Page 90 of Room 4 Rent

A ball that bounces in front of a fielder in an unexpected way, often as a result of imperfections in the field or the spin on the ball.

SYDNEY

“I know you bought the entire Wildness collection off my website,” I admit, watching Cason cut his steak. Between the way he handles a knife and the fading bruises under his eyes, I’ve contemplated dropping to my knees under the table and sucking him off.

I love a man with battle wounds.

Ignoring my remark about the paintings, he shrugs.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I was in love once,” he says, chewing his steak slowly, unwilling to answer my statement. Or maybe he’s leading into something here.

I wait and listen.

If you haven’t picked up on it yet, this is the dinner I promised him a week ago. We’re at a fancy restaurant in downtown Scottsdale on a date. I said I wouldn’t call it a date, and he did too, but I’m going to throw the word out there because I can. And it feels right.

I won’t bore you with the details of the restaurant or that I’m wearing a dress, and he looks fucking amazing in a black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. What I will tell you is that for the first time in months, I don’t have that constant lump in my throat that another curveball is going to be thrown my way. I’m relaxed and content.

“With baseball?” I tease, shocked he said he was in love once. I wouldn’t have expected that with him, given his upbringing. Hell, I’m surprised he doesn’t have extreme trust issues.

He sets his fork down and reaches for his beer. Bringing it to his lips, he sighs. “Funny. But no. With a girl named Brie.”

I pick at the piece of bread in my hand like I’m a chipmunk, eagerly awaiting the details of every single past relationship this guy has had. I want to know everything. Who’d he lose his virginity to? How many girls has he slept with? Give. Me. The. Details. I start with, “What happened?”

“She fucked my best friend,” he says, flat out, gauging my reaction.

“Whoa” is all I can say. At least Remi wasn’t my best friend, though she’s trying to be.

“Yep.”

I blink rapidly, hating that this bitchy Brie broke his heart. I want to track her down and slap her. “What did you do?”

“Broke up with her.”

“How long were you guys together?”

He blows out a quick breath, then tilts his head as if he has to think about it for a minute. “Three years.”

“That’s a long time for a college baseball player.”

“You’re surprised?”

“Seeing how your mom was the way she was, yeah, I am a little. I don’t mean that in a bad way either. I mean… actually, I don’t know what I mean by it.” I shouldn’t have said that. Damn it. Maybe I should stop drinking this wine. It’s making me say stupid shit.

He nods. “I think I am the way I am because of her. I gave Brie my heart, she crushed it to left field, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let it happen again.”

I’m not sure what he means by that, but I’m equally as afraid to ask for clarification. I set the bread down. “Do you have plans after graduation?”

His facial expression shifts, a mask of uncertainty taking over. “The draft and then from there, I don’t know. Whoever wants me.”

My heart beats so fast I’m afraid the rhythm is going to break, and I’m going to blurt out the words:I want you!Just because I said I didn’t want to date him doesn’t mean that I’m not attached to this guy. Because I totally am. I flew right past the like stage and fell hard, but I can’t tell him that because he doesn’t need that kind of pressure on him. He has enough. “Your dad’s retiring this year. Have the Mariners expressed interest?”

He stares at his beer on the table and then lifts his eyes to mine. “They did, but they already have Thomson and Beckett in their bullpen, and both are pitching great this year. I don’t know. My agent, Rob, he’s been talking to the Angels since last season, and I think it’s going to be them.”

“Anaheim. That’s not terrible.”

The first grin of the night surfaces, and I’m not disappointed. “Only five and a half hours away.”

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