Page 21 of Baller's Surprise Baby

Fuck!

“Hey, baby,” I croon at her. “How you doing there?” I move both of our bags aside and then opt for toilet tissues to blot at her face. They’re softer, and she looks so delicate right now. Seeing her tears rips me up inside. Her head is tilted back against the metal wall of the stall, and her eyes are shut. So, I stay there, crooning at her, gently blotting her skin until she raises her lids to stare at me.

Even here, sitting on the floor of a public bathroom, there’s something magic about her. Something so…

“Velvet and gold,” I murmur to myself as I let my eyes sweep down over her full lips, perfectly shaped, and then further down to all her gorgeous curves. I want her. I always want her, but I bring my eyes back to hers now, concern outweighing everything else.

“Thank you,” she says as she shifts to stand. I back away instantly to make room, a hand held out ready to support her. When she reaches for her bag, I quickly snatch it up along with mine.

“I got this.” She holds my gaze but must be feeling pretty low, because she just nods her head and accepts the water bottle I hold out. After a drink, she moves to the sink where she rinses her face before taking up the tissues I offer.

When we make it back to the hallway, she brings her shirt back up to her nose and grimaces before turning stoically toward the exit.

“Everly?” I wait until she glances my way before continuing. “Do you need a doctor?” She heaves a little sigh and then shrugs.

“My stomach’s been bothering me all week… I thought it was better, which is why I came into work, but… I guess not. For some reason, strong smells really get to me right now.”

I just clench my fist in silence, wanting to push the matter, wanting to make her get help. I hate these stupid boundaries I’ve made. I hate the fucking job requirements that make it a risk for her to date me, and I hate that I know exactly how amazing she is, that I’ve touched her, held her... and now it’s all over. She’s not mine.

When we reach the players’ entrance, the guard is gone, and the door locked. I do a quick check, and the little red light shows that it’s armed. Damn it.

I pull out my phone and turn to Everly with a grimace.

“Looks like we’re locked in.”

16

Everly

Istare at Ryder in shock, wondering how long I can hold out. It’s late and my body has a mind of its own lately. He must have registered my dismay, because he does that sexy crooning voice again and everything in me wants to curl up in his arms.

“No, don’t worry about anything. Everything’s going to be fine. I’m calling the night guard right now, and we’re just going to camp out here for a few minutes until he can swing by and let us out without triggering all the alarms. It’s no biggie, you feel me?”

I snort a small laugh and decide that if we’re going to spend any more time together tonight, I should probably dig out a few mints. I gingerly lower myself to the floor and heave a sigh of relief at not having to stand in heels anymore. Popping a mint into my mouth, I go ahead and kick off the shoes and pull out my phone. What a week this has been! I woke up today feeling good as new and so sure that this stomach bug had passed, but here I am again barfing up my insides, and in front of Ryder of all people. It’s like my stomach is still angry at him for turning me down after all the lengths he went to just to get me back. Feckless man.

I go to unlock my phone, but what little battery it had left was apparently used up on my recent text to Aunt Sharon. It’s officially dead now. I check every pocket in my purse and computer bag, but I must have left all my charging cords at home because I can’t find any now.

I hardly register Ryder’s conversation on the phone until he ends the call and I hear him muttering to himself.

“What’d they say?””That was Jerry. He says it’s the other night guard, Felix, who’s on duty tonight. They need about thirty minutes to get over here and will have to call in for a code to disarm the entrance. It’s a bit of a production, it seems.”

I watch as Ryder rubs at his brow in a subconscious gesture. He sighs, checks his phone again, and then seems to resign himself to our fate.

I gesture to the floor beside me, “Sit down.” He stares for a minute, as if trying to gauge my intentions, but I just give a tired sigh. “It’s fine, Ryder. We’re friends.” His brow furrows at the word ‘friends,’ but he settles into place beside me, and I feel fatigue washing over me again.

“Did I ever tell you about the time I got locked in the chemistry classroom?” he asks. I chuckle and tell him no before he launches into his story, but I’m so sleepy that my mind drifts.

I come to in his arms, suddenly aware I must have fallen asleep. Somehow, he’s managed to scoop me up and stand, because the door is opening. I stiffen when I realize what’s happening.

“Ryder, I’m awake. You can put me down now.” But my voice is cracking and the level of fatigue I’m experiencing is beyond normal. I would give my whole paycheck to go back to sleep. So, when he tells me he’s got me and I see my bag slung across his shoulder and my shoes poking out of his duffle bag, I give up and let sleep take me under again.

When I do wake it’s to glimmers of sunlight filtering under the bottom edge of a window shade. Glancing around the room, I don’t recognize anything. It’s not a huge room, but the raised ceiling makes it feel spacious. I’m in a king-size bed, and it smells like some kind of cologne or sandalwood soap. Ryder, it smells like Ryder. Silky smooth linen sheets are covered with a charcoal grey comforter, and the opposite wall is covered in wood panelling.

I’m still groggy, but I sit straight up searching the room for anything that might be familiar. My eyes land on my phone on the nightstand. It’s plugged into a charger, and I swipe it up hastily to check the time, the date, and any messages. The top message is from Ryder, left just thirty minutes ago.

RYDER: Hey Curves, how you feeling this morning?

I hope you don’t mind but I brought you to my place, and I texted your aunt to let her know you were crashing over here.

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