Page 20 of The Third Baseman

This was already going much better than expected. And this time, I was going to learn to duck.

I calmly walked the rest of the way, and stood outside. Dr. Marnie Matthews,PhDwas carved into a plaque on the door, above which I knocked hard.

After ten seconds, it was clear she wasn’t going to open the door so I tried the knob, only to find it locked.

Not sure why, but it made me smile.

I knocked again.

Nothing.

“Marnie, I know you’re in there. I saw you go in.”

Silence.

“Star, please,” I tried again. “I really want to talk to you.”

“Well I don’t want to talk to you. Go away.”

I held in the chuckle that bubbled up because I didn’t think she’d find my amusement amusing. I’d forgotten how stubborn she could be. “Can’t do that I’m afraid, Star.”

Still nothing.

My fist pounded out a slow beat on the door that matched my heartrate. She lasted less than a minute before it flew open.

Jeez-zus.

Like last week, I was unprepared for the onslaught of emotions, nor for the way my body reacted to having her stand in front of me.

My throat constricted. My chest seized. Blood raced to my dick.

All at the same time.

She was so fucking beautiful, even if she was shooting daggers of fire at me through the narrow slits hiding her eyes. I could just make out the black of her pupils, almost indiscernible from the brilliant green of her iris.

“What do you want?”

I wiped away the tiny bubble of spit which hit my face and buoyed my determination. It also helped me steady myself; my dick, however, was hardening by the second.

“Good morning to you, too. How was your first week? I texted you but didn’t hear back, so I hope it was good.”

Her knuckles turned white as her fist gripped the door, and her glare became decidedly more murderous. “Jupiter, what do you want?”

“Cutting to the chase I see. Are you going to invite me in?”

“No. And you’ve got thirty seconds before I shut this door again,” she snapped hard, pushing her glasses back onto her head.

Shit. Maybe this was reckless... How the fuck was I going to put an argument across in thirty seconds?

Fuck again. I was wasting my seconds.

“Okay. Well, I came to tell you that I’m going to make it right between us. I want you back, Star.”

“Stop calling me that!”

I shook my head. “No. I’m going to make it right.”

Her eyes flicked up, but the way she was glaring wasn’t solely with anger… there was interest, perhaps.

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