Page 55 of Caught Looking

But that was drastic and even I knew that was going too far. What was it she’d said to me that morning? That I go zero to a hundred? She was right. It was just how I worked. At least the look on her face had been a mix of exasperation and excitement. She liked it even if it spun her around.

I slid my phone out of my pocket and called her.

She picked up on the second ring. “Hey. We’re about to start a scrimmage.”

“Then I caught you just in time. How’s your day so far?” This was the third time I’d called her today and I didn’t even care how needy it made me seem.

Iwasneedy. For her. All of her. I’d take her body when we were together but I craved her voice just as much.

“Good. I slept fine at Rhett’s. Roscoe is happy to have a yard and a pool. Janet can’t keep him out of it and it’s driving her crazy.”

I pictured him doggy-paddling around Rhett’s pool. I had been to a barbeque or two there so I knew the layout. “Well I’m glad Roscoe is happy.” My phone dinged and I took a peek at the screen. A video of Roscoe doing exactly what I’d pictured. “Might have to get him some doggy pool toys.” Did they make those? They had to. Lots of dogs loved water.

“Practice was intense today. Coach likes to hit us hard two days before a game.”

“You should make use of the pool tonight.” We needed a pool of our own. The condo had been a nice little sanctuary for a night but it wouldn’t do long term. We needed space. A hot tub. Plenty of rooms to have sex in.

“If I can stay awake I will. Good luck at your game tonight.”

“Thanks babe. Any issues?” I kept checking and she kept assuring me things were fine.

“No issues. I gotta go.”

“Kill it, Annalise.”

I felt her smile all the way from Tampa. “You better do the same, Seth.” She hung up.

And an empty feeling settled in my gut. Our calls calmed me but the goodbyes always felt…off. Maybe we just didn’t know each other well enough yet. Like how Lori ruined me or exactly what happened with Montgomery. Important parts of pasts were still as murky as mud.

“You getting your ass in here or what?” Wes threw a wadded-up candy wrapper at my head.

The catcher was deadly accurate behind the plate, not so much in a hotel room. A group of us liked to play poker so we didn’t get bored waiting for our call time to go to the field. Chris Kaine, our ace pitcher, hosted this round. He had a nice suite since his wife and kids had traveled with them.

The poker table was set up in the middle of the living room and every chair was full except one. Today’s game included Rhett, Wes, Erik, Everett, Chris, and myself.

Only there was one more person sitting at the table. “Marcus Mayfield.”

“Butler, Butler, Butler. Do you know how to lay low?” The retired Mantas third baseman stood up and took my hand before pulling me into a bear hug.

“I’m trying, man. It’s my new goal in life.” As soon as we shoved Owen Montgomery into a dark corner, never to be heard from again.

“I’d say the cameras stop following you around after you retire, but I’m pretty sure they’ll keep following you to the ends of the earth.” He took his seat as I rounded the table for mine.

“Butler will probably take a flashy TV gig the day he retires,” Wes muttered as he began doling out poker chips.

“You’d be surprised.”

Chris cocked an eyebrow. “You’re practically performing for the cameras. Does Annalise need some publicity or something?”

Rhett’s gaze snapped to mine. Were we obvious? I thought we’d easily gone with the paparazzi flow. But maybe we’d tried too hard.

Chris stopped counting his chips. So did Erik. Wes wasn’t far behind him.

“Christ,” Rhett muttered.

“What’s going on?” Everett leaned closer. He was my oldest and closest friend and I hadn’t told him a thing, which made me feel like shit.

I scanned every face. Each one concerned. I knew these men. They were all good men. Loyal. Protective. Hell, we basically stole the team plane so Erik could get to Zoe. Every member of the roster had been on that trip and we’d all shown force to scare off her sleazy ex.

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