Page 69 of Down to One

Katie’s head stilled in her hands, his words swirling in her brain, fucking with all her senses. Did he really think that’s what she was after? Some rich guy to put her up in his fancy apartment and take care of her so she didn’t have to have her own dreams and goals? So she could spend her days catering to him and his dreams and goals? Maybe he wasn’t so different from Kyle after all.

Think, breathe, think, breathe. Don’t make assumptions.

"Are you serious?" she asked, a headache starting to pound at the back of her head.

He gave a sheepish shrug. "I was kind of joking, but now that I think about it…why not? I love spending time with you. I love the thought of you being safe when I’m on the road. I love the thought of you being there when I get home. Hell, I guess I’m saying I loveyou,Katie."

Think, breathe, think, breathe.

This was the kind of thing Kyle did. She could hear him in her head right now saying something just like that when she wanted to go to school in Boston or spend the summer in Spain or keep her internship in Atlanta. All those memories bubbled up beneath the surface, gaping unhealed wounds, and Katie looked up at Landon and exploded.

"What in the world are you talking about?! I’m not moving in with you, I’m not in love with you, and I’m not giving up my job and my life for you! Is that what you’ve been expecting to happen? We’re not even close to on the same page with whatever this is between us."

Landon’s eyebrows shot up. "Sweetheart, we’re not even in the same universe, because I feel like I’m in the fucking Twilight Zone. I’m trying everything here, trying to do everything different and right this time, to care about you and your fucking feelings. But everything I do just pisses you off. Do you even get what it’s like for me? There are girls out there that keep up with the baseball schedules and no matter what town I’m in, they’re sending me DMs all day long. Chicks popping up wherever I go, waiting for me outside my apartment. But with you…you never text me, you never return my calls, you never just open up to me. Hell, I can barely get you to come to my place, and honestly, I’m not too sure you even want me here in yours."

"I sure as hell don’t recall inviting you here."

The words shot out of Katie’s mouth with a venom that shook them both. He’d been opening up to her, begging her to understand his life, and she’d stomped on him for it. Every cell in Katie’s being wanted to rush over and kiss the hurt off his face.

No, no, no! That was just another excuse for staying in a bad situation. She’d done that before and she’d be damned if she’d do it again. She panicked and drove the dagger home.

"I think maybe you’ve just hit on the problem, Landon. You keep treating me like I’m not just any other girl, when the truth is, I really am. I’ve been trying to be nice because you seem really into this for some reason, but don’t mistake my desire to have a hot fuck with a pro ball player for anything more than it is."

For a second, he looked like she’d slapped him, and then like he was going to yell. But he only turned and left, not even bothering to slam the door behind him.

WheeeeEEEE!

The tea kettle rang out, a piercing reminder that she’d just destroyed any possibility of ever being with him again in less time than it takes for water to boil.

VIPGuest List- page 2/2

John Roscoe

+1 unknown Corey Rojas

+1 Reina Rojas Landon Ryan

+1 Layla Lamar

Harold Sanderson

+1unknown

Donald Umphries

+1unknown

chapter 31

Seriously?!It had been two days! Two days since Katie broke it off for good with Landon. Two torturous days during which he’d ignored her completely at the pregame meet and greets, then led the team to wins over the Cubs.

His streak still stood—he made twenty-three and twenty-four look easy—but he hadn’t reached out to her. Not once. To be fair, she hadn’t tried contacting him either, but still,two days!And he was already moving on. Publicly and with Layla Lamar of all people.

Or maybe it wasn’t that quick. Maybe Katie was the side chick and Layla Lamar had been in the picture all along. Certainly, last week in Pittsburg.Duh. Damn Katie, how naive can you be?

"Why would you bring up some D-list child actress during sex?" Katie mimicked, rolling her eyes at her own stupidity before scanning the room for Lori. They were already two hours past scheduled quitting time setting up for the banquet. Getting within five feet of the Dragon Lady would surely add two or three more tasks to her plate, but Katie needed answers. She marched across the room.

"Hi Lori, sorry to interrupt, I just noticed Layla Lamar on the VIP list? What extra attention do we need for a celebrity of that caliber?"

---