Page 4 of Caught Stealing Your Heart
“Hell yeah. I knew we were about to do that shit, man. The pressure was on me, but I was throwing them.”
“Like we knew you would.”
Forest and I were drafted together. With us being the only two new Cougars our year, we bonded and got close. We both went straight into the MLB out of high school, which most people frowned upon, but after thirteen years in the game, we’d proven why we were the chosen ones.
By the time we got through post-game interviews and a meeting with the coaches, I was exhausted. Some of my teammates invited me to go out with them, but I declined. I’d been receiving too much attention in the blogs lately andthought it was best to lay low. The only thing I needed was positive attention.
“You know you played one hell of a game, son. Words can’t express how proud we are of you,” Dad voiced with his arms outstretched.
We had a family group hug, something I didn’t realize I needed until then. Justin and Scarlett no longer lived in Camden Cove, so it was rare I got to see them. All six of us being together again felt good.
“Thanks, y’all. I’m tired as hell. How long will the two of you be in town?” I asked my siblings.
“We’re staying until Sunday. We’ll be at your next two games,” Justin answered, and I couldn’t hide the smile stretching across my face.
“Plus, Paisley is demanding we go with her to this art pop-up shop on Saturday. Her favorite local artist is going to be there, so you know she’s about to run our pockets.” Scarlett playfully smacked her lips and nudged Paisley with her shoulder.
Paisley giggled. “And I will have my hand out for every piece I want. I’m trying to finish my wall in my condo, and Leilani has the perfect piece to complete it. I gotta get there early because too many people want it.”
“How much is it?” I questioned.
“I’m not sure. There were so many people bidding on it. I don’t think she ever set a price. She and her cousin were discussing setting up a bid, but I haven’t seen one. I hope it’s not sold.”
“Send me the info, and I’ll look into it.”
Mom swiftly shook her head from side to side as Paisley did a little dance. “See, that’s her problem now. You have her little ass too spoiled, Banks. I told you about that.”
“We all know Pai Dai is Banks baby,” Scarlett said. “She’s all our baby.”
Justin cosigned, “Damn right.”
Paisley was a surprise to us all. Mom and Dad thought they were done after Justin was born. At thirty-one, I was ten years older than Paisley. For her twenty-first birthday, I bought her a condo close to my house. Since Justin and Scarlett moved away, Paisley clung to me. I’d go to the ends of the Earth for that girl.
I chopped it up with my folks for a little longer until my driver came. We all promised to have dinner together before Justin and Scarlett left.
On the ride home, Paisley sent me Leilani’s FameVsYou profile.
Damn.
I’d be more than happy to accompany Paisley on Saturday. Leilani was gorgeous. I found myself scrolling through her profile, watching her videos until I made it home. She was dope as hell, for real. Her art was a vibe, and I thought about copping a few pieces for my house.
The one Paisley wanted was in high demand. Everyone in the comments wanted it. I noted the highest offer as twenty-five grand. As I lay in bed, I sent her a message and offered her seventy-five grand for it, and for her to let me know if anyone else bid higher. She didn’t read it, so I decided to watch highlights from the game until I went to sleep.
How did I miss this?
I thought my eyes were deceiving me. My five-foot-seven frame stretched across my queen-size bed with my gaze glued to my phone. I read the message from Boss, the pitcher and star player of the Camden Cove Cougars, over and over, trying to process it. He’d sent it earlier in the week, and somehow, it’d gotten lost in my crazy inbox. No matter how long I stared at it, I couldn’t believe it was real, so I screenshotted the message to my group chat with Willow and my little sister, Mamie.
Of course, Willow was the one to FaceTime me.
“Is that who I think it is? Does that saytheBanks Callahan? Boss?” Willow rambled question after question as Mamie joined the call.
Mamie wiped sleep from her light brown eyes, careful not to mess up her eyelashes. She yawned before asking, “Is that really him? I mean, I see the check next to his name, but you know how people be scamming.”
“No, it’s really him,” I answered as I scrolled through Boss’s profile.
That man knew he was fine. I’d never been into baseball, but he was changing my whole perspective on it. If I could go to simply watch him, I would. I stopped on one picture where he looked utterly divine. It was a close up of him with a half-smile parting his red-tinted, pillowy lips. There was a spark in his upturned, mocha-colored eyes that made me smile. His smooth, milk chocolate skin glowed in the sunlight, and his full, dark beard complemented it as well. The tattoos adorning his neck stood out to me. From the other pictures I’d seen, his entire upper half was a work of art.
And not just from his tattoos.
