Page 49 of Rounding Third

“Oh, I did, baby. I flirted so much the guys on the team made fun of me relentlessly. They kept telling me to move on because you obviously weren’t interested, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t walk away from you because I knew one day, I’d make you mine.”

“But what about your mystery woman?”

“Ahh, the mystery woman… Do you really not see it? You really don’t know?”

I stare up at him, searching his eyes. If I knew, why would I have asked about her so many times? Why wouldn’t I just call him out.

“Sweets, my mystery woman has always been you.”

“What? No! There was someone else.”

“Nah, it was always you. You were just too blind to see it. I realized after a few months, you weren’t interested. You were too oblivious to your own beauty to realize how amazing you are. You didn’t realize I was flirting because you didn’t expect me to.”

“Then why date other women?”

“I never dated anyone else, Sweets.”

“But you screwed other women.” The words taste bitter as they leave my lips. I know he’s slept with other women, but I don’t like to think about it.

“I did.” He nods his head. He doesn’t make excuses, but he seems almost embarrassed by the fact. “I hate what I did, but I can't change it. I think I started to wonder if there was something wrong with me. I showered you with attention and tried my hardest to show you how important you were to me, but you were always just out of reach.”

“You could’ve told me.” I lift my shoulder in a shrug.

“You’re right, I could’ve, but I was a pussy and didn’t have the balls to tell you. Hell, I barely had the balls to show up at your date with Kevin. I almost talked myself out of it several times, but I knew things were changing between us. I knew if I let you go on that date and you liked him, I could lose you forever. I can't live without you, Sweets. You’re the only person in the world I’ve ever loved. I plan on it staying that way.”

He tugs me into his arms and holds me close. He doesn’t try to kiss me or say anything else, he’s content just holding me in his arms.

“What else are we doing today?” I peek up at him after a long stretch of silence.

“I have one more place to take you.”

“Where?”

“That cheesesteak place we used to hang out at.”

“The one we were at when we found out you were drafted.” I smile up at him.

“Bingo.” He boops me on the nose before pressing a soft kiss to the tip. “The biggest moments of my life have always included you, Sweets. I don’t plan on that changing.”

Chapter 23

Smithy

“Hey, Smithy. Do you mind coming in my office so we can talk?” Levi sticks his head out his office door.

I think I'm the last player for him to talk to. He and Owen were kind enough to let me have off yesterday for my day with Liliana. Owen knows if everything is good with Liliana, my game will be on point. I swear that’s the only reason he didn’t give me a hard time, especially with the season starting in just two days.

“Yeah, no problem. Let me just drop my stuff in my cubby.”

As I'm placing my bag in my cubby, Leo leans a shoulder against the wall and stares at me with a smirk.

“What do you need?” I murmur, looking for my cell phone. I know I put it in my bag, but I don’t see it. I just want to text Lils and ask her what she wants for dinner tonight.

Since the night I ruined her date with Kevin, she’s basically been living at my place. I want this to continue, but I'm sure she’ll insist on going home when I'm away for games.

“I'm just wondering how your game will be next week.” He folds his arms over his chest and watches me carefully.

“Absolutely perfect. You?”

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