Page 94 of Passed Ball

Hendrix:

You're dead.

Dean:

My sister can defend you andI'll testify

on your behalf. Entirely justifiable.

"Are they always this ridiculous?"

"Always."

"I kind of love it--the way you guys act more like a family than teammates or friends. The support you have." Wistfulness bleeds into her voice.

"Wehave," I correct.

She stiffens. Like with the eggs Benedict and her orgasms last night, she's about to make herself smaller. I want to rage on her behalf.

"It's not the same."

It could be,a voice inside of me says. "You and the girls get along. They've invited you to hang out a couple times." I soften the tone as we get to the real issue here. "Beyond the list and everything that comes with it, we're friends."

Iknowwe are. I could feel it in the way she trusted me last night.

She rolls her lips together. "We are."

"Good, because there's no one else I want to spend my free time with." I rub the back of my neck, the motion doing little to ease the tension building inside me. Nervously I add, "You're my best friend."

Her face transforms from tentative to radiant, a wide smile lifting her mouth.

"Don't tell Tenley this, but, same . . . How did we get here?" There's disbelief in the way she asks.

I take Holland and pull Vivienne into my side. "Can you imagine? I would never hear the end if she thought I ousted her as your bestie."

"You could never. It's a tie." She laughs

"And I don't want to, but I think we both needed this. My teammates are great, but they've all got their own thing going on. I've always felt a little on the outside, and being a single parent is isolating, even with all the support I have."

"Hey, Xavier." Her hands smooth up my back.

"Yeah."

"You're doing great. Holland is lucky to have such an incredible dad in her life."

Coming from her, that sentiment has my heart bursting with pride. I'm trying to give Holland everything she needs. To be a father and a mother, to give her stability and support, to keep it all together for her.

My throat tightens with emotion. "Thanks," I croak.

She ducks her head, burying it in my chest, her voice less sure when she speaks again. "Thank you for being the friend I didn't realize I needed."

Mixed emotions clash in my heart. I at the end of this being her friend might be all I ever get out of Vivienne, but after last night it doesn't feel like that's going to be enough.

"You want the shower first and I'll give this one her bottle?" I ask.

Heat flares in her eyes and I know she's remembering our shower last night. I'd had every intention of cleaning her up after I coaxed that last orgasm out of her, but soaping her up was too damn much for either of us to take. It took every bit of willpower to keep me from sliding into her bare. And when she dropped to her knees in front of me, I was too weak to say no. I returned the favor a few minutes later and then we both passed out, hard.

"That works," she says, rushing for the door.

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