Page 169 of Unleashed

Chapter 27

Simone

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THE SUN WAKES ME UP, and I stretch, seeing Greg sleeping beside me. Last night floods my mind, and I cover my grin, though no one sees it.

Needing some time to myself, I get a quick shower and grab a brown sugar Pop-Tart. With a mouthful of tart, I pick up my purse, softball glove, and hat before leaving. I don’t know where I’m going, but I can’t be here with Greg. He’s distracting.

Last night, Sylvie left after Greg and I gave her a show. I’m glad because I didn’t want to run a play-by-play of what turned her on. We were there.

But I heard Sylvie say Greg and I are in love. I used to love him, but not anymore.

I can’t even lie to my fucking self.

Arriving at the field, I’m one of the first there, with only Patrice and Crick in the dugout. I can’t believe I beat my brother and Hadley. They’re probably fucking in his car somewhere.

I grab my necklace and remember what I asked Greg to do for me in the future. After my miscarriage and the annulment, I buried the fantasy. His giving me the necklace reawakened it.

I sit in the dugout and talk with Patrice and Crick, but they are the team’s most complicated people to talk to. One doesn’t know what she’s talking about, and the other doesn’t want to talk about anything.

When Rhonda arrives, I’m glad, but it’s not like she’s much of a talker. “Hey, girly,” I say, going to the fence to stand next to her.

“Hi, Simone. Your hair is cute.”

I tug on one of the lazy pigtails. “Thanks. It’s hard to wear a helmet or hat, so I have to wear my hair low.”

“I wish I could do cute things to my hair, but I don’t know how.”

“If I can find a spare elastic, I’ll braid your hair.”

She nods. “That’s so nice of you. How’s Greg?”

I shrug. “I think he’s moving out today since my dad left yesterday.”

Rhonda searches my face. “He’s not moving in with you permanently?”

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