Page 69 of A Whole New Game

“Carlee? Where are you going?” Victor follows after me.

I look over my shoulder to answer him, but the words fade from my lips when my eyes land on a tall, muscular baseball pitcher with beautiful blue eyes. Those eyes are currently swinging between me and my ex, and I see the moment Corey realizes something is wrong.

His strides lengthen, and he’s across the room in seconds. “Carlee? What’s up?”

I take a deep breath.Here we go.

“Nothing much. Just saying goodbye to Victor.” I gesture towards my ex, praying Corey doesn’t recognize the name.

The prayer goes unanswered.

“Victor?” His expression shutters into cool calculation as he looks my ex up and down. “Really?”

“Holy shit. Are you Corey Johnson?” Victor’s eyes widen in disbelief.

“I am.”

“Wow. Nice to meet you, man. Hell of a game last week.” Victor holds out his hand.

Corey looks him right in the eye without saying a word. It isn’t until Victor lowers his hand with a frown that he mutters, “Thanks.”

My ex’s frown deepens. His gaze darts between me and Corey, and I can see the wheels turning. “Do you two know each other?”

“Didn’t Carlee tell you? We grew up in the same town.”

“What?” Victor looks at me. “Really?”

I can sense Corey’s displeasure that Victor didn’t know about him, but what did he expect? He and I weren’t on good terms for years. I wasn’t going to brag about us growing up together. Not when all those memories did was drudge up old pain for me.

“Really,” I answer in a clipped tone. “And we have plans today. So, if you don’t mind, we’ll be going.” I turn around and touch Corey’s arm along. “Let’s go.”

His steel-blue eyes have a sharp edge to them, but they soften when he sees my pleading look. He bobs his head once. “Let’s go.” He maneuvers his arm so my hand slides into his palm. We move towards the elevator.

“Wait… are youdatingthis guy?” It’s amazing how quickly Victor’s tone went from admiring to derisive.

Corey stops. Stiff, he turns and meets my ex’s arrogant sneer with a stone-cold glare.

I need to diffuse this situation.Fast.

I release Corey’s hand and turn around, making sure to position myself between the two men. “That’s none of your business, Victor.”

“Like hell it isn’t.”

I notice movement out of the corner of my eye. We’re drawing attention. The desk clerk is looking our way, and so is the trio of teenage boys seated on the lounge chairs in the lobby.

Lowering my voice, I snap, “We aren’t together, Victor. We haven’t been for ages. You have no right to act upset right now.”

“It’s not an act, Carlee. Iamupset.” He looks at me like I’m a cheating girlfriend he just discovered in bed with someone else, and not an ex he let walk out of his fancy downtown apartment after she “embarrassed” him at dinner with his parents. “How could you choose someone likehimover me?”

I snort. Does he mean a world-class athlete? Or someone who doesn’t dress like he’s on his way to a cocktail hour as soon as he wakes up?

I’m about to tell Victor to stop embarrassing himself and leave when Corey puts a hand on my shoulder. “Do you have a problem with me, buddy?” He steps around me.

“I’m not your buddy,” Victor spews back. “And yeah… I do have a problem with you.”

Oh no...

No. No. No.

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