Page 4 of Grand Slam

“Or I completely embarrass myself, he thinks to himself, what in the hell was I thinking and I spend the entire trip hiding in his bathroom whenever he is home.”

She laughs, not a giggle, but a full-on belly laugh.

“What is so funny?”

She tries to compose herself but instead laughs through the next sentence snorting in laughter the entire time. “Or you attempt to hide and he finds his way to said bathroom and I’m forced to listen to the noises that filter out when the two of you are reminded of the attraction you shared and probably still do.”

I roll my eyes.

“Seriously Emerson, it’s easy to ignore that pull with all this space between you, but you are going to be under the same roof. Who knows what could happen.”

“Maybe I should stay in a hotel.”

“Or maybe I should.” She waggles her brows and I grab a pillow tossing it at her head. It bounces, she catches it and then whips it back. “Remind me to bring my wireless Beats, I’ll need something to drown out the bed knocking in the middle of the night.”

She hurries from the room, and as I attempt to chase after her she slams her bedroom door.

I’m left with my thoughts and my stomach all twisted up.

This is going to end badly, I just know it.

CHAPTER FOUR

Kelton

“I kind of feel badfor her,” our pitcher Carter Callahan says leaning back in his chair. We’ve all gathered in the VIP room at a local restaurant after our final game in Texas before heading home. We are all worn out from our four day stretch but can never pass up a few celebratory drinks with the team.

“She didn’t look like she had a care in the world,” I add with a chuckle. “She took that bra off like a pro too, it was like magic.” I swear she had it off in seconds.

“You know me,” Donovan says kicking back. “I’m always okay with the idea of a lady letting her girls come out to play.” He’s the master player himself, though I’ve heard a rumor about him and Delilah Monroe having a little something going on. Not sure the truth behind that one yet, but we’ll see how it plays out.

“She was having the time of her life,” Carter adds, shaking his head. “But she was seconds away from pulling up the shirt too.”

“And I would have been okay with that,” Donovan adds.

“Do you have any shame?” Max Murphy, or Murph as we know him, chuckles already knowing the answer to his question. When Donovan only smiles before tipping back his beer without a response it’s confirmed.

“Hey, man.” Evan, our left fielder and newest addition to the team, leans forward looking at me. “Your sister gets into Nashville tomorrow doesn’t she?”

“Sister?” Donovan asks with interest and I point the neck of my beer at him.

“You stay away from my sister.”

“Sisters like me.” He smirks.

“Seriously.” I know he’s only taunting me, he has more respect than that. “But yeah, she gets in tomorrow mid-morning. Her and her friend Emerson.” Donovan sighs and I kick his legs making him chuckle.

“You said no sister, but the friend, now she is fair game.” I narrow my eyes at him feeling my ears get hot. “Okay so sister’s friend is taken.”

“It’s not like that,” I say.

“But it was,” he pokes a little more and I don’t respond. “The girl that got away.”

“Leave it alone.” I finish my beer and motion for another. My food suddenly feels sour in my stomach. I’m thankful that Evan takes my unease as a sign to change the subject.

The guys discuss the game, their stats, and how good it feels to be leaving Texas with four out of six games won. I’m listening, but all I can truly hear is the swooshing sounds in my ears.

I didn’t know what I was walking into tomorrow. I had no idea how it would go seeing Emerson in person after all this time. I know what she gave me, I know what we shared. I played it off like it was nothing but it was something. Even after all this time I swear I can still smell her when the wind blows just right. Clean floral scent, the perfect mixture of sweet and crisp.

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