Page 1 of Force Play
Prologue - Lucia
Two years earlier…
“Where the hell is he?” I mutter under my breath, standing by the doors at the front of the bar. I may be a tall girl, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get uncomfortable over here alone while men walk in and leer at me.
My friends left already because I said I was going back with Matt after this. And Matt is nowhere to be found.
I throw my head back and sigh, irritation flooding me.
“Lucia?” a voice chimes, startling me.
I turn around and see the Stars’ newest first baseman standing behind me. “Ari, hi.”
“Sorry for sneaking up on you,” he chuckles. “But you seemed a little lost in your head.”
“Oh… yeah, I guess.”
Ari looks at me for a few more moments before taking a deep breath, looking visibly uncomfortable. “Look, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Okay…” I look at him quizzically. We met each other literally an hour ago. What could he have to say to me?
“So, Matt… he’s your boyfriend, right?”
“We’re seeing each other if that’s what you mean…” I trail off because where the hell is this going?
Ari sighs and tries again. “Before you introduced Matt tonight, I was up at the bar grabbing a drink. So was another man buying a drink for some redhead while chatting her up.”
“Where is this going, Ari?” I huff. Matt still hasn’t shown up, so I’m apparently just pissy right now. Ari doesn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of that, but controlling my temper hasn’t always been my strong suit.
“That was Matt, Lucia.” He rubs his hand over his forehead. “Matt was the one flirting with the redhead.”
Oh.
That’s… interesting.
But that’s not what I say to Ari.
“Okay?”
“Okay?” He looks at me in surprise. “He’s here with you and flirting with another woman. He’s literally cheating on you.”
“We’re not dating,” I shrug, digging my heels into the sand because I’m a stubborn bitch.
Ari rolls his eyes. “You just told me you’re seeing each other.”
“We’re not exclusive,” I say, defiantly crossing my arms. Ari doesn’t know the situation between Matt and me, so I don’t appreciate his bold accusation.
“Why does that matter?” he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “He’s here with you but flirting with another woman.”
“Ari, maybe you’re coming from a good place with this, but you don’t know what’s going on between us. Right now, we’re having fun. He’s free to do what he wants. I can’t hold him to standards I never set.”
He stares at me in disbelief. “Are you fucking serious? I know men like him. He’ll get his dick wet anytime the opportunity presents itself.”
“That’s enough,” I bite, standing up straight. Ari can’t be more than a couple of inches taller than me, so we’re practically eye to eye right now. “You don’t know me. You don’t know Matt. I don’t appreciate you trying to tell me what I should or shouldn’t be doing. I’m a big girl. We’re not dating, so he’s free to flirt with other women if he wants.”
“Jesus, this is what I get for trying to be a decent guy,” he scoffs. “You want to get cheated on? Be my guest. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“What’s going on here?” Mattfinallywalks up now, coming back from wherever the hell he was.
