Page 64 of West Bound

His girl? Why the hell would he say that? Especially to these guys.

“Your girl?” Rami says with a slow nod of his head. “When did this happen?” His eyes flick from me to Phoenix who is still gripping me like one of them might snatch me away.

“Couple weeks ago, right Peaches.” I can’t say a word, don’t move a muscle. I’m stunned into silence and feeling a bit lightheaded as I continue to process his words.

“Right.” Manny remains glaring at Phoenix and Rami looks a bit crestfallen. “Well, see you out there. Bye, Red.”

Phoenix gives them a chin nod then turns his attention back to me. “I’ll get someone to bring you more popcorn and clean this up.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I do worry about it. I’ll have it delivered to you. Anything else you want, baby?” I shake my head no, still unable to speak. “‘K. See you after the game.” With another punishing kiss he says goodbye and hustles out to the field.

I stand there staring after him and I feel sick. He told people about us. And not just any people. Manny who is probably blabbing to everyone right now, and Rami with the sad puppy dog look on his face. By the end of the game, the entire stadium is sure to know that I’m Phoenix’s “girl”.

All I wanted was a nice, quiet, private hookup that included some laughs mixed in with mind-blowing sex and a mutual agreement that this was no one's business. Now it looks like it will be everyone’s business. And I don’t know how to feel about that.

I can’t feel any way about it because if I think too hard, I’ll be able to hear the sound of my heart breaking.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

VIVIAN

“Bad Intentions” - Niykee Heaton (feat. Migos)

CeCe and I are in a corner booth at a small sports bar a couple blocks from the stadium and she goes on about another interaction with Luca that left her fuming and dripping between the legs. I’m only half paying attention because I’m more than just a little freaked out about Phoenix showing up and people seeing him. Seeing us.

I suck straight vodka through the skinny straw like it’s my first glass of water after completing a marathon. My nerves are running high and my eyes can’t stop searching the bar for Phoenix or anyone I may know who will spot us.

“What do you think? Should I?” CeCe asks, snapping me out of my mini panic attack.

“Oh…um, sure. Why not?” Lord, let me have said the right thing.

CeCe’s face is straight and gives nothing away. That right there tells me what I said is in fact wrong.

“Really? You don’t think I’ll look too much like Mike Tyson if I shave my head and get a face tattoo?”

I wince and with one eye open, “sorry,” I apologize. “I’m so in my head right now and I’m totally being a bad friend. Don’t hate me, C.”

I chuck the straw from my drink and toss back what’s left in it.

“I’m gonna give you a pass this one time because being the new bae of professional baseball player Phoenix West is a much bigger deal than the disagreement Luca and I had.” She points a finger at me and sips her vodka cranberry.

“‘Ugh. Don’t say that. I am nobody’s bae. Especially not Phoenix.” I turn my head to look over my shoulder at the front door which hasn’t opened in the last ten minutes. “Maybe he decided not to come. He’s probably tired and just went back to his room. We should go.”

“Sit down, Usain Bolt. We aren’t going anywhere until I’ve finished my drink. And you know damn well Phoenix is coming, so just relax.”

I roll my eyes, completely aggravated with my best friend, and rest my chin in my hand while I watch her drink like she’s in slow motion. I can see a smug smirk on her face as she drinks and I just want to reach across the table and rip her eyelash extensions straight off.

As we sit, I feel a presence saddle up next to us and I turn my head, fully expecting to see Phoenix. What I see instead is a decent looking guy–maybe a six–and his buddy–a solid four–standing there with smiles on their faces.

“Hello ladies. How are you this evening?” I open my mouth to respond, but old dude here doesn’t give either of us the chance. “My buddy and I were sitting over at the bar and thought you two looked familiar. Have we met before?”

“I don’t think so. I would remember you,” I tell him and he smiles triumphantly. What he fails to realize is that I would remember meeting someone like him because I doubt there are too many men in Houston who wear a beanie in summer.

“Are you sure? Because you both look very familiar. I swear I’ve seen you somewhere.”

“He’s made us, Viv.” CeCe looks at me and I just know she’s about to knock their socks off.

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