Page 16 of Anti Player

My eyes sweep over his abdomen. They take in the ridges of muscle and make their way up to his chest. His pecs are defined. His skin is golden, which is his natural coloring.

“I always stop by here. My assistant is still sick and I don’t have food. Your brother doesn’t care. He’s used to me,” he explains, and then he moves to the fridge and opens it. He’s wearing a pair of basketball shorts low slung on his waist and he’s barefoot. I lick my lips. He is just so hot. My gaze drops to his ass, and I lick my lips again.

“Right, okay, well, don’t you believe in clothes?” I chide. I pick up my whisk and go to the sink to wash it since it fell to the floor.

“What’s wrong, Mad Pie, does a little skin bother you?” he asks, and he pulls out some turkey slices and whole grain bread.

“Not at all.” I swallow. “I could care less about skin,” I mutter like an idiot. I hate how he makes me nervous. I’m fourteen all over again and swooning over Kaleb.Get yourself together.I finish washing the whisk and walk back over to my bowl to mix, while Kaleb prepares his sandwich. I peek over at his hands. They are manly hands with thick veins running through them. His fingers are long but not too long. They are thick but not chubby. His skin looks a little calloused and I picture what thosehands would feel like on my skin. I blink the thought away.No men, remember?

“What are you making?” he asks.

“It’s a cake for Ellie. I want to thank her for hooking me up with the job,” I say.

“So you got it. Congratulations,” he says, and he bites into his sandwich.

“I’m going to be working in the kitchen washing vegetables, and I’ll be waitressing at their parties. It’s not my dream job but I’ll make some money, which we really need,” I explain.

Kaleb places his sandwich down. “You have a place to eat and sleep. You know your brother isn’t charging you rent. Why don’t you go back to school and become a chef?”

I hate that question.

“Mad Pie?” he asks when I don’t answer him.

“You really need to stop calling me that. I’m not a teenager anymore,” I say, and I feel my eyes tear.

“Hey.” He moves into me. “I think Mad Pie is cute but if you don’t like it, I’ll stop.”

“Thank you.” I swipe at a stray tear.

“What’s going on, Maddie?” he asks, and he looks concerned, but he also reminds me of my brothers. They never knew what to do when I started to cry. They’d get nervous and call for my mom. Also, the way he calls me Maddie sends warmth to my belly. Warmth that makes me feel hot and bothered, which is messed up. It’s like I can’t stop myself from liking him and I need to. I need to break all my old patterns.

“My life is a mess. I’m a mess, Kaleb.” I begin to cry, and he gathers me in his arms. My head rests against his warm bare chest. His strong arms hold me close, and I feel safe, cared for, but I shouldn’t. I always do this. I’m shown kindness and take it the wrong way.

“You aren’t a mess. Why don’t you tell me what happened?” he urges.

I pick my head up off his chest, even though it felt good there. “Nathan cheated on me. I always fall for the wrong guys. I’m just like my mom,” I say, and the tears fall more.

Kaleb pulls his head back and looks at me. “Maddie, your mom is a good mom and the kindest person I know. When my mom checked out, she helped me and my siblings a lot. I don’t think there is anything wrong with being like her.”

I snicker. “Brett would tell you it’s very bad. The way she took my dad back over and over. It was pathetic.”

“She has a big heart and she cared for him, despite his faults,” Kaleb notes, and I have never thought of my parents’ relationship in that way before. “I don’t want to dis your dad, but he was the messed-up one. Not your mom.”

“As kids, we were always so upset about him breaking her heart over and over. We wanted her to be strong. I’m weak like her. I keep falling for the wrong guys, and even though I’ve sworn off men, it doesn’t matter at this point because my life is a mess.”

“Your life isn’t a mess. You have a brother who loves you and you’ve got a great place to stay. You just landed a job, which is good, but you also have the option of school. Why won’t you go back? I noticed you dodged my question when I asked.” He raises his brows and I pull out of his embrace because it’s too much. It’s starting to feel intimate.

“I just can’t go back to school now. I’m not in a good headspace, I don’t have the money, I need to be here for Asher, the list is too long to get through.”

Kaleb pinches his lips. “Brett would pay, just saying, and I don’t want to push because I don’t like when people push into my business, but there is more to why you aren’t going back toschool. You’re amazing in the kitchen. I’m sure any school would take you.”

“Leave it, Kaleb,” I insist.

“Fine,” he agrees. The way he is watching me with concern is making me like him even more and I need to shut this feeling down. It isn’t healthy for anyone. I’m a mess. I need to get my life back together.

I go back to making the cake and Kaleb stands beside me. “Let me help you,” he offers.

I snort accidentally. “You want to help me bake a cake?” I begin to laugh, it feels good and releases the tension inside me.

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