Page 100 of Easy Out

“So, you did want to know him at one point?”

“Hart, where is this coming from?” I lift my head and look at him. He peers down at me searching my face.

“Just curious.”

“Yes. Once. After my mom died and I was getting shipped off to my first foster family. I thought if I could just find my dad. He would make everything better.” But he didn’t exist. There wasn’t anyone coming to save me from my fate. Hart squeezes me closer to him.

“If he showed up now, what would you do? Would you hear him out?” It’s such a hypothetical question. It’s an impossibility. I wouldn’t even know where to start looking.

“I want to say I would stay and hear his side of things. Satisfy my curiosity if anything. How do I forgive someone who gave up on me? If he knew about me, how do I pretend like he didn’t leave me behind?”

“I don’t know, cariño. I want to hate him for you, but I wonder if there is more to the story.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m never going to know him. I don’t need him anyway. I have you. Sydney. Carlos and Manny. You are my family. You’re all I need.”

Falling asleep in Hart’s arms, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. Hart is right, we have started something good.

22

HART

“Lauren coming to the game?” Koa asks while we stretch and warm up in foul territory by first base.

“Nah, she had to finish up something for one of her classes before break next week.” We’ve had a few scrimmages throughout the month of November. This is the first one Lauren has missed.

Last weekend she even brought Manny with her. Carlos had to help Carter with something, and she didn’t want to leave Manny alone. Whatever is happening at their house is getting worse and there isn’t anything Lauren can do about it.

“Have you talked to Marco or Enzo?”

“Not since the game last week.” The same game Manny came to. I didn’t miss the way Enzo watched Lauren and Manny interact. Jealousy radiated off him in waves. Enzo is a ‘takes no shit’ kind of guy. He’s always in control. He doesn’t ask for permission or offer apologies. It’s strange to see him out of sorts because he misses his sister.

I’ve kept my promise to stay quiet. I hate every second of it. I’m questioning where my loyalty should be. Enzo and Marco are family to me. I’ve known them since we were little kids. I couldn’t even tie my own shoes when I met Enzo.

But Lauren…fuck. She is my heart. My soul. My entire world. She is my future. To hold back information that will shake up everything she’s ever known? It doesn’t sit right with me.

“I’ve got to tell her.” Koa lets out a slow breath. “If I don’t, she’s going to hate me. I’ve been lying to her.”

“You aren’t lying to her.” I level him with a look. “Okay, fine. But it isn’t a direct lie. What’s one more week at this point? You’ve waited this long. You have plans to sit down and talk to her together. Why not wait?”

Because they are going to ambush her. It’s going to make her feel even more alone than she already does.

“They don’t know Lauren like I do. I’ve talked to Morelli, and he is insisting that he needs to be the one to tell her. He wants to have a chance to explain his actions.”

“Did he tell you what happened? I’ve done the math, bro. Lauren and Enzo are only a few months apart in age.” I’ve done the math too. All I’ve concluded is the story doesn’t add up.

Morelli and Victoria, his wife, are happy. They are in love. Have been forever. The idea of Morelli stepping out and cheating on her doesn’t compute in my brain.

“You might have bigger problems today.” Koa inclines his head toward the stands. Shit. In the front row are three reporters from the Newhouse Tribune and a camera crew. “I guess we’re doing our interviews finally.” His words are barely audible through the panic shrouding me.

My skin suddenly feels like it doesn’t belong on my body. I shake out my limbs trying to extricate the uneasiness that sits below the surface.

“Focus on the game Hart. You might be able to slip out before you get called.” Unlikely. Coach has been adamant about me stepping up my post-game press interviews. I’ve met with my media trainer a few times, but it was pointless.

I can’t seem to push past this fear of stumbling over my words in front of hundreds of people. The memories of the short, chubby, boy who stuttered through reading out loud in class and being berated and beaten down haunts me. It’s all I can think about when I’m being interviewed.

Already feeling myself begin to clam up, I nod at Koa and finish my warm-up. Focusing on baseball is the one thing I’m good at. You’re more than a good baseball player. Lauren’s words slip into my subconscious. I wish she was here.

We’ve been spending almost every night together. I can’t get enough of her. Once I slipped inside her, I was done for. I'm completely addicted. It took all my self-control to last long enough for her to orgasm again the first time we had sex. The moment I sunk in all the way, I wanted to thrust into her hard and fast.

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