Page 16 of Dead Ball Situation

“Forever and always, twin flame, or whatever the fuck that street psychic screamed at us.”

Despite the pains in his chest, Bandit chuckled. They were good. Baylor always had his back.

Chapter Eight

With a deep breathfor courage, Tip jogged up the front steps of the red brick townhouse. He didn’t give himself time to change his mind. Tip rang the doorbell. He reached out to push the button a second time when a minute passed. Before he could, the door swung wide, and Tip found himself staring at the most beautiful man he had ever seen. It wasn’t Sacha. He had only seen Sacha’s picture for a few seconds, but this guy was different. Younger. Sexier. It took Tip a second to catch his breath.

“Hey. Um. Is Sacha home?”

Hatred stared back at him. Whoever this was had obviously seen that picture. Fuck his life.

The guy opened his mouth, and a loud scraping noise filled the air behind him. He turned, leaving the door open enough for Tip to see inside. “Goddamn it, Baba. Why are you dragging that thing out? You can’t even get a glass of water alone.” He stormed away, leaving the door open.

Tip took it as an invitation and stepped inside. An elderly lady, who was barely skin and bones, dragged a huge black cauldron across the floor, showing a strength he wouldn’t have believed.

“I might be old, but the magic from ancient Romani blood runs through the veins thanks to my mother.”

Sacha stepped out from a nearby doorway with his gaze locked on the older woman. “What are you doing?”

The woman ignored him and continued her rant. “I can still cook up a mean curse and I’ll be damned if any grandson of mine gets cheated on.”

“Yeah. He didn’t cheat. That was my fault.”

Everyone froze. All eyes turned his way.

Tip shifted from foot to foot. He cleared his throat and focused on Sacha. “Sorry. I got your address from Chipper. Everything is entirely my fault. I mistook Bandit’s natural kindness for more. When I kissed him, he was horrified and immediately jumped away. He was pretty upset about me ruining what he has with you.” Tip couldn’t stop. He didn’t know why. No one spoke, and he was uncomfortable. The combination had him rambling. “Inmy defense, I didn’t know about you. You haven’t been to any games, and Bandit is obviously clueless as hell when someone is hitting on him.”

To his surprise, a smile exploded across Sacha’s face. “That he is. It took him forever to realize I had been flirting with him for years.”

“I didn’t realize it. Chipper pointed it out.”

Everyone turned toward the door as Bandit appeared with flowers in hand.

Bandit ignored everyone. His gaze never wavered from Sacha. “Can we talk?”

Sacha nodded and stepped back inside the room he’d just appeared from. Bandit stepped around him and followed Sacha inside without acknowledging a single soul. He closed the door behind them.

Tip’s gaze slid back toward the man he needed to know more about. “I truly am sorry. I never meant to hurt anyone.”

The elderly lady straightened. “Well, Bandit is an irresistible guy. Close the door. Electricity isn’t free. Once you’ve done that, you can carry this cauldron back to the closet. Then I’ll leave you with Artem since you’re fucking him with your eyes. He could stand to get some.”

“Baba!” Artem sounded horrified as hell.

A shocked burst of laughter escaped Tip, but he rushed to do as told. No way would he miss an opportunity like this. He might be dumb, but he wasn’t that fucking dumb. Tip knew a good thing when he saw it.

Sacha crossed his arms across his chest, trying to protect his heart as Bandit shut them inside the room. He moved to his bed and sat when his knees shook. Bandit was here. Sacha was weak. He looked tired and beautiful. It wasn’t fair. Sacha probably looked like shit. He had spent so much time crying, he felt sick.

“I love you. Please don’t break my heart like this.”

Of all the things Sacha expected, that wasn’t it. To his horror, he burst into tears again.

Bandit was across the room in an instant. He practically threw the flowers on the bedside table before wrapping his arms around Sacha. He smelled so good.

“I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve what I put you through last night. You were busy with your family, and I didn’t see what you did with Tip. Tell me what to do. I’ll do whatever you need to fix this.”

“I feel so ridiculous. You didn’t deserve for me to… ugh. I can’t remember words.”

Bandit kissed his temple and held him tighter. “It’s okay. Take a breath. I’m not going anywhere. You have time to work it out in your head.”

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