Page 31 of Presley's Christmas Catch
I’ve ruined everything, just like I thought. And weeks sooner than I needed to, I bet.
I’m going to kill my mom.
“You know what?” I suddenly say, forcing a smile. “Itwouldbe crazy for something to happen between us.” I fumble for a reason besides the fact that he doesn’t feel the same way. “Because I’m a trainer on the Rays!” I say it with too much gusto, and Brock’s eyebrows jump up. “It would be like…” I search for the word. “Frowned upon.” Probably. I don’t know that for sure, but it sounds good now.
“Yeah…” He stands and scratches the back of his neck. “So, I’ll see you at the facility in the morning?” His tone is awkward and unsure, and I’m so angry at what I’ve done I could cry.
My throat is actually starting to get thick, and my chest is tight. But even though I’ve already cried in front of Brock a bunch of times—usually over my aunt, but there was that one time that we were talking about Kael’s brother’s death—I can’t cry in front of him over this. Definitely not.
“Yeah!” I try to sound bright and cheery. “I’m so excited. I can’t wait.”
Brock steps away from the counter, heading toward the door. “See you later,” he says when he puts his hand on the door.
“See you!” I keep my smile firmly in place, waving at him enthusiastically as he slips out. Then I use that same hand to slap myself in the face. I’m so stupid. I didn’t even get a chance to tell him about the ring I found and what he thinks I should do. He was the only one I could tell and now…?
I run directly to my room, throw myself on my bed, and let my tears free.
CHAPTER 13
BROCK
It’s been almost a full day since I spoke to Presley in any form, and I hate it. We haven’t gone this long without talking to each other in some way since the first couple weeks after we met. We saw each other when I came into the facility for my physical this morning, but our only contact was her fake happy wave, the same one she gave me when I left her apartment last night, and by the time I got done with the team doctor, she wasn’t in the training room anymore.
Her cookies were.
Well, our cookies. I saw the box sitting on one of the tables in the training room with a note in her handwriting for everyone to help themselves. When I looked inside, I noticed she’d packed up the ones I’d decorated as well. I didn’t eat one last night since I left early, so I took advantage. And I felt guilty with every bite.
I lectured Lincoln about not saying anything that would make her think our friendship was more than it was, and yet somehow I ended up doing exactly that. How stupid of me to tell her I liked her too. It seemed like such an innocent thing for her to say, to express her contentment with our friendship, that my answer came automatically. I was feeling the same thing, Ithought. Gratitude for those moments together and how easy it was to be together.
Then she kissed me.
I was so surprised, I kissed her back. It came automatically, like Presley and I kissed all the time. I can’t explain why my lips did that before I pulled away. It kind of just happened.
Maybe she kissed me on accident, and we can put this behind us?
I groan to myself as I make my way to my rental car in the facility parking lot. I totally blew up my friendship with Presley by unknowingly leading her on. There’s no fixing this.
On the bright side, the doctor said I was in great shape and he’d have me cleared for practice tomorrow. I’m eager to start working with the team, seeing where I fit.
Should I text Presley and tell her the good news? Act normal, like we didn’t kiss last night and she didn’t confess that she likes me romantically?
But acting normal and allowing our friendship to grow like it did is what got me in this mess in the first place. I think of our hugs and how I found comfort in them. It’s not Presley’s fault she read into them. It didn’t even cross my mind at the time that they might feel like more to her.
I spend the afternoon arranging to have my stuff moved to LA. For now I’ll put it in a storage unit until I find a permanent place to stay. The nice thing about having money is that moving isn’t a pain. It makes the process of changing teams easier, which is something I need. When that’s all done, I head down to the gym at the hotel and hop on a treadmill. I need to run off some energy and distract myself from thinking about how I was going to ask Presley if she wanted to help me house hunt.
Maybe I could text her to ask if she knows a good real estate agent. That’s pretty much business, and if I keep our texts to that kind of thing and talk about TOK, I can avoid leading her on even more. More than anything, I don’t want Presley to think I’m playing games with her.
But asking her about houses could also seem domestic. Intimate.
I growl as I increase the speed on the treadmill. Can I really not figure out a way to fix this?
As I finish up my five-mile run, Lincoln texts, telling me to come over for dinner. I’m grateful for the invitation. My evening was stretching out wide in front of me with nothing to do except study the new playbook. And considering I screwed up my relationship with Presley, Lincoln is my only friend in LA. Lincoln’s neighborhood has exploded with Christmas decorations since I was here last. Most of the houses have classy, understated decorations with simple lights and wreaths, but I pass one with a lawn crowded with a blow up Santa, reindeer, snowmen, and even a nativity.
Margot is already down for bed by the time I get to Lincoln’s, which is disappointing. The steak and roasted vegetables meal is plated and sitting on the dining room table for us, probably left by the chef that comes in to cook for them. Both Layla and Lincoln have specific diets, so it’s a lot easier for them if someone else plans it out and executes it. When I was in Denver, there was a woman I hired regularly during the season. I put that on my mental list to get arranged for here in LA.
Is that something innocent I can text Presley about to clear the air? The tacos she chose yesterday were delicious, even if what happened after the meal was disastrous. She’s clearly familiar with my dietary needs and might know someone who is as well.
I can just as easily ask someone on the team, and she knows that.
