Page 31 of Rounding Third

“Nope! Have fun trying to figure it out!”

Before I can respond, she hangs up on me, making me want to punch a hole in the wall. Most days I’m fine with Winnie. Sure, she can be overwhelming and obnoxious, but whatever. I can be too. Today, I hate her with every fiber of my being.

Why doesn’t she want to help me? Liliana will never be happier with anyone else than she will be with me.

“Smithy,” Owen calls me over before I even have both feet on the field. I let my head fall back as I stare up at the sky and try to reign in my anger. Getting agitated with him isn’t going to help anything.

“Yeah?” I fold my arms over my chest. I’m already itching to punch something and I need to be careful.

“Wanna tell me why you look like you’re going to murder someone?”

“I’d prefer not to, if that’s ok.”

“Cici said she was fixing you before sending you to practice. Please tell me ‘fixing you’ wasn’t code for something I wouldn’t like.” He uses finger quotes, making me want to laugh.

“She was talking to me, Owen.” I roll my eyes. “Hopefully she’ll be able to help me tomorrow night with some issues that are messing with my head. Then, next week I’m going to some charity event with her as a thank you.”

“I was wondering who she was going with.” Owen strokes the thick scruff growing on his jaw. “Whoever was supposed to go with her canceled and she was really upset. Do you know who it was?”

“No, she wouldn’t tell me.”

“Alright, get to practice, but if this shit with Liliana continues, I want to talk to her. I can’t have my best player suck every time you get up to bat because she’s screwing with your head.”

My brows pull together as I stare at him. How does he know this has to do with Liliana? I didn’t say a word and I doubt any of the guys would.

“Oh, please. Nothing screws with your head quite like a woman can, Smithy. I know exactly when things are good with Liliana and when you’re struggling. Your ability on the field is directly linked to her.” He pats me on the back before he walks away and over to where Macy is watching everyone from the stands.

They have such an odd relationship. I’ve never seen a girlfriend so close to her boyfriend’s dad. It would be creepy if I didn’t think Macy used Owen as a fill in father figure with everything that happened with her own dad.

“C’mon, Smithy! Let’s go! You’re up to bat!” Leo waves me over.

I jog and take the equipment handed to me. When I’m ready, I get into position.

And miss every single ball thrown my way.

What. The. Fuck.

Chapter 14

Liliana

I take one last look in the mirror before I head into the living room and try to keep myself busy until Kevin gets here. I'm hoping if I keep moving, I won't let myself freak out. I won't overthink things.

I really thought Smithy would’ve stepped in by now and done something to stop this date from happening. I wanted him to. In a way, I needed him to because now I feel even more lost than ever.

Over the last few weeks, he’s seemed more clingy and needy when it comes to me. I thought he was building up the nerve to make a move, but now? I wonder if I was just imagining all of it.

I mean, c’mon! This is Smithy we’re talking about. If he really wanted to date me, he’d just come out and say so, right? He isn't shy or scared of being rejected. He’ll always have a line of women begging to repair his broken heart.

Plus, let’s be honest here, I'm not going to break his heart. He could do so much better. He could get his dream girl.

Speaking of his dream girl… who is his mystery girl? I’ve been trying to figure this out for years and I’ve never been able to.

My heart drops as I realize Smithy doesn’t want me. He wants his mystery girl and he hasn’t stopped this date. Winnie and I were wrong. He’s not going to make a move because he never wanted me to begin with.

Maybe he was just using me to keep women away at the bar. Maybe he wanted to cuddle and be close to me because he’s going through a dry spell and misses being close to a woman. I don’t know.

A knock on my door pulls me away from my thoughts. I squeeze my eyes shut and try to erase all thoughts of Smithy from my mind. If he doesn’t want me, then there’s no reason I shouldn’t go out and find my own happily ever after. Maybe that will be with Kevin, but if not, that’s ok too.

---