Page 27 of Rounding Third

I smile to myself when I'm right. He’s so predictable.

Liliana: It’s late.

Smithy: You can stay here.

Liliana: I don’t know… I have to work in the morning.

Smithy: My place is closer to the office and my bed is so much more comfortable than yours.

I frown to myself. This isn't how this normally goes. He normally says we can sleep on the couch or he’ll buy me breakfast.

He doesn’t know I don’t have to go into the office for the next few weeks and I don’t plan on telling him.

Liliana: But if I'm sleeping in your bed, where will you sleep?

Smithy: Right next to you.

I nibble on my bottom lip unsure of what to do. I want to go over there. I want to be with him and sleeping in his bed sounds amazing, especially after a few nights ago. But is it the right move for me?

Smithy: Please, Sweets?

Liliana: Why?

Smithy: Because I need you.

As soon as my brain processes his last text, I'm jumping out of bed and throwing a sweatshirt on over my pajamas. I know the shorts are short and the shirt is a little too low cut, but I can't bring myself to care.

I don’t know what’s going on, but Smithy’s never like this. He rarely says he needs me… until recently. What is going on?

Chapter 12

Smithy

I don’t know if my text will be enough to get her here, but I don’t know what else to do. I’ve been pacing the length of my house since the guys left. It doesn’t matter how much I work out or run, I can't seem to get her out of my head.

I keep thinking of her going on a date with some random guy. Multiple scenarios play out in my head and I hate each one of them more than the last.

This guy could be awful and she has a horrible date. I’d feel bad because Liliana deserves an amazing guy. She deserves a once in a lifetime love.

The guy could be sweet, but actually be a dick. He could fool her into falling in love with him, but then treat her horribly. That thought has me clenching my jaw even harder than before.

Or he could be amazing and she’ll fall madly in love with him. That one might hurt the worse. In that situation, I’ll lose her entirely. I can't let that happen.

As soon as the motion detector at the gate to my driveway alerts me someone is here, I swing the front door open as themetal slowly parts for Lil. She’s one of the few people outside my teammates who knows the code to get in.

She drives down the long driveway and around the circle, parking right in front of the patio. I don’t waste a second. I rush around the side of her car and pull her into my arms as soon as she’s out of her seat.

“What’s going on, Travis?” She squeezes me back.

“I just… I needed you. Is that ok?” I whisper.

“Of course.”

Instead of letting her go so we can walk inside, I slip my hands down her back and under her ass. I have to bite back a groan when I realize how short her shorts are and my hands are touching her bare flesh. I lift her into the air and her legs wrap around my waist, feeling way too perfect.

I shut her car door before locking it and doing the same to my front door. Then, I'm carrying her right to bed. I can't even explain the calmness that washed over me the second she was in my arms. It’s like the weight sitting on my chest since she told me about this blind date was pushed off of me and I can breathe for the first time.

She doesn’t lay down right away and I frown. I need her to sleep in my arms or I’ll never get any rest tonight. When she strips her sweatshirt over her head and tosses it on the bottom of the mattress, my mouth goes dry.

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