Page 32 of Off Pitch

“Now I know that whenever I piss you off, I can just grab you some French toast to make everything better.”

“I hate to say that would work,” I reply, placing the French toast in front of me and handing the spinach omelet off to Knox, “but it probably would. I’m such a sucker for French toast. But don’t go pissing me off often.”

“I’ll do my best to avoid that,” Knox says, laughing. “I enjoy seeing you happy, and I don’t want to know what you look like when you’re angry.”

“Good choice,” I say as I stuff a piece of French toast into my mouth.

“By the way,” he adds, “I’m glad I get to see the freckles again.”

I can’t help but smile as my cheeks flush.

Over the next half hour, we eat breakfast, talk, and laugh before he heads off for practice. This week has really shown me a new side of him, and it’s a side I really like. Knox is somuch more than a closed-off pitcher. He’s actually very kind and attentive.

This fake relationship thing is going to be a breeze.

The Stars win the game against the Comets and avoid the sweep. They have tomorrow off before their next game on Tuesday, so they get a day of rest. We all jump on the plane once today’s early afternoon game is finished so we can return to NYC as soon as possible. We’ve been on the road almost an entire week, so we’re all just ready to be home.

I doze off during the plane ride, exhausted from such a busy week, and I don’t wake up until we hit the ground back in New York.

I rub my eyes as I see Knox smirking next to me. I turn to him. “What are you smirking at, Spencer?”

“Nothing at all. I’m just glad you’re awake—I couldn’t take much more of your snoring.”

“I do not snore!” I shout.

“How would you know that, Freckles?” He cocks his eyebrow at me.

“Because, Slick,” I say as I poke him in the chest, “Cole is my brother. You think he wouldn’t have held that over my head while we were growing up?”

Knox laughs. “Yeah, that does sound like something he’d do. You’re right, you don’t snore.”

“So why were you smirking when I woke up then?”

“Did you ever consider the possibility that maybe you look adorable when you sleep, Harlow?”

“Is that so, Knox? Be careful there, or I might just think you’re trying to flirt with me.”

“Oh, I’d never do that,” he responds, the tone in his voice telling me that that isn’t exactly truthful. “What are you up to tonight, Pierce?”

“Probably getting some takeout, eating a tub of frozen yogurt, and binging something on TV.”

“Interesting. I’ve got the same plans, minus the froyo.” Knox looks me in the eyes. “Care to join me then?”

“Ooh, I’ve warmed you up enough to be invited over now? I must be doing something right.”

Instead of shaking his head like he might have done when this first started, he just smiles. He looks so lovely when he smiles. I think he is actually warming up to me, and I really like that.

“Maybe I thought you could use a little company for your lonely night. Consider that?”

“Nope. I think you like me, Knox Spencer. You want to spend time with me just for fun.”

The flight attendants tell us it’s time to disembark, so we both stand up and step into the aisle. Knox grabs my bag from the overhead compartment and hands it to me before grabbing his own. He sets his suitcase on the ground before extending the handle and leaning his lips down to my ear. “You know what? I think you’re right. I do want to spend time with you—just for fun.”

I can’t help but smile. This whole arrangement started less than two weeks ago. In that time, we’ve gone from never speaking to each other to actually beginning to enjoy each other’s presence.

Neither of us expected what we’re going through to happen, but it seems to be working so far. The traffic to my blog has skyrocketed. The media is ablaze with talk of how Fort Knox is finally opening up. And the more he opens up, the more I like the person he is underneath the mysterious persona. He’s easy to talk to and actually a lot of fun to be around.

For the first time, I can admit that I’m glad we’re doing this.

---