Page 16 of Trip Through Your Wires

I look at him, confused, and he folds his arms across his chest and grins. “You said when I do, brother. So tell me, when and how many times?”

Cruz is relentless, and his focus is unparalleled. It’s exactly the combination that makes him one of—if not the best pitcher—in D1 baseball. That’s why I know if I don’t give him something, he’s going to keep at it until I do.

“More than a few,” I confess. “But you can’t say anything. I mean it. Not to Ellery or Marcus.”

“I don’t keep secrets from my girl,” he says with abject seriousness.

I don’t want to put Cruz in a bad position with Ellery, but I made a promise to Jenica and I intend to keep it. “You do now. Zip your lip, got it?”

“Jake.”

“No man,” I shake my head. “I’m serious. Not a word. I kept your secret last summer. You can keep mine now. Jenica hasn’t even said anything to Ellery, so what does that tell you?”

“Why not?” He lifts a hand. “Ellery wouldn’t care.”

“She has her reasons, so swear you won’t say anything. I’m not telling you anything until you do.”

“Fine,” he says reluctantly.

“Say it…I swear I will not open my mouth.”

“Yeah, I swear. Now spill it. And I want every detail, starting with how many times?”

“Come on, Cabron.”

“How many?” he presses.

“I don’t know. How many times has she been here since last summer?”

“I knew it!” He snaps his fingers. “I told Ellie—”

“Wait,” I cut him off. “You told her, what?”

“That I thought there was something going on between you and Jenica.”

“You two talk about me?” I ask, incredulously.

“Sure,” he shrugs.

“Why?” I laugh in disbelief. “What are you, a couple of gossipy teenagers?”

“Sure fuck like it,” he smirks.

“Man,” I shake my head. “Come on with that shit.”

“Sorry,” he laughs. “Can’t help it.”

“Yeah, I know. You couldn’t help yourself that time you two thought I fell asleep while we were watching Cadence and decided to fuck on the couch right next to me. Or the time you decided sex on the kitchen counter at midnight would be safe, because no one ever needs a glass of water at that time.”

“Hey, he lowers his head a bit and runs his thumb along his chin. “Got you a fridge down here, didn’t it?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Yes, it did. But man, I swear, you two…I hope to hell you’re being careful because the last thing I want to be is Uncle Jake at twenty-one.”

“Twenty-two?” he counters.

My eyes widen and he holds up a hand. “She’s not PG, but that doesn’t mean I can’t wait to see her beautiful—”

“Cruz!”

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