Page 63 of The Shake Off

“What did you bring me?”

He nodded toward the bag. “Open it.”

I didn’t need to be told twice, and reached across the desk for it. Inside was a to-go cup of coffee and a little blue and white striped box. I almost didn’t want to open it, because there’s no way I’d be able to resist whatever was inside. There was a reason I only allowed myself to go to Sugar and Bean once a week, and that was mostly because I was scared of the dentist. My sweet tooth could do some serious damage if I let it.

A bright red cupcake with pink frosting and little gummy hearts was inside when I eased open the lid, and I couldn’t hold back the smile as looked up at Ace. The ridiculously proud expression on his face, smug almost, made my smile even wider.

“Thank you. These are my favorite.”

“I know,” he grinned, only for my brows to furrow in question. “I saw a note on your fridge saying you loved them.”

“Oh.” I peered down at the box and fastened it up. “Well, it’s very kind of you. Do you want to tell me what you’re doing here?”

“I wanted to see you.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Do I need a reason?

I glanced over at the door, which he’d left open enough that anyone walking past could see or hear him, and got up to close it. I stayed where I was. A room between us was better than a flimsy desk, but I didn’t count on Ace also standing up, though he turned and sat his ass on the desk instead.

“I’ve been pitching better; have you watched?”

I tried to pretend the question hadn’t been asked, or how I should answer… Maybe if I stayed silent, we could both pretend he hadn’t asked it. Then I wouldn’t have to say no instead of yes – I’ve watched every single second of every game, hoping to catch a glimpse of you. But I wasn’t that lucky.

“Payton, have you been watching the games?”

I shook my head, hoping he couldn’t see the heat creeping up over my cheeks. “No.”

His head tilted ever-so slightly, and I wasn’t sure if he believed me or if he was disappointed. “Really?”

“No,” I frowned. “My life doesn’t revolve around you. I have work, you know.”

The problem with lying is that it’s always going to bite you in the ass. I didn’t think this particular lie would be proven quite so easily, but as he shifted on my desk, the movement nudged the computer mouse, which woke my screen up – my very large computer screen which was turned enough that I could see it very clearly, along with what I’d been reading all week.

He didn’t immediately notice, but as my eyes widened in horror and darted away, he only needed to turn around to see exactly how big of a lie I’d just told. A lead weight dropped in my belly, a direct contrast to the slow, steady grin spreading from cheek to cheek on Ace’s face, and lighting him up like a sunrise.

I could do nothing to stop it.

His face stared back at us.

More specifically, an image of him running into the dugout last night at the end of the final game against The Braves. The Lions swept the series. Last night, Ace had been starting pitcher and stayed on until the seventh inning. Every sports page and publication was saying he’d made an unexpected come back after the worst Opening Day in Lions history, and that included the four decades before Penn bought them, where they stayed exclusively at the bottom of the standings.

Before I could stop him, Ace guided the mouse, flicking through enough tabs that he could see they were all about him, and turned to me with an expression that made me dearly wish the ground would swallow me whole, or the ceiling would cave in.

Anything so that I wouldn’t have to live through what was about to happen next.

“Were you checking up on me?”

“No.”

“Your computer screen says different.”

I looked away, only for him to push off the desk, and in three large strides he was standing in front of me. I took a step back and hit the wall.

Goddamn wall, why did it have to bethereof all places?

Ace gently took my chin between his fingers and pulled me back to his blue eyes, boring into me so hard they’d be able to see every secret I had and every lie I’d told. Those blue eyes I’d been seeing every time I closed mine. They were hypnotic.

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