Page 20 of Home Run Fiancé
“Oh. Well, I’m sorry. I, uh, just thought being seen at my game would be a natural progression of our, um, relationship.” Jake looks down at the menu and I feel the loss of his gaze like a physical thing. I don’t know when he became more than a paycheck to me, but I hate that I’ve just hurt him. He doesn’t deserve that. I just don’t know how else to protect myself.
The server comes to take our order and the silence hovering over the table when he leaves is palpable. I’m scrambling to figure out how to fix this, conflicted as to whether I evenshouldfix it. Maybe I should be pushing him away more. The fact that his reaction is getting to me means I’ve become attached. And that can’t happen.
This isn’t real. This won’t last longer than another month at most.
“So….” I look around and paste a smile on my face. “I had a Danger dog today. That was interesting.”
He looks up at me, anger simmering in every line on his face. I shrink back in my chair and the smile slides off my face.
“Listen. Why don’t we just get our food to go and get out of here, huh? I’m pretty tired and I’d like to get home. We’ll pose for some pics outside for the press and we’ll call it done.” His deep voice cuts like glass.
His rejection hurts, the words severing all the goodwill and friendship we’ve built over the last two dates. But then again, I suppose I hurt him first. It’s only fair we both bleed.
I nod once and put my napkin on the table. “Would you excuse me?” I push back from the table and walk as fast as I can to the restroom where I sink onto a chair only the fanciest of restaurants have in their bathrooms and close my eyes. A wave of sadness threatens to come out in the form of tears, but I breathe in and out until I’ve pushed it back. I have another video to edit anyway. I could use an early night at home to get things done. I can’t be neglecting my own business while helping Jake with his.
When I have everything under control and the serene expression I try out in the mirror looks semi-believable, I go back out. Jake’s standing by the table, putting his wallet in his pocket. He sees me and grabs the takeout bag. Without a word, we walk to the front of the restaurant to go home. The absence of his hand holding mine is like an ache. He pushes the door open and only then grabs my hand.
The first flash goes off as I look over at him. He’s smiling at me, pretending to be in love with me, but I know him well enough now to know his expression isn’t sincere. His eyes are flat and the smile is pinched behind that thick beard of his. A heavy weight sits in my chest as I come to terms with him only pretending to like me for the cameras. But I’m nothing if not determined. I lean closer and look up at him adoringly, doing my very best to act like the besotted girlfriend he’s paying me to be. The saddest part of the evening is I’d look at him that way for free if only our feelings could be real.
I like Jake Kersh. The man and the baseball player.
He was right to warn me not to fall for him. I’ve never been in love, and while I’m not sure I’m there now, I’m smart enough to know there’s plenty I don’t know. And these feelings I have for Jake are confusing.
He walks me over to his car, opening my door and helping me get in. His body heat makes me squirm in my seat as he leans over me to buckle my seat belt, his hands making quick work of the job, but not before he’s touched me, setting off fireworks in my body. He pauses right before he withdraws, his face directly in front of me. If I just lean forward an inch, my lips would be on him.
We stare at each other and I can’t say what I see in his eyes. He’s so good at guarding what he’s thinking. I’m afraid I’m a novice when it comes to that. I have no doubt everything I feel for him is reflecting in my eyes, my secrets out there for him to see.
His hand comes up and with one careful finger, he brushes a hair out of my eyes, his rough skin trailing down my temple and behind my ear. My heart stutters, but before I can bridge the gap, he’s gone, shutting my door and rounding the hood to the driver’s side.
I take a shaky breath and force a smile to my face. Cameras flash, capturing every single moment and I have to keep up the facade of a happy, lovestruck girlfriend. I’ll fight to keep myself from falling for Jake, but I already like him enough to make sure I give him what he needs: a steady reputation and his transfer to Texas. I can at least give him that. If my heart is in tatters by the end, I’ll figure it out then. When he’s gone and can’t see what an idiot I am.
9
Jake
I won’t lie. Her words killed me.
Every time I saw Rhys, we had a better time than the last. I was coming to enjoy every loud word that came from her mouth. I certainly enjoyed seeing her in her crazy, sexy outfits, the way she carried herself like she didn’t simply walk, she glided. I didn’t understand her at all, but I wanted to. I wanted to know what made her laugh, what made her eyes dim sometimes when we were together, what dreams she had for the future. It felt like she let me in one minute and then shut me down the next.
“It was a little boring, to be honest.”
Like a dagger to the heart. She thought the baseball game—the one I bled, sweat, and lived for—was boring.
For a second there, I thought we could be friends. Maybe even more than friends, if I’m being completely honest and quite a bit ridiculous. But that? That was a deal breaker.
I should be happy to have something concrete to kill the fondness I was beginning to feel for her. Instead, I was snapping at everyone who dared talk to me. I went straight back to the hotel after the last two away games and went to bed, tossing and turning, unable to get the rest I needed to tackle the next day. I should be focused on trade talks with the Sliders, but I spent more time analyzing every single conversation with Rhys, trying to figure her out.
At the home game tonight, I thought I’d seen her in the crowd. Instead, it was some other brunette with a flower wreath thing in her hair. I had no idea that was a thing outside of the ’70s but there she was, looking exactly like the girl who wouldn’t leave my thoughts.
Which is why I’m sitting here staring at my phone, trying to talk myself out of contacting her. But the pull is too strong. I need to talk to her. And really, shouldn’t I just reach out and make sure she’s okay? That’s what friends should do for each other.
Jake:Saw some other girl wearing flowers in her hair today. Did you start a trend?
The phone goes dark as I sit there waiting for a reply. I don’t know why I expected an immediate text back, but that’s irrational thought for you. Disgusted with myself, I throw the phone down on the couch and walk into the kitchen to make a late night snack. All I have is turkey lunch meat and one slice of bread. It’ll have to do.
I hear a faint ping and just about beat my 60-yard-dash record to get to it. I snatch my phone off the couch cushion and see a message waiting from Rhys.
Rhys:Your girlfriend IS quite stylish…
