Page 15 of Switch Pitching

I lean back against the headboard and turn off the overhead light, leaving only the bedside lamp to cast a soft, warm glow across the room. Ethan’s already asleep, his face softened in a way I’m not used to seeing. His dark, thick eyelashes flutter peacefully, framing his face in a way that’s actually kind of endearing.

It’s nice having someone else here, and I don’t mind the closeness. I turn off the lights and let out a quiet laugh, shaking my head. Ethan sure is full of surprises.

7

ETHAN

Light. Headache. Tired.

I blink at the ceiling, trying to get my eyes to focus. My head throbs with a dull, insistent ache. Ahh, Saturday mornings, gotta love them.

Something smellsamazing. Musky, spicy, citrusy…it’s cologne, unlike anything I’ve ever smelled before.

My god, it smells so hot. I smile as I let myself sink deeper into this plush hotel mattress and slide my legs back and forth between the crisp white sheets before I kick something.

Wait.

This isn’t my bed.

I kicked… James.

Shit. James. I must have ended up in James’s room.

Memories from last night come rushing back. We went to a bar, James got us all shots and made friends, the team bought me a stupid amount of drinks, and everything after that is fuzzy. I’m blanking on what happened between taking a triple shot of something with Gabe and waking up in James’s bed.

Pressure rises in my throat. Did I try something stupid with him? I’ve never made a move on anyone unless they wereinterested back, but I wassuperfucking drunk. Anything could have happened.

I feel myself up under the covers and realize that I’m still in my clothes from last night. Glancing at the other side of the bed, James appears to have changed at some point. He’s curled up with an arm hanging lazily off the edge of the mattress.

Okay, I’m fine. I didn’t fuck up.

The bright sunlight streaming in highlights the sharp angles of his face and makes his sun-kissed skin glow?—

Nope. Nope nope nope. I shouldn’t be noticing any of this.

Great. Another morning where my brain has no choice but to hyper-focus on how attractive James is with bedhead and stubble.

I’ve been here before and I’ve got it down to a science: shut it down before it starts, keep my treasonous brain in check, and it’ll all be fine. Rolling over, I reposition myself and slam into the pillow with a thud, one that’s loud enough to wake James up.

Oops. Time to close my eyes and pretend to be asleep.

“Well, good morning, beautiful,” James says, his singsong voice dripping with sarcasm. I crack one eye open to find him grinning, with his eyes half-rolled.

“Beautiful? You need to wipe the sleep out of your eyes. I’m unwashed and hungover as hell,” I mumble, but I can’t stop myself from smiling.

“It’s all good man,” he says, his voice warm. “We’ve all had those nights. Just promise me next time you decide to go all out, you won’t lose your room key.”

I laugh softly, grateful that he’s being chill. “Yeah, got it. Thanks for not making this a big deal.”

“No problem. Honestly, I’m just bummed that we didn’t come back with anyone last night.”

“So much for not being a fuckboy, huh?”

James socks me in the face with a pillow. “I’m not a fuckboy, but that doesn’t stop me from having fun, buddy.”

I laugh and shove the pillow back at James, the movement making my head throb. “You’ll have plenty of other chances,” I reply.

James turns to face me, eyebrows raised. “Oh, I’m sure. But I have to say, you have insane willpower. Girls were lining up to get your attention all night long. I don’t think you even noticed any of them.”

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