Page 86 of The Strike Zone

“I was watching the game.”

“Nah, I think it was more than that. You didn’t find my joke funny, and you always find my jokes funny.”

I pulled my phone out, so tempted to message Scout and tell her I’d see her soon, but I didn’t want to do it with Ace peering over my shoulder. I hadn’t told him about this morning, I hadn’t told anyone. I knew that the second I opened my mouth and spilled my secret I’d make it that little bit less special.

And I kind of wanted at least twenty-four hours of having Scout to myself before it became public knowledge.

Or at least before the boys knew.

I wouldn’t be able to go longer than twenty-four hours before they guessed. My face would give it away, plus all the jumping for joy at finally sealing the deal with Scout that I’d be doing.

“Parker, did you hear what I said?”

“Um…” My eyes flicked up to his.

Nope. No chance I was even lasting twenty-four hours. I couldn’t focus on anything. I could barely remember the game we just played beyond knowing we’d won and I’d racked up two RBIs. I definitely couldn’t remember him telling any joke, and it was a toss-up on which would be received as worse news—that I didn’t find his joke funny or I didn’t listen in the first place.

I was saved from making any admissions by the arrival of Lux wearing one of his neon sweatpants and hoodies. I’d lost count of how many he had, but I knew I’d never seen this one before.ThatI’d remember. It was so fucking bright, if the power went out, we’d just use Lux to guide the way.

“Dude, that color is enough to make my eye tic. You need to warn people when you’re going to wear it. Or provide sunglasses.”

He chuckled but said nothing, opting to pull out his phone, no doubt to message Radley. Maybe I should message Scout.

Nope. Someone would see. Fuck, I wanted to get out of here.

“Where’s Tan?” asked Lux.

“Dunno. Probably still showering.”

“We’re never leaving,” I grumbled, my head falling back onto the locker with a thud.

“What’s with you? We only got off the field fifteen minutes ago.”

I checked my watch. Huh. Lux was right, it had only been fifteen minutes, even if it felt like an hour. It was official, Scout made me lose all concept of time. Lux and I were the only two ready to leave.

Maybe if I headed for the bus, everyone would grasp the sense of urgency and hurry the fuck up.

“What’s up with you?”

“NOTHING! I just want to go to bed.”

His expression was the same one Ace was wearing, and I ignored that one too.

“Okay…”

I stayed silent. My bad mood would only get questioned further, which would lead to a place I didn’t want to go. And I wasn’t in a bad mood per se. I mean, I was definitely impatient to the point of exploding, but that’s all. Who could blame me? I had the most perfect girl in the world waiting for me back at the hotel. At least I hoped she’d be there; I hadn’t spoken to her all day. I hadn’t even seen her. Not since she’d left my room in a post-orgasmic daze.

I adjusted my shorts before I started getting hard at the memory.

Even in the depths of my fantasies I’d not conjured up the image of her watching me jerk off, but holy crap, the look on her face when I turned around and saw her…chest heaving, cheeks flushed, jaw slack. She was exquisite.

No one had ever looked at me the way she had been looking at me. I’d had to consciously stop myself from sprinting across the room and picking up from where I’d finished.

I was on the verge of drifting into a fantasy about Scout when Tanner returned from the shower, dripping wet.

“Who’s coming to my room to unwind with someCall of Duty?” he asked, shaking himself everywhere.

“Tan, Jesus!” griped Lux, probably because his brand-new sneakers now had a water spot on them.

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