Page 270 of Vegas Heat

“Your ultimate fantasy. The dream girl. If you were in a relationship and could fuck any celebrity if she crossed your path and she was game, no consequences to your relationship…who would it be?”

“Anyone?”

I nod. “Anyone.”

He doesn’t understand why I’m asking, but his reply is immediate. “Alexis Bodega.”

“The actress?”

He nods. “And singer-songwriter.”

“Isn’t she married?” I ask.

He shrugs. “In your scenario, you said there are no consequences.”

“Right,” I concede. “Why Alexis Bodega?”

“The banging body, for one thing, but also because I’m a man who can respect talent when I see it, and she’s a triple threat. She can act, sing, and dance, and I would love her to do all three while she’s naked underneath me.”

I make a face. “That’s a nice way to talk about a woman, man.”

He shrugs. “What about you? Who would yours be?”

I press my lips together and blow out a breath. “Don’t have one. I was with the only woman I ever wanted, and now it’s over.”

He makes a face of disgust. “That’s stupid. Everyone deserves a hall pass.”

“Everyone deserves what Gabby and I had. And I’m trying to convince myself that it was better to have had the experience than not, but right now I’m sort of feeling like I wish it never would’ve happened.”

He shakes his head. “This.” He nods toward me. “This right here is why I don’t bother with that shit, man. You’re fucking miserable, and it’s all because of one girl.”

I press my lips together. “I wish that were true, but the truth is that I’m miserable because of my own actions. I’m trying to believe I’m doing the right thing, but it feels dead wrong.”

“Then fix it.”

I turn my gaze back out the window.

Fix it.

If only it were that easy.

CHAPTER 6: COOPER

The house Rush secured is about a fifteen-minute drive from the field. Another group of guys rented a house nearby, and we rented a few cars between the twelve of us to share while we’re in town. The rest of the team is staying a little closer to the stadium, but I like a little distance given the fact that most of us staying in this house together are well-known in the baseball community.

I don’t know where Troy is staying. I didn’t ask. I don’t know if he got a place with the other coaches or what, and I’m not sure I care so long as he isn’t in the same house I’m in.

This is bad.

Real bad.

I realize my best friend is going through his own version of heartbreak and maybe we should be there for each other. But how can we? How can we ever be friends again?

The entire time I was with Gabby, I was worried I’d lose either my best friend or the girl I love. I was naïve to think I wouldn’t lose both of them, yet here we are.

There’s supposed to be mutual respect and understanding between a team manager and a player, and I just don’t have that right now. I can’t even look at the guy without everything rushing back to me, but I know I can’t blame him. He might have been the one who made me choose, but I’m the one who decided to keep it from him for as long as I did. He’s right…we’ll never know how he would’ve reacted to the truth. Instead he discovered the lie, and those are the repercussions we’re forced to live with.

When I walk into the place that’ll be home for the next month, I feel just the tiniest glimmer of respite from everything goingon. It’s a mansion built into a hill overlooking the valley. It’s got six bedrooms, and every one of them has access to the huge back patio with a pool and a firepit.

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