Page 100 of Strike Zone

WYATT

Yes.

WREN

Those guys are still fighting for their jobs.

You don’t quit on people. Finish what you started.

Win and make them look good.

WYATT

That was a lot of texting birdie.

Get here early so I can kiss you before the game.

26

WYATT

“Saw Wren in the stands,” Koa says as he slips on his shoes.

“Yeah.” I smile thinking about the make out session we had in my truck before the game started. “She’s coming over tonight.” I pull a clean shirt over my head.

“Never thought I’d ever see you with a girlfriend.”

I wince. “She’s not my girlfriend. We’re friends.” I throw a few things into my duffle and add, “With benefits.” I’m crossing my fingers and toes that she’s enjoying said benefits enough to stick around this summer.

“Wren was cool with that?” Koa asks.

“Wren doesn’t do relationships either. Never found the need for them. She wouldn't have said yes if I asked her to be my girlfriend or anything serious. We agreed to no strings attached over spring break.”

“How’s that working out for you?” Hart asks. There are only a few of us left in the locker room. Usually he is one of the first guys showered after the game and rushing out the door to see Lauren.

How is that working for me? Not good. I laugh. “There are so many strings I could do fucking macrame over here.”

“What the fuck is macrame?” Hart’s eyebrows scrunch together.

“It’s when you take cord or yarn or whatever and knot it together to create art, a plant holder, jewelry, all kinds of things,” Koa informs Hart.

“How do you know that?” Hart asks him.

“Syd got into making them for a little while. She has a giant wall hanging and a few holders for her plants.” He shrugs.

“That’s great. Now, back to me,” I say. “Should I tell Wren I want more?” Asking her to be my girlfriend feels wrong. Not because I don’t want to be exclusive with her. Fuck, I am exclusive with her. I’ve bent and broken every rule I’ve ever had for this girl.

I’m not ready to book a church and call the preacher, but the word girlfriend doesn’t feel like a big enough title for what she means to me.

I know something happened when she went home to visit her parents a few weeks ago. I expected our relationship to change when we got back to school. I knew our lives would take over once we left the little bubble we created on the farm.

I’m busy with practice and traveling for games. She has her tutoring gig that is monopolizing more of her time than I would like.

There’s something off beyond our busier schedules. Call it gut instinct or intuition or my newfound ability to hear Wren speak in her silence.

Anytime I ask what’s bothering her, she shuts me out and says everything is fine. I know my girl. She is keeping something from me. Just like the day she was crying over that movie she was watching with Lenny. There was something else going on then too.

Wren doesn’t break down, but to have her cry in front of me stirred up a whole new set of feelings. It about broke my heart to see her upset like that.

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