Page 129 of Stolen Bases

“Sorry, kid. I meant no offense. I didn’t know you were seeing someone special.” He holds his hands up in surrender, and I want to murder him a little less.

I search for Talia, but she’s slipped back inside the house. “Fuck.” I drop my head, gripping the back of my neck.

I know she heard Jace and probably has a million ideas about me and other women, here at my home, running through her head. Just another reason for her to walk away.

“You okay, brother?” Jace cringes like he knows where my head just went.

If I lost her all because of Jace and his stupid-ass mouth, I’ll more than murder him. No one will find his body.

His comment stings. I hate that my family and everyone else see me as a playboy, just another baseball player who sleeps around. It’s my fault. I was that guy. I don’t want to be that guy ever again. That guy was empty and lonely.

While I’ve been evolving the last few years, I didn’t allow others—aside from maybe Mason—to see those changes. No oneknows there hasn’t been a single woman to enter this home since I bought it. The few women I’ve hooked up with over the last year, I met on the road, and they knew the score. One night only.

Fuck. The last thing I want to talk about with my girl is body count. The less she knows about that side of me, the better.

“No, you fucking douche-dick. I’m not okay. Talia heard you and disappeared inside. She’s probably packing her shit and getting ready to leave me because she thinks I’m some piece-of-shit manwhore.”

I should have dropped my phone and chased after her.What the fuck was I thinking?

The heavy, all-consuming ache in my chest has me frozen, too scared to get up and watch Talia walk out my door.

“No, I’m not.”

My eyes snap up to find Talia on the patio in front of me. Relief floods my veins to see her fully dressed in a hoodie, black skin-tight yoga pants, and a smile. She’s bare-faced and gorgeous.

“I knew you were a manwhore and fell for you anyway.”

“Aww.” I hear Rylann swoon in the background as blood rushes to my ears.

“Oh, I like her.” Jace chuckles.

Every hair on my arm stands on end as Talia walks over, drops to her knees between my legs, and places her hands on my thighs. “I’m not going anywhere.” She takes the phone from my hand and turns it to face her. “Hi. I’m Talia. It’s nice to meet you. Cam talks about you guys all the time.”

I watch, stunned silent, as Talia introduces herself to Jace and Rylann, and then chats like the last five minutes never happened. Reality snaps back when I hear Rylann invite Talia to Sariah’s birthday party.

I grab the phone and answer for her. “She’ll be there with me.”

“Yay. I’m so excited. It was lovely chatting with you, Talia. I can’t wait to meet you in person.” Rylann beams at the camera while my brother nods along.

“Me too.”

“We will let you go. Cam, I’ll talk to Dad about Seattle and get back to you. I think we have some catching up to do.” Jace uses his “all-knowing big brother” voice on me. He’s put the puzzle pieces together. He knows Talia is related to Nico.

I’m not ready to hear whatever brotherly advice he has for me, but I agree and say my goodbyes. There is only one person I want to give all my attention to, and she’s still on her knees in front of me.

“Baby.” I cup Talia’s face in the palm of my hand.

She leans into my touch, kissing my palm. We are in the wrong position for this conversation.

I lift her up, turn her around to sit on the bed, and kneel before her, switching our roles. “Better.”

She runs her hands through my hair while scanning my face like she’s worried about something, when I’m the one freaking the fuck out. “Cam, you can change your mind. I don’t have to go to your niece’s birthday party.”

What?

She worries her lip between her teeth, bracing herself to my impending rejection—a rejection she will never hear uttered from my lips.

“You think I’m worried about introducing you to my family?”

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