Page 49 of Hot Streak

“No shit,” Connor retorted.

He was only heartened by the fact that his expression a minute ago was probably much the same as Jackson’s had been last night, right before he’d flipped the light off.

It’s not just you. You’re not the only one affected; he’s just way better at hiding it.

Connor didn’t want him to hide it though. He wanted to draw it out, draw it into the light.

“Why do you do all that?” Connor asked, gesturing to the weight machines.

Jackson paused in the middle of his stretches. “The weights?”

Connor nodded.

“You know we’re athletes, right? Supposed to stay in shape,” Jackson teased.

“But you’re the only one here.”

“Okay, fair.” Jackson hesitated. “Early on I learned that nobody wanted to pick a fight if I was the biggest, strongest guy on the team.”

“People picked on you?”

Jackson sighed and didn’t answer.

“You can tell me,” Connor said, trying to persuade him to open up. Maybe if he did, he’d be more open in general. Like open to taking off his shirt.

“Never overtly,” Jackson finally said. “But it was enough.”

Connor thought about the insinuation TJ had made earlier—and TJ was a friend, TJ was a guy he liked, who liked him back. What would that have been like if it wasn’t someone who respected him? Who didn’t like him?

“And you becoming a cross between Captain America and Thor fixed that for you?”

“Enough,” Jackson said.

It was funny how the guy couldn’t stop talking when it came to Connor’s pitching, but when the spotlight turned on him, he could barely get a handful of words out.

It drove Connor a little wild.

Made him more determined than ever.

What was Jackson Evans really like, under all that reticence?

Maybe if he found out, he would like him, and more.

Connor definitely didn’t think it would change his stance on getting him naked—and more.

“Well, the point I made last night still stands. You got an issue with this team, with the Rogues, I’m happy to help.”

Jackson raised an eyebrow.

“Okay, maybe you could handle it better—you’re certainly . . .uh . . .bigger . . .and stronger . . .but I’ve been on this team for almost a whole season now. The guys listen to me.”

“’Cause they all think you’re going to the show, someday,” Jackson said frankly.

“I’m a leader,” Connor tried to argue. Wanted to believe it.

“In the minors, there are no real leaders,” Jackson said. “Only the ones everyone knows are talented enough to make it and the ones that aren’t. Sooner you learn that, the better.” He picked up his phone and started to walk out of the room and, jog abandoned, Connor trailed after him.

“I’m not a naive kid,” Connor insisted.

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