Page 28 of Pitcher

But he had a point. I wasn’t ready to settle down, and it wasn’t fair to drag Anniston along for the ride until I got my shit together.

So after a few sleepless nights, I decided Thad was right. I was being selfish with her. I expected her to wait for me, to be there for me as I chased my dreams. I needed to let her go and let her chase hers. Even without me.

It isn’t something I want to do.

It isn’t even something I’m good at doing.

I try though, and I think that should count for something.

Anniston’s hand nudges me, reminding me I haven’t answered her question. Taking her hand and interlacing our fingers, I decide to be honest for once.

“I’m not scared, but I’m worried about being so far away from you. What if you run out of toilet paper and don’t have me to yell for?”

My joke lightens the heaviness on my chest until she rolls over, climbing on top of me in a straddle. Dust falls from her tangled hair and joins the red smudge on her cheek. She looks like a wild mess, and it’s sexy as fuck.

“What are you going to do when you need someone to hold your hand when you have to get a flu shot every year? You think one of the players will let you cry on their shoulder?”

My eyes go squinty, and I try not to encourage her by laughing. “I did not cry.”

She laughs. “Okay, you whimpered. Same difference.”

Remember how I said I was an opportunist? Yeah, this is exhibit A.

I wrap my arms around her, enjoying the feel of her in my arms, and flip her onto her back. I pin her arms above her head and inch down so I’m in her face and her eyes are sparkling in the security light.

“McCallister,” I say on a breath, “we both know you are higher maintenance than I am.”

Total lie, but I can’t very well admit that, now can I?

Her chest vibrates with a hearty laughter that reaches down into my soul and stays there, pulling up a chair and making itself comfortable.

“Whatever you say, Von Bremen. But…” She hesitates and sucks her bottom lip in between her teeth before closing her eyes so I can’t see them getwatery.

“But I will miss coaching you. God knows you need it.”

At her last comment, she grins, and I fight the urge to beg her once more to come with me to Washington. Instead, I tickle her until we’re both too tired to talk anymore.

Ans: I NEED YOU! EMERGENCY!

I look at the clock on the wall. Thirty minutes are left in the lecture. My fingers tap my phone screen. If I open the text and read it, she’ll see and text me about three hundred more times. Professor Jenkins will inevitably need to see me after class about my lack of focus.

She can wait thirty minutes.

Ans: PLEASE, TEDDY!!!!!

Goddammit.

Theo: What’s wrong?

Ans: All the girls are gone…

Ans: They totally wouldn’t help me anyway.

Theo: Just tell me!

Ans: You were right.

It takes me a minute to analyze what she means. I was right? What did I say recently?

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