Page 37 of The Best Friend and the Shortstop

“Yeah, I guess we can party.”

I walk her back to her room, kissing her one more time before promising to be back within the hour to pick her up for dinner at Patty’s then a party with the fools on my team. That feeling creeps back into my chest, though, when I’m about halfway home. And I finally pin down the source of everything.

It’s not Nikki I’m worried about. It’s me. And so far this year my track record for holding the important shit together is zero for two.

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nikki

Okay. So maybe it is weird.

And perhaps Alex hasn’t spent years thinking about this version of us the way I have.

But we’re here now. I guess I’m simply more prepared and know what I want. And as far as I know, my family isn’t breaking up while my dream threatens to slip away.

We hold hands in the car, and I expect him to shift us back into old Alex and Nikki when we walk through the door of Brayden’s house. But instead, he swings his arm around me and pulls me in close, kissing the top of my head.

I blink up at him and he smirks, lifting a shoulder.

“Effort,” he says.

“That’s all I ask for.” For now.

I let Alex lead me through what is already a fairly crowded living room. Half of his teammates are piled on the oversized sectional, some sitting on the back, all playing some video game with an obscene amount of graphic blood.

I nudge Alex’s side with my elbow and he utters, “Rage issues. All of them, pitchers.”

I laugh quietly but stop suddenly when Alex and I literally run into Brayden. His cologne is taking center stage tonight, and I wriggle my nose trying not to sneeze.

“You made it,” he says, lifting an arm to hug me. He stops short, though, when he realizes Alex’s arm is already there.

“Oh,” he says, his eyes blinking rapidly a few times as his brow lifts.

“Yeah, oh,” Alex says, and I can’t help but note the smug tone.

“Alright, well, I’m going to get a drink. And then if it’s all right with the host, I’d like to get some tunes going?” I glance between the two of them, neither of them looking down at me and both wearing the same expression, like a mask made of bravado and dares.

“Sure. That’d be great, Nik. You pick the vibe,” Brayden says, his mouth spending extra time on that last word.

I roll my eyes at their pissing contest and head into the kitchen, where I find Cole doing his best to entertain a girl who towers over him. Clearly one of Laney’s teammates.

“Hey, Nikki can tell you. She was at the game. Nik, tell Aria about my diving catch today.” Cole slips behind me then thrusts me forward with his hands on my shoulders. I sigh but I like Cole, so I’ll build him up if he thinks that’s what he needs.

“Yeah, it was pretttttty awesome. Saved the game, basically.” I tilt my head and shrug on one side to sell it, then immediately turn my attention to the cooler filled with ice and beer.

“Mind grabbing me one?” Brayden says, his chin hovering over my shoulder.

I dig my hand into the ice and lift up a cold bottle, stopping myself from swinging my arm just a little too far and popping him in the nose. His quiet laugh sends his breath snaking over my skin.

He pulls off the cap then touches the chilled side of the glass to my shoulder. I feel it through the cotton of my T-shirt.

“You take this one,” he says, shifting to cut off my exit.

My mouth hangs open for a second while I weigh the best words to use, and in that split second, my eyes lock with Alex’s from the other room. I swear I can see his pupils dilating, even from several feet away. His jaw is clenched, and his mouth a straight line. Seeing him look so possessive feels good.

“Actually”—I turn into Brayden enough that my elbow pushes into his diaphragm. He takes a tiny step back—“I’m the driver tonight. Gotta make sure our all-star gets home safe, you know?” I reach into the nearby fridge and pull out a water bottle before nodding toward Alex, who is now only a few steps away.

“All-star, huh? Not if you keep up those numbers. Right, Alex?” Brayden takes a long, purposeful sip of his beer as his gaze dims on Alex’s face.

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