Page 85 of Raine Out (Grand Slam 2)

I kiss the top of his head. “I’m fine. Really. All good. I’ll tell you if that changes. Okay?”

“Okay,” he says as he looks over my shoulder. “Hey, Alex. You recover from your strenuous workout this afternoon.”

“Butch,” I say, slapping his shoulder. “That’s plenty. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I grab Alex’s hand and pull him away from their table. He pulls back and stops me. “What’s wrong? Your voice sounds all tense.”

“I’m just tired—a full day in the sun and now this bullshit,” I say, waving the note at him. “Can we take a nap maybe?”

“Yeah, baby,” he says, wrapping his arm around me. “Your room or mine?”

“Yours. I don’t want to risk running into Allie.” I notice Jeff glaring at me as we walk by his table. “What did the dick agent want? Everything okay?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. He was just trying to nail me down on my contract again.”

“And?”

“And, I still haven’t decided. I asked him to get an offer for a one-year deal and see what that looks like.”

“Is that the way you’re leaning?” I try to act casually uninterested, but as crazy as it sounds, I’ve been hoping he won’t sign, and that he’ll move to San Diego. I’ve only known him a day and I’m already having these thoughts. I’m doing everything I can to suppress them, but they keep popping up.

“I’m not signing more than a one-year deal,” he says, pulling me closer to him. “I know that much, but that’s it. Can we not talk about it?”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” I say, yawning. “I seriously can’t concentrate anyway. I’m so tired. I feel like I’m about to fall over.”

“Here, get on my back,” he says, leaning down. “I’ll carry you.”

“I’d like to say that I can make it to your room on my own,” I say, climbing on his back and laying my head on his shoulder, “but I don’t know if I can. If I’m asleep by the time we get to your room just throw me into bed. These last twenty-four hours have been exhausting.”

“And that’s more than half your fault,” he says, laughing as he starts trudging toward his room. “Close your eyes, baby. I’ve got you.”

When we turn the corner to his hallway, he stops suddenly. I peek over his shoulder and see Allie leaning against his door. I try to get down, but Alex won’t let me.

“Allie, what are you doing here?” he says, pushing past her and swiping his key card with me still on his back.

“I’m waiting for you,” she hisses as she looks up at me. “We need to talk.”

“Let me down,” I whisper to Alex. “I can take a nap in my room.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Alex says, wrapping his arms tighter around my legs. “Allie, we don’t need to talk. I’ve said everything I’m going to say.”

“You broke up with me and moved to her in like two seconds,” Allie whines. “I understand a rebound, but that’s ridiculous.”

“Alex,” I say sternly. “Let me down. I don’t want to be a part of this.”

“Neither do I,” he says, backing into his room and putting me down. “Leave me alone, Allie, or I’ll get team security involved.”

She tries to push her way in as he slams the door. He turns around and sees my wide-eyed expression.

“Raine,” he says. “I’m sorry. I know that was awkward. Can we just forget about her and take a nap?”

Allie starts pounding on the door. “Alex!”

“It doesn’t look that way,” I say, pulling my hand away from his. “I should leave. This is really weird.”

“You’re not leaving. Hold up,” he says, pulling out his phone. “Hey. I’m room 407. Allie’s stalking me again. She’s outside pounding on the door. Yeah. Thanks, man.”

“Who was that?”

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