eye. “So will you rent the room to me?”
My stomach jumps when he bumps his shoulder into mine. “I can’t.”
He nods but doesn’t say anything.
“I should go check on Tatum.”
Though I can tell he’s disappointed in my answer, he smiles, drops his hand, and backs up. “You’re gonna change your mind.”
“I’m really not.” Would it be wrong to put his number in my phone under Call for Good Sex?
“Think it over,” he yells when he’s getting into his car. “At least you know what you’re getting with me.”
Ha. Cute.
What the fuck am I going to do now?
A ball that is hard-hit and appears to be hit in a straight line.
CASON
She won’t rent me the room. What kind of shit is that? Our night together was good, right? There were certainly no complaints from her, so why’d she turn me down?
Was I not charming enough? I laid that shit on thick.
The distant thwack of ball hitting leather, Chiasson yelling at Forest to hustle, and Ez whistling behind the plate fill the silence around me. It’s Thursday. Two days after Syd told me no. I even texted her, thanks to her sister giving me her number, and I still couldn’t convince her to let me rent the room.
“I don’t get it.” I throw a slider to Ez, down in the strike zone. Outside. If a batter was at the plate, all he’d have to do would be to swing low, lean over the plate, get the barrel on it, hit hard, and pull to the right. “Why wouldn’t she want me to rent the room?”
Standing, he sends the ball back to me. “She’s obviously too attracted to you to be near you.”
“Yeah.” I snort. “I’m sure that’s it, buddy.”
But then I think he’s right. She’s afraid if I live near her, our one-night stand will turn into more. I know she has a lot going on, and I’m not about to get in the middle of that. She doesn’t need another man complicating her life. And believe me, given that I’m in college, unsure what the next six months will bring, I complicate the shit out of things.
I’d also be lying if I said I didn’t want another chance with her. Three times wasn’t even close to enough.
Also, I’m not trying to be a dick, but people usually don’t tell me no. I had a good life growing up. Anything I ever wanted. What I didn’t have?
Family.
I had my dad a phone call away, but he was on the road constantly. My grandparents would be here in a heartbeat, as would my aunts and uncles on my dad’s side.
My mom, like I said, she probably doesn’t even know what day of the week it is at her mansion in Key West. I haven’t heard from her in six months. The last time I did, she called to tell me she was getting remarried to some movie producer. I’m sure my dad would be thrilled not to be paying alimony to her anymore.
My mom, Lydia, is a perfect example of why professional athletes should pull out and take the condom with them. Sadly.
After practice, we’re heading into the locker room when Ez bumps me. “You can sleep on the couch still.”
I frown at the idea. The last thing I want is to be around Luca any more than I need to. “I don’t get it. I would want to live with me.”
He laughs. Out loud, and then stops and looks over at me as I push the doors open. “You’re messy.”
“I’m not messy.” I roll my eyes at the absurdity. “My piles have a purpose.”
Rolling his eyes, he rips his sweaty shirt over his head. “Yeah, sure.”
“What am I going to do?” I sit down at my cubbie and sigh. “I’m not living with you and your scary-ass uncle anymore.”
“Call your dad.” He sits across from me, the guys filing inside, and their loud, crude behavior follows. “He’ll hook you up.”
The suggestion doesn’t sit well with me. I’ve never had to ask my dad for money yet or use his fame to get what I need, and I’m not about to start now. For ten years, I mowed lawns before and after practice and never spent a dime of it. I have my own money and housing allowance. Besides, it’s his final season before retirement. He’s given baseball most of his life, and the last