Page 21 of The Strike Zone

“Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t drive in alone this morning.” He rolled his eyes and shoved Ace so hard he almost fell over, though that was more from Ace laughing.

Another gust of wind blew past us, reminding me that I’d been heading inside to the warmth. As I turned to leave, I allowed myself a glance at Parker through the reflection in the glass doors.

What I didn’t expect was to find his gaze meeting mine once more, which is where it stayed until I forced myself to look away. And suddenly I wasn’t so cold anymore.

Quite the opposite.

FIVE

SCOUT

Ten minutes later I was sitting in the cafeteria, holding a piping hot mug of coffee as I attempted to focus and remember what I was supposed to be doing. The reason I couldn’t was standing in the entrance answering questions about who he called last.

It was very annoying.

Since the other day, Parker had been taking up way more headspace than usual. I couldn’t get away from him. It didn’t help that nearly all the content I edited featured him and his stupid handsome face, or insanely hot muscles.

Like the video I was supposed to be editing right now—Parker paused on my screen while I tried to decide whether I should cut him from the reel.

Was it too much to feature him two days in a row? Probably.

If only I could stop looking at him.

His face was hidden behind the catcher’s cage.

His narrowed eyes were so dark in the shadows the bright emerald green was on the verge of turning black, menacing, almost. The antiglare swipes underneath were only adding to the effect. His smile was gone, along with the warmth. His constant approachable, easygoing demeanor had vanished.

Right now, this Parker I was staring at, showed a whole different Parker, adangerousParker.

An undeniably sexy Parker, in that sexy-that-absolutely-shouldn’t-be-sexy way.

Better relationship choices, Scout. Better relationship choices.

I was so engrossed with thoughts about what this side of Parker would be like I didn’t notice the protein shake being placed on the table until it was too late.

I immediately slammed my laptop shut.

“Anything interesting on there?” Parker asked, in a way that made it very clear he’d seen his face filling my entire screen, as well as me gawping at it.

I shook my head, forcing away the heat flooding my cheeks. “Nope. Just work.”

Work…that’swhy I was sitting here. Work.

“Okay.” He chuckled, pulling out the chair opposite me. “Can I sit?”

“Um…yeah…sure,” I replied, taking a swig of my rapidly cooling coffee if only for something to do.

I watched as he settled into his seat. The distraction had moved from my screen to IRL.

“What’s up, Parker?”

“Sorry about the guys back there, they’re idiots most of the time.”

“Oh, no worries.”

I thought he was about to add to his sentence, but instead, he took a deep breath and leaned back, only to sit forward again.

His elbows were placed purposefully on the table, followed by his fingers lacing together. I found myself pinned with those eyes I’d just been looking at. They weren’t quite as dark and dangerous without the mask, but they weren’t as bright green as usual.

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