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TENLEY
“Double dipping on a Tuesday? I expected you to at least keep it in your pants till Thursday.”
“I love that you care how many holes my dick slips in, little venom.”
Little venom when we’re fighting and Mama when we’re flirting.
“Hard pass. Just looking out for the girls.”
“Trust me, the girls are safe with me. Feel free to ask them for yourself.”
Have mercy.“You give me migraines. Navy, you got any medicine in that giant bag?”
His flirty grin makes me want to kiss him and throat punch him at the same time. Kick him at the back of his knees and watch him collapse in front of the two supermodels he’s fancying for the night. But also kiss him helplessly while he’s down there.
Wild feelings I have for the third baseman.
Feelings that, over the past three years, have also given me a splitting headache.
Navy doubles over in laughter, always loving the stronganimosity I have for August Graves. “Let me check on that.” She holds up a finger.
He just…irks me.
There’s too much confidence in his freakishly large body. If that’s even possible. August loves himself enough for every player on the Strikers team.
I can’t figure out how one person can be so sure of themselves.
I grew up an only child, and most of my younger years were spent being my own advocate. In return, I’m confident. Confident in who I am as a woman and person. I don’t need anyone to defend me or reassure me I’m beautiful. I work hard to believe it for myself. Being this way has also equipped me to know arrogance when I see it.
Confidence is much different than self-obsession, if you ask me.
“Why don’t we head inside and grab a drink?” August instructs the women on his arms.
Good riddance.“Great idea,” I blurt out, unashamed by the attention my saltiness brings me. “Might wanna take a good soak when you get home, ladies. I heard he rarely showers and frequents dumpster dives.”
His hearty chuckle is all I hear as he enters back through the sliding doors, leaving us alone.
Why does he have to be so charming and attractive? It would be so much easier for my resistance if he were ugly and mean.
But August Graves doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. And to my disadvantage, he’s the farthest thing from ugly.
“Thank god,” I mumble. “Who invited him anyway?” I swing my head to Kodi, looking for answers, seeing as how this is her house after all.
My best friend, Kodi, and her husband, Callaway, invited the entire baseball team, staff, and dates of their choosing for a team bonding night. It’s not a gathering that happens as regularly as most of us would like, but one that’s necessary to create strong friendships on and off the field.
With the start of the new Major League season just a few weeks away, the players typically have family in town visiting, so the invitation was kept open to accommodate guests.
Kodi went all out with catering from Atlanta’s most coveted burger joint, Burger Bros. I’m talking a full spread of every burger topping you could imagine and sauces I never knew existed, that evidently Burger Bros keeps on a secret menu.
Being the Striker’s team photographer, Dakota, Kodi to us, has already insisted on multiple photo ops todocumentthese memories.
I was forced to participate in board games. Literally my idea of a lousy night. I can get down with some group fun, but I draw the line at board games.
I’ve suffered through endless rounds of Scrabble, Yahtzee, and even charades. To the extent of being tasked to imitate a donkey being chased in the middle of a rainstorm.
Who would come up with something so ridiculous for me to act out?
Navy.That’s who.
