Page 71 of Passed Ball

"And so are some of those kids. Seeing you--hearing about your story might give them hope. You can be the difference they need."

He studies me for a moment, then nods. "Yeah, maybe I will." Shifting the conversation back to me, he shuts the door on the conversation about his childhood. "Have you ever told your parents how you felt about the way you grew up?"

"Not even once." I laugh hollowly, my hair falling forward when I shake it free from its ponytail.

"That surprises me."

"Why? Because I've never been shy about putting you in your place?"

He smiles that crooked, knowing smile at me and I know whatever he says next will undoubtedly make me like him more. A big problem, considering he's only supposed to make my vagina happy, not my heart. "Because you're a warrior with a soft soul. You fight everyone's battles for them. I thought your own would be at the top of your list."

"That's the funny thing about having a soft soul. It can't handle the blow of disappointing the people I love the most."

"How would you disappoint them?"

"You don't think telling my brother and parents that I'm bitter over how the death of their wife and daughter-in-law affected my life sounds horrendously selfish? Because when I say it out loud, I sound incredibly selfish. I left and never looked back. To them, I'm sure it feels like I've snubbed the vineyard--my family. But I just need to break away and figure out who I was without all the obligation at home. There was no freedom to figure that out in California."

"I think they'd rather know than continue to live a lie they're unaware of."

"It's unfair that you're so hot and this insightful," I tease, because it's truly one of my favorite things about him and because I don't want to talk about the past anymore.

He tilts his head slightly, lightness replacing the serious tone. "Tell me more about how hot you think I am."

"Are you fishing for compliments?" I shift in his bed making the sheets fall lower, pulling the conversation back to a more comfortable territory--sex.

"No, I'm fishing for your orgasms, so slip that hand under the covers and play with that pretty little cunt while you tell me how much you like me."

"I said I like the way you look."

"You said more than that and we both know it. Now stop telling lies or I'll edge you," he says.

"Promises, promises."

He licks his lips, blue eyes smoldering over every inch of skin they devour as I kick the sheets down, freeing my bare legs. "Adding that to our list for another night."

Chapter 31

Xavier

Ten. Eleven. Twelve.

The barbell clatters to the mat with a force that reverberates through the empty weight room, but it's nothing compared to the frantic energy inside me. My hands flex and release before I pick it up again, the ache in my grip almost soothing because it's easy--uncomplicated. I grit my teeth, straining through the last rep of my deadlift.

Dom leans against a bench nearby, wiping sweat from his face with a towel. "What's got you in such a hurry?" he asks, before tipping his head back to squirt some water into his mouth.

I don't answer right away, rolling my shoulders to work out the tension. The state-of-the-art weight room at the Bandits' stadium is empty save for the two of us. Most of the guys went straight home after we got back from our road trip this morning, desperate for downtime in the chaos leading up to the All-Star Break.

I stayed behind to get in my workout now, so when I get home, I can spend my time with Holland before our game tonight. I'm shocked that Dom stuck around with Indie waiting for him, but I think he can sense the bone-deep restlessness I can't shake. Everyone gets antsy during this part of the season, but for me, this year seems worse.

I need the grind of the training because everything in my personal life is about to implode. An update from my lawyer this morning when we got off the plane is merely the tip of the iceberg.

They found Kristy, and she seems to be moving on with life in Florida--getting on without a care in the world and I'm more frustrated than ever. I want Kristy to do what's right for her, because what's right for her is best for my daughter. But disappearing without a word for nearly three months is cruel.

I doubt she'll even show up to the hearing in a few weeks. Serving her the summons should have been a relief. Instead, I find myself needing to work off the foul mood that's been plaguing me since Collin called before going home.

"Just a lot on my mind," I say, not wanting to get into it with Dom, because it's not only the shit with Kristy that's wearing on me.

I grind out another set of deadlifts as Dom leans on the rack next to me, taking a long drink from his water.

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