Page 126 of Off Pitch

“Hey, Knox,” she says sweetly. “I brought something back for you.”

“Consider my curiosity piqued,” I say, slowly getting off of the couch. “What do you have there, Harlow?”

I limp my way into the kitchen to find a white box on the marble countertop. “Open up the box and see,” she says brightly.

I pull the lid of the box back and peer at the dessert sitting inside. “Chocolate cheesecake?” I ask.

“Mhmm. I stopped by your favorite diner on my way back and grabbed it. Thought you might enjoy something sweet since the past couple of weeks have been pretty shitty to you.”

“It’s probably not been as shitty as you think,” I say with a soft smile. “I’ve had some pretty good company.”

Her blush is unmistakable. Even after everything, my words still mean enough for her to believe them.

“It’s not been too bad from my end either,” she says.

I slide myself carefully onto the counter as Harlow grabs two forks and joins me. Taking one fork from her, I say, “Thank you for this, Lo.”

“I know how much you want to get back on the field, so I just wanted to help you find a bright spot in this shitty situation.” Her words are so genuine, laced with sincerity.

“Harlow,” I say, catching her eyes with mine. “Youare the bright spot in all of this. I’ll take the cheesecake, but it doesn’t hold a candle to you.”

“Oh,” she says softly, blushing again. “I’m glad I can brighten things up for you then.”

The air is charged, coursing with the electricity flowing between us. All I want right now is to kiss her, but I shouldn’t. We’re just getting back to normal. I can’t take us backward again.

In an effort to prevent myself from doing something foolish, I shove my fork into the cheesecake and bring a bite to her lips.

“Mmmm…”she moans.

This may not have been my wisest decision because now I’m thinking of the times she made similar sounds.

Okay, think of something disgusting to take your mind off Harlow’s moaning.

Moldy sandwiches.

Dirty diapers.

Naked grandmas.

I wince. That did the trick.

“You alright, Knox?” Harlow asks, eyeing me curiously.

“Oh... yeah,” I reply uneasily, not wanting to divulge both the sinful and the disgusting thoughts running through my head right now. “I’m totally good.”

“Whatever you say, Slick,” she smirks.

“What’s that face for, Freckles? You don’t believe me, do you?”

“Not at all,” she laughs. “You were staring off into space when you suddenly looked repulsed. You were thinking about something.”

“Believe me,” I say. “You don’t want to know.”

“Fine,” she relents. “What did you get up to while I was out?”

“I sat on the couch and elevated my leg,” I say. “I live a fascinating life, you see.”

“Thrilling,” she replies with a smile. “But your leg is doing so much better. How’s the bruising?”

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