Page 21 of Undeniably Perfect

I chuckle. “Other than my sister, Kylie, who played softball, I think the food is my family’s favorite thing too.”

“I’m sure they love seeing you play.”

I shrug. “Yeah, but it’s pretty normal now. I mean, I know they are all proud of me, but it’s just a routine.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I guess that’s sort of my problem right now. I’ve gotten into a bit of a rut lately. It’s like my passion for the game just isn’t there like it’s become a job and I’m trying to figure out how to love it again.”

“You have really long days,” she points out. “I didn’t realize athletes worked that hard.”

I grimace at her admission. “We do. It’s not just practice but also conditioning and stretching and weightlifting and cardio and massages and ice baths and PT on injuries.”

“Geez, that’s a lot. You do all that every day?”

I shake my head. “No, not every day, but a lot of days, yes.”

She looks around the apartment. “Thanks again for putting me up here. It’s sort of above and beyond what any client needs to do.”

I cringe at her use of the word “client.”

“Well, I think we are beyond the client relationship, don’t you?”

She blushes yet again, and I want to reach out and touch her so badly. I feel like a moth to a flame. I quickly place my hand down to keep from touching her.

“I suppose we are.”

“Well, then as friends, I want to offer you a day away from all of this.” I motion to the apartment.

Her eyes widen. “I’m sorry, what?”

I laugh. “I have off tomorrow night. Saturdays are always family and friends dinner at my parents’ house. Do you want to come? I’m going to spend the night at home and hang out with them. I just need a little downtime before next week.”

I can see the indecision in her eyes.

“I swear, I’m not a serial killer.”

She laughs. “The way you keep harping on that, I’m beginning to wonder.”

I grin at her. “OK, fuck it. Why not?” she answers.

“Great. I promise, it’ll be fun and if anything, it’ll get your mind off your studio for a few hours.”

Chapter Eleven

Ipull up to my house. “This is it,” I say like an idiot because who else’s house would it be.

Tabitha is silent next to me as she looks around. I park and open my door, but she doesn’t move.

“You coming?”

She nods after a moment and opens her car door. She gets out but just stands there staring at my house. “You live in a mansion.” I look around. Yeah, my house is a little over the top. The first year I played I may have gone a little overboard and bought a crazy expensive car and an insanely large home. I mean it’s only five thousand square feet, so by rich people’s standards, it’s a modest-sized house. However, compared to my parents’ home, which isn’t small, it’s over twice the size. So yeah, it’s big.

“Over-compensating for something?” she asks me with a smirk.

I shake my head at her sassiness. “Oh, kitten, I don’t need to over-compensate,” I whisper in her ear. I watch as the color creeps up her neck. It’s sexy as fuck, and I love it.

“Come on,” I urge her forward with a little push.

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