Page 164 of Restricted List

“A tattoo,” I smirk. “I’m kind of covered in them, you know.”

Skip rolls his eyes. “I mean that one specifically.”

This time, he points directly at the tattoo he’s asking about.

The one that, in my celebration of our win, I forgot I wasn’t covering up anymore.

“Oh,” I say warily. “It’s just a constellation.” I’m trying to be as dismissive as possible.

“It looks like the Big Dipper,” he breathes. “It’s kind of funny because Rory just got the Lit-”

He stops his sentence abruptly, and I can see the moment everything clicks into place.

Fuck, fuck, fuckingfuck.

“Skip,” I say calmly, though my body is shaking. “Let’s talk about this…”

“You!”he seethes, his tone bitter and cold. “You’re the one fucking my daughter!”

forty-nine

Rory

“What a game,” Isay, plopping into the chair of the conference room Lucia is using as an office out here.

Harlow speaks from her perch on the table. “It’s too early in the season for them to be giving me a heart attack already.”

Ella sits on the floor, having actually joined us for this away series. “It’ll make a great post for the blog, though.”

Harlow nods as Lucia spins around with Sage in her arms.

The quiet moment is disrupted by the boom of a deep voice, coming from the direction of the clubhouse.

“What’s that?” Lucia asks.

“I don’t know,” I answer nervously, afraid to find out it’s what I’ve been fearing.

We all walk into the hallway to see what’s going on, only to find most of the team filing out of the clubhouse—some into their street clothes, some still half-dressed in their baseball uniform, all completely sweaty, telling me they didn’t get a chance to shower before they sprinted out of there.

Jeff Novak, one of the Stars’ outfielders, seems to be the last one leaving, so I shout to get his attention. “Novak!” He turnsaround and finds us standing outside of the conference room. “Why are you guys running like the clubhouse is on fire right now?”

“Because your dad is about to tear your boyfriend a new asshole.”

My heart falls out of my chest.

He just called Cole my boyfriend, which means my dad finally figured it out.

“Thanks, Jeff,” I say weakly. He nods before turning around and walking down the other end of the hall. “Fuck!” I yell, tears threatening to spill out of my eyes. “Goddammit!”

“Let’s not repeat those words, Sagie,” Ella says before turning to me. “Get in there, Rory. Go defend your man.”

“I’m going with you,” Harlow asserts.

“Why do you want to go into that shitshow?” I ask.

“Because that’s my brother he’s berating, and I’m fucking pissed about it.”

Lucia looks at both of us. “Ella and I have Sage. Go.”

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