Page 128 of Off Pitch

I’m falling headfirst without a safety net, but I’ve never felt more at ease in my life.

“You know,” she says, “when this season started, I told Lucia my goal was to get you to do an interview for my blog by the end of the season.”

“Seriously?” I say with a chuckle.

“Scout’s honor,” Harlow replies. “That’s why I came up to talk to you after the season opener. I wanted to be friendlier with you so you’d know you could trust me. I didn’t want you to think I was just another tabloid.”

“That’s what set off this whole chain of events, Lo.”

“What do you mean?”

“Simon saw you talking to me after that game, and that was right after he told me I need a better image to get the Axis contract. He saw us together, so he devised this whole scheme. That conversation is how you became my fake girlfriend.”

She throws her head back and laughs. “Really? One of the only times I talked to you, and Simon already started scheming.”

“I’m glad he was there to see it,” I say.

“Because now that Axis contract is all but certain, huh?” She looks at me with certainty.

“I keep forgetting about the damn contract,” I laugh. “I’m glad he was there becausenow I know you. You’re way better than a contract, Harlow.”

“But the whole reason we did this is for your contract, Knox,” she says, surprised.

“Fuck the contract. If I ever had to choose, I’d pick you every time, Harlow.Every damn time.”

She stares at me, breathless, with her signature blush crossing her cheeks. “I’m really glad I know you, too.”

The light in her eyes helps me forget about everything that’s happened.

There’s no Emily in the back of my mind.

There’s no fear or uncertainty about what could be.

There’s no lying to myself, saying this is fake when it’s the mostrealthing I’ve ever felt.

Harlow is my reality.

And reality seems much brighter now.

“So, Freckles. What questions you got for me?”

forty-seven

Knox

Harlow sits across fromme on the couch, computer perched on her lap. “How do you handle the fame? You have the lowest ERA of any starting pitcher in the league, bringing you a lot of notoriety.”

“I’m pretty sure I can’t handle the fame at all,” I reply with a low laugh. “I’m pretty well-known for trying toavoidany of the fame that comes with this. I’ve never been one to seek out the limelight, so being thrust into it was never something I dreamed of. Honestly, it’s more of a nightmare, but I think I’m finally getting a better handle on approaching it.”

“What’s changed in your approach then? You’ve been known as Fort Knox for years—why the sudden change?”

“As if you don’t know,” I smile.

Harlow sighs. “Of course, I know, but I don’t think I can put ‘I’m faking a relationship thanks to my agent, and because of that, I have to pretend to be happy.’ That won’t be well-received.”

I laugh heartily. “No, I suppose it wouldn’t. But just so you know, I’m not pretending to be happy, Lo.” She meets my gaze. “None of that is fake.”

She takes a deep breath. “But you said-”

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