Page 103 of Stolen Bases

“What?” I turn to find Romero glaring at me.

“I said you’re bugging me. Can’t nap when I can hear you thinking, which I didn’t know you had enough brain cells to do.”

I picture Talia’s beautiful face and her sweet laugh, and I breathe through my frustration.Don’t punch him. He’s Talia’s brother, and she loves him,I chant in my head over and over. “Again, sorry.”

“Sorry,” he mocks, rubbing his chin.

I can’t get a read on him.

He lifts the shade, quickly glances out the window, rears back from the light, then closes it. I’d find that interesting if I wasn’t worried about his sister. In a short amount of time, she’s become the center of my world.

Turning my attention back to my phone, I send Talia another message.

Big Guy:I land in an hour. I’ll call you when I get to my car. Please answer.

If she doesn’t answer me before I land, I’m driving straight to her mom’s house. I don’t give a flying fuck if it causes problems. There is no way I can go another minute without knowing what the hell is going on. I feel out of control, and I don’t like the unsettling thoughts ricocheting around in my head.

“You’re still bugging me.”

“What?” I ask Romero again. He points at my bouncing leg. “Oh.” I place my hand on my thigh, gripping it into submission, and go back to scrolling through my messages with Talia.

“Waiting for Daddy to text you goodnight?” Romero chuckles, interrupting my thoughts.

Fuck this shit. I am so damn tired of the insults. I’m on edge wondering why Talia isn’t getting back to me, and honestly, for the sake of our relationship, this needs to end.

“What’s your problem?” I ask.

Romero crosses his arms over his chest. “What do you mean?”

I lower my voice so the other guys on the plane can’t hear. “You know what I mean. For the life of me, I cannot figure out what I did to you. So please, tell me. What is. Your problem. With me?”

Nico’s icy gray eyes stare at me. He doesn’t believe me. It’s been so long that I wonder if he even knowswhy he hates me anymore.

“Of course you don’t, you entitled rich boy.” Nico scoffs, still not answering my question.

I shake my head, exhausted. I’m trying, but Nico is making no attempt to meet me halfway.

What would Talia say?She’d probably say Nico’s a good guy and I should try harder to get to know him.

“I would like to put all this … animosity … to bed.”

We stare at each other, the anger and hate rolling off Romero suffocating. I wait patiently, hoping he answers me. For the sake of the team and my girl, we need to work this out. We can’t hide away forever. I love her. I can’t imagine my life without her.

“You slept with my girlfriend,” he says, devoid of emotion.

What the fuck?

Before I can ask … anything, he puts on a pair of noise-canceling headphones, pushes his mask over his eyes, and turns away. No further explanation given.

I’m left spinning. His words haunt me. I know I’ve dated a lot and fucked around too much when I first started in the league, but whendid I sleep with his girl? I wouldn’t knowingly do anything like that.

Of all the guys in the league, Romero is a bigger playboy than I am. To quote Talia, he’s a manwhore. It’s no secret he’s the “hit it and quit it” guy. He never dates. For two years, I watched him sleep his way around campus. His room had a revolving door of women coming and going. When did he have a girlfriend? And who is this woman he claims I slept with?

My gut says the only one who can answer this is the asshole beside me, and there is no chance in hell he wants to talk to me about it. I’m going to need Talia to help me, but I need to get ahold of her first.

Just like that, I’m focused back on my itty bitty, wondering what the hell happened to her and why she isn’t calling me back.

When I landed, I had a voicemail from Cliff, notifying me that there was a change in plans and that Talia requested to get dropped off at her home instead.

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