Page 23 of Home Run Fiancé
“Should we call Asher and tell him it’s done?”
Rhys’ loud voice is like cold water to the face. I just told her what she meant to me and then kissed her like I was a soldier going off to war and her first thought was to call her brother?
I run a hand over my face, suddenly feeling very old and tired. How come she was able to keep her head focused on what was really happening here while I was off in la-la land thinking this thing between us could be real?
“Yeah, probably should.” I hit his name on my phone and let my Bluetooth call him while we’re in the car.
“Hey.” Asher answers on the second ring.
“Pop the bubbly. We’re engaged.” I deadpan. I could have been telling him what I had for breakfast for all the enthusiasm I felt.
“Good, good.” Asher seems distracted. “I’ve got a press release ready to go. I’ll get that out first thing in the morning and then I’ll call Bobby again tomorrow night once I know he’ll have read the news.”
I was sweating and pouring my heart out a few minutes ago and now it’s all business. Press releases, trade talks, and Rhys sitting two feet from me, but not touching me. This has to be the worst proposal in history.
Good thing I have no intention of ever doing it again.
“I just booked you two a trip to Texas, leaving tomorrow. Only makes sense you’d take a day to go see your family and tell them the news. Prepare to be famous, Rhys. Your name will be in the papers tomorrow.”
Rhys goes white and swallows hard. I do the same when I realize I’ll have to lie to my mama about Rhys. She’ll beat my butt when she finds out the whole thing was a sham.
Asher keeps talking, unaware of the bombs he’s been dropping. “And the morning after that, I’m hoping to get you a private meeting with Bobby. If that goes well, we can fly you home that day and you’ll only miss two spring training games.” He pauses. “If we’re lucky, you’ll be moving to Texas in the next week or two. Followed by a quick divorce, of course.”
And just like that, all the air is sucked out of the car and I can barely breathe.
10
Rhys
Our time at LAX the next morning is brutal, but not for the normal reasons travelers are grumpy at the huge airport. The silence between us is hovering like a stench. Any of the easygoing camaraderie between us gained from our previous dates is officially gone, obliterated by secrets, untrue statements, and an epically awkward proposal.
Or more accurately for me, destroyed by stupid feelings.
Now that I realize I actually like Jake, I have to pull myself back, stifle my normal personality, change my responses from genuine to hurtful. All to protect myself. He’s taken a slightly different route by simply ignoring me entirely unless we’re in public. His obvious dislike of me is never more apparent than when he acts all loving in front of other people, but immediately withdraws when no one is around.
The whole thing sucks and spoils my excitement for the trip to Texas. I’ve never been beyond the West Coast states, so to fly to the middle of the country is an extraordinary thing. Yet I feel like I have to tamper down my enthusiasm in this little game we’re playing.
When we climb in the cab outside the airport in Dallas, Jake immediately drops my hand and I just can’t hold back the sigh that leaves my mouth. Jake’s head whips over to me and I try to ignore his stare.
“What’s wrong?” his voice comes out just above a whisper.
It’s the tone that gets me to look at him. He actually sounds sincere in wanting to know what’s going on with me. His eyes are guarded, those lips pressed together tightly.
I shrug one shoulder. “I don’t know. Just hard to keep track of when we’re being friendly and when we’re not.”
His eyes narrow. “Aren’t we always friendly?”
I sputter. “Is this how you are with your friends? Nice one minute and then icy cold the next? I don’t know about you, but I don’t give my friends the silent treatment.”
His facial expressions go through a weird transformation I can’t keep track of. Surprise, affronted, apologetic, warm, open…it’s all there in varying degrees.
“I’m sorry,” he says gruffly. “I just thought you didn’t like me so I was giving you space.”
Oh, if he only knew. I shake my head. “No, I actually think you’re a much better guy than I gave you credit for when we met.”
A smile peeks out from behind his beard. “Thanks, I think.” He pauses. “Friends?”
Warmth fills my body at his offer. I know we can’t be more than friends, and I know I don’t like being his enemy, so the offer of friendship will have to do. I think it’ll be nice to have a friend. I stretch my hand across the seat, holding it in the air between us. He wraps his hand around mine and gives it a squeeze I feel all the way to my toes.
