Page 38 of Fake Dates and Home Plates
He’s sweaty, but it’s the pet name that throws me off. “Don’t call me babe.”
I make a face at the nickname. I much prefer Getaway Girl over something so impersonal, but it does give me butterflies that he uses the endearment.
Theo nods, not at all put off by my correction, but he doesn’t say anything as he tries to catch his breath.
“So, did you just rob someone, or am I your hit for the night?” I ask as I grab a bottle of water from the kitchen for him.
He takes it with a thanks but looks confused by my question.
“I’m making an educated assumption based on your attire and accessories.” I gesture at his body.
He’s dressed in all black with a weird mask in one hand and a baseball bat in the other. It looks like he’s about to rob a gas station or hunt zombies, something suspicious.
“Are you insane?” I ask, showing him the time on my phone, which reads a quarter past one in the morning.
He finally straightens, smiling like an idiot, holding out the bat in his hand.
A baseball bat.
But then, I get a closer look. It’s not just any bat. It’sDakota’sbat. His lucky bat. I’ve heard the story at least fifty times about when he got it and the grand slam play he made using it.
“Oh my God.” I cover my mouth, trying not to laugh. “How?”
“I can’t tell you specifics, or the consequences are extreme. There was a pact made amongst gentlemen,” Theo says seriously, as if that’s not an insane thing to say.
I blink at him. “You stole it.”
He shrugs. “Borrowed without intent to return. Whatever.”
After finishing his bottle of water, he holds it up, asking where to put it. I show him where the recycling bin is before staring him down for an explanation.
He wipes his forehead with the sleeve of his hoodie. “We ran into campus security on the way out and had to split up.”
“Youranhere? From the baseball stadium?” I whisper-shout, trying to avoid waking up Lily.
I know Dakota keeps that bat in his locker, which has two locks on it so no one attempts to steal it or any of his other belongings. I thought he was being paranoid, but maybe he had a point after all.
“I panicked and figured I’d bring you a little trophy in case you want to build a revenge shrine.” His eyes are sparkling with mischief and pride.
I shake my head, but I can’t stop smiling. “You’re an idiot.”
“I’ll be an idiot for you anytime, Henley Harkin,” he says, stepping closer.
Suddenly, I’m grinning like an idiot too. I reach out and wrap my hand around the wood, right where his fingers still hold it.
“You didn’t have to do that. You probably shouldn’t have done that,” I say softly, thinking about how much trouble he and whoever tagged along could have gotten into.
He leans in, our foreheads almost brushing. “I wanted to.”
Then, he kisses me.
I tug him a little closer. My fingers slip under the hem of his hoodie, tracing the warm skin beneath, and he groans against my mouth. His grip tightens, and he deepens the kiss, picking me up and setting me on the kitchen counter. His hips press against me, aligning him perfectly against my center.
I roll my hips against him as my hand slides down until it toys with the waistband of his joggers. I moan when his hands roam down my sides, settling into the curve of my ribcage.
As fast as it started, it stops, with Theo pulling away and inhaling a deep breath. I see his hesitation and feel his adrenaline rush fade into nerves as his fingers start to shake against my skin.
“I should tell you something,” he says, voice barely a whisper. “I’ve never…done this before.”
