Page 56 of Grand Slam

It may be strange but it’s my way of feeling like my mom is right here with us, living this life. Being able to see my family grow and Liz being here for every part of it.

I love the fact that my child will have an aunt so attentive, strong-willed, and amazing influencing them.

“When do they get here?” Jerry asks and I look back over my shoulder to see him tapping away on his phone.

I watch, wondering if he’s heard I word I’ve just said. Then when he smiles, taps out another message and chuckles to himself within seconds after getting a response something inside me shifts.

“What do you want with my sister?”

That gets his attention. Lifting his gaze to see mine I can’t read him. Jerry isn’t the easiest person to dissect. He’s got what I call a poker face. It’s one of the biggest reasons I chose him as my agent. He is a hard ass.

He’d foughtfor my deal, and never once backed down. I’ll admit his persistence worried me that in the end I’d be passed over as Tennessee moved on to offer another player my deal. But when is was all said and done, I got everything I wanted with some added bonuses.

When it comes to my sister, we weren’t an agent and an athlete. I was a big brother and he was the guy that she’s shown interest in. I can’t tame the need to protect her.

“We’re friends,” he finally says, tucking his phone into his pocket. “We’ve hung out, we’ve laughed, she’s good company.”

“Friends?” My jaw tics with irritation.

“Not that kind of friends, Kelton,” Jerry insists. “Alizabeth and I knew going in this was a sticky situation. I am your agent, and if things shifted between her and me that could cause a rift in my professional life. We’ve kept things friendly but not overly friendly. I won’t lie and say that I don’t find her attractive. I do, hell any man with eyes does I am sure.”

“She comes before this.” I motion between us. “She gets hurt, this, it won’t work.”

“And that is why she and I can never be more than friends.”

“Because you’ll hurt her?”

“Not intentionally,” Jerry confesses, “but this life has never really left me time for the serious stuff. Women don’t like the traveling and the hours that come with the job I hold. I thrive if my athletes do, so that requires me to be invested.”

I hold his stare.

“I can’t be the guy that is home every night, cuddled on a couch and at a woman’s side. Liz deserves a guy that gives her his all, and I’m not that guy.”

“Don’t give her false hope,” I say.

“I don’t intend to.”

I wasn’t sure if this conversation made me feel better or worse. I’ve seen how my sister is when he is around. He may think he’s made it clear that it can’t be more, but I know she isn’t feeling the same.

His phone rings again and before we can say anything more, he turns and takes the call walking away. And I don’t for a second buy that he feels nothing for Liz. Someone that feels nothing doesn’t get jealous. Someone that has no emotional attachment doesn’t talk to a woman every day at least once. And a guy that doesn’t want to be just friends with a female isn’t fully invested on her whereabouts, where she’s planning on living, and when she’ll be here for good.

This conversation was short, but I have a feeling he and I will be revisiting it at some point.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Emerson

“I can’t believehe sent a moving service,” I say with a laugh as I sit back next to Liz and watch men load our things into a truck. Men that aren’t terrible to look at.

“I think if he knew what those movers looked like, he may have rethought that decision.” She lifts her hand, with her phone in it and snaps a picture.

“Did you seriously just take a photo?”

“Yep and I am currently sending it to Jerry and Kelton in a group chat.” I laugh. “Within minutes I predict both our phones will be ringing.”

“You are evil,” I say just as my phone starts to vibrate, followed by hers doing the same thing.

“No, I’m smart.” Standing she offers me a wink before walking off answering her phone.

---