Page 35 of (Un)Rivaled

I could still hear their laughter at their last dinner party, taking a piece I’d poured my whole heart into, metaphorically melting it down into nothing, their rebellious daughter who once thought art school was a viable option for college. They’d pat each other on the back, commending each other for breaking my spirit, happy I’d given in to their demand to attend an Ivy League university. My body sagged with defeat as another ball passed me by, and I dropped the bat at my feet.

“I can’t do this,” I whispered, heading over to the exit. But before I could shove the gate open, Gray was there, an intense look in his eyes. There was no way to move past him, not with him blocking the only way out. However, I didn’t feel afraid. When I looked up at Gray, his eyes softened, searching mine for answers.

“Where did you go, Ace?” he quietly asked.

I rolled my eyes. “Obviously, I’m right here. But this isstupid. I’m not going to be any good, no matter how long you stand there and laugh at me.”

“Did you see me laughing?” Gray asked, encroaching on my space a little more. “Did you hear me say anything other than you can do this?” His hands moved up until just the tips of his fingers rested under my chin. He tilted it up so our eyes met. It was almost impossible to stand tall with the look in his eyes—one I had seen a million times on the baseball field but never directed at me. Raw intensity, the kind that made the world fall at your feet, reflected in his dark gray eyes. “You’re telling yourself you look stupid so you’re not even going to try. But my best friend? She’s never backed down from a fight before, and she’s sure as hell not going to let a machine beat her.”

“Oh, it did,” I laughed halfheartedly. “It won easily, I might add.”

Gray shook his head, not buying into my deflection. He once again took my hand and led me back to the line. But this time, when I picked up the bat, he stood at my side. He wasn’t as close as before; we weren’t touching, but I could still feel him there. As I moved into position, he nodded, checking my stance before I lifted the bat back up.

“Bend your knees,” he called out. “More.”

“Good?” I asked, staring down at my feet.

“Perfect,” Gray answered, his voice a little deeper than before.

I nodded, all words failing me. As the machine released the ball, I swung, feeling much more confident than before. But once again, I was a couple of seconds too slow, and the ball hitting the back net felt like the worst type of failure. “You’re overthinking it,” he said. “Tune everything else out and just watch the ball. When it crosses the base, swing out and connect.”

“Oh wow, how come I didn’t think of that the first ten times?”

“Breathe, Ace.”

The bright yellow ball peeked around the corner, and I could feel his body stiffen, forcing me to focus. As hard as it was to ignore his weight at my side, I liked having him as an anchor, like I could face the hard things because I wasn’t alone. When the ball cracked toward us, I kept my eye on it, exhaling slowly to help me focus. As it passed the mid-point, I started to shift, trying to remember everything Gray taught me.

And this time, instead of the swoosh of the ball flying by, it made the most satisfying cracking sound when it collided with the bat. The ball ricocheted into the other side of the cage, ratting the metal rings. It was by no means a beautiful hit, but it counted, and it was mine.

Without thinking, I whipped around, throwing my arms around Gray’s neck. I held him tight, practically jumping to wrap my legs around him. “I did it!” I squealed, crushing him a little tighter. “Holy shit, I can’t believe I did it.”

Gray smiled back at me, and for a moment, all I wanted were more days like this, days spent nestled in his arms, his bright smile aimed only at me. I wanted to see all his sides, to know every piece of his heart. But as hard as it was to pretend otherwise, it was the smart move to say no. I wanted Gray in my life, and anything more than friendship would risk that.

But it was hard to remember that when he stared at me with such pride. Without thinking, I lifted myself further into his embrace and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for believing in me,” I said.

His resulting smile was the brightest I’d ever seen. “Always, Ace.”

SEVENTEEN

Steam spilled from the top of my coffee mug as I stared out across the valley below. Even after two weeks of living in Gray’s house, I still couldn’t get over the view. It was the perfect way to start my morning, enjoying a cup of coffee while watching the world go on. After spending so much time running through life, I was doing my best to appreciate these quiet moments.

Flurries filled the air, making it even more surreal. Winter should have been wrapping up soon, but you wouldn’t know it by looking around our town. We still had mounds of snow lining the streets, a deep chill lingered in the wind. At least the skies seemed to be a little brighter, letting go of the murky gray that plagued us all winter.

As I finished the last couple sips of my coffee, I emptied the mug in the sink and moved over into my living room. Shit, not mine. It was too easy to forget that while living in Gray’s mountainside escape. I’d never imagined living somewhere like this, always assuming I’d buy something in the New York City skyline when I eventually made partner.But to my surprise, I really liked living here. It had only been a couple of weeks, but I felt at peace, settled.

Maybe it was because I’d never given myself time to nest in my old home, but it never felt like mine. Sure, I was attached to it, but I never let myself really settle in. It might have been some sort of self-preservation, knowing David’s blood money had purchased it, that it was mine in name only. It was only borrowed.

Kind of like this place.

I pushed the thought away, knowing David and Gray couldn’t be more different if they tried. David held everything over people’s heads, using his money and connections to help so it burned more bitterly when he eventually snapped it away.

Gray might seem gruff to most people, but in his heart, he was selfless. I’d heard over the years about his selflessness, donating a sizable portion of his salary to various charities. That was Gray, though. He could never let himself enjoy all the money, not while others were suffering.

I pushed thoughts of my husband out of my mind, focusing instead on the papers covering the coffee table. True to his word, Gray had kept his distance since I moved in. While we texted multiple times a day, he hadn’t shown up here since that first day. And while I hated to admit it, I missed him. It was the strangest thing. For years, I was able to ignore the ache his absence had left behind. Maybe it was because I wasn’t as busy, or maybe it was because I was in our hometown, but it was harder to ignore him here.

I jumped as my phone rang, the sound breaking the silence around me. I chuckled as I saw Tomas’ name on the screen, bringing it up to my ear.

“Please tell me you found something.”

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