Page 58 of Room 4 Rent

A ball that is hard-hit and appears to be hit in a straight line.

CASON

She won’t rent me the room. What kind of shit is that? Our night together was good, right? There were certainly no complaints from her, so why’d she turn me down?

Was I not charming enough? I laid that shit on thick.

The distant thwack of ball hitting leather, Chiasson yelling at Forest to hustle, and Ez whistling behind the plate fill the silence around me. It’s Thursday. Two days after Syd told me no. I even texted her, thanks to her sister giving me her number, and I still couldn’t convince her to let me rent the room.

“I don’t get it.” I throw a slider to Ez, down in the strike zone. Outside. If a batter was at the plate, all he’d have to do would be to swing low, lean over the plate, get the barrel on it, hit hard, and pull to the right. “Why wouldn’t she want me to rent the room?”

Standing, he sends the ball back to me. “She’s obviously too attracted to you to be near you.”

“Yeah.” I snort. “I’m sure that’s it, buddy.”

But then I think he’s right. She’s afraid if I live near her, our one-night stand will turn into more. I know she has a lot going on, and I’m not about to get in the middle of that. She doesn’t need another man complicating her life. And believe me, given that I’m in college, unsure what the next six months will bring, I complicate the shit out of things.

I’d also be lying if I said I didn’t want another chance with her. Three times wasn’t even close to enough.

Also, I’m not trying to be a dick, but people usually don’t tell me no. I had a good life growing up. Anything I ever wanted. What I didn’t have?

Family.

I had my dad a phone call away, but he was on the road constantly. My grandparents would be here in a heartbeat, as would my aunts and uncles on my dad’s side.

My mom, like I said, she probably doesn’t even know what day of the week it is at her mansion in Key West. I haven’t heard from her in six months. The last time I did, she called to tell me she was getting remarried to some movie producer. I’m sure my dad would be thrilled not to be paying alimony to her anymore.

My mom, Lydia, is a perfect example of why professional athletes should pull out and take the condom with them. Sadly.

After practice, we’re heading into the locker room when Ez bumps me. “You can sleep on the couch still.”

I frown at the idea. The last thing I want is to be around Luca any more than I need to. “I don’t get it. I would want to live with me.”

He laughs. Out loud, and then stops and looks over at me as I push the doors open. “You’re messy.”

“I’m not messy.” I roll my eyes at the absurdity. “My piles have a purpose.”

Rolling his eyes, he rips his sweaty shirt over his head. “Yeah, sure.”

“What am I going to do?” I sit down at my cubbie and sigh. “I’m not living with you and your scary-ass uncle anymore.”

“Call your dad.” He sits across from me, the guys filing inside, and their loud, crude behavior follows. “He’ll hook you up.”

The suggestion doesn’t sit well with me. I’ve never had to ask my dad for money yet or use his fame to get what I need, and I’m not about to start now. For ten years, I mowed lawns before and after practice and never spent a dime of it. I have my own money and housing allowance. Besides, it’s his final season before retirement. He’s given baseball most of his life, and the last thing he needs is my drama. “I’m not calling him. I’ve got no reason to.” I twist the cap to my water bottle on and then off again. “Besides. The season is starting. I’m not buggin’ him.”

Ez smirks. “You just don’t want him to know you got kicked out of the dorms for being a shit.”

There’s some truth to that one. I hate disappointing my dad.

Forest bumps me from behind. “Can I get that lawyer chick’s phone number?”

I lift my head and look up at him. “No. She’s married.”

He smiles, waggling his eyebrows. “Doesn’t matter to me.”

Of course it doesn’t. Half the guys on this team wouldn’t give a rat’s ass if a girl they hooked up with belonged to someone else. They lack morals. I know I hinted at the fact that I would have fucked Sydney regardless, but knowing me, I wouldn’t have gone through with it.

I lean my head back against my locker, trying to think of a way I can convince Sydney I’m her best option. Got any ideas? Because I’m fresh out of them. I’ve even thought of showing up and trying to befriend the kid to convince her, but that might look bad. Creepy guy trying to make friends with a kid? That’s not weird at all.

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