Page 22 of The Change Up
Making my way through the crowd, heads start to whip in my direction. I wouldn’t say I am the most popular player on the team, but as far as pitchers go, I’m pretty well-known. Which means I’m recognized pretty often. Today I’m not in the mood to deal with fans and cleat chasers, though. Unfortunately, I spotted the group of girls in their cutoff denim shorts and their skin-tight CTU tees which means my chances of slipping by the crowd are slim to none.
But just as I’m about to jump in line to get my key card, I hear my name called in a familiar voice. Turning, I spot Hudsonover the crowd. He gives me a head nod as he holds up a white envelope.
Our key cards.Thank fuck.
Bypassing everyone, I sneak off to the elevators.
“This is getting insane,” I grumble to Hudson. The elevator chimes, and the door slides open. The two of us step inside. Hudson hits the ‘five’ and the ‘door close’ button at the same time. Neither one of us wants to be stuck in the elevator with cleat chasers, not before the game at least.
I feel my phone buzz in my pocket as we step out onto our floor. But I ignore it. I have an inkling that it’s my dad, and he’s the last person I want to talk to right now. He’ll keep calling, and I’ll deal with it later. Right now, I just want to get settled in our room until practice.
I need time to get a sleeping blonde out of my head.
And get rid of the green monster who wishes it was my shoulder she was leaning on.
This evening’s practice was about two hours. Enough time for us to review our game plan for tomorrow. Louisiana State is a big team to play against this early in the season. This means we need to come out with our bats swinging, and I need to be ready to throw strikes.
Hudson hits the shower first while I order food for us. Technically, we are supposed to be on a strict diet, but we’ve managed to talk Coach into letting us have our pregame dinner of pepperoni, sausage, and mushroom pizza with a salad—of course—per Coach’s instruction. During our time together playing summer ball before our freshman year, Hud and Istarted eating this before games, and it’s become a ritual. The one time we didn’t get pizza we both had the shittiest games of our careers. Since that game, Coach has made an exception for us.
What can I say? Baseball players are a superstitious bunch, and we each have our weird rituals we do before games.
Twenty minutes later, I’m freshly showered and answering the door to the pizza delivery guy. Hudson set up his Xbox on the hotel TV, and the two of us are about to bash on some pizza while killing zombies.
The warm pizza smells amazing and immediately my mouth is watering. Grabbing a slice, I plop down on my bed where my controller waits for me.
“Did you order two pizzas?” Hud asks, lifting the lid and pulling out a slice.
“Nope, must’ve been a mistake.”
“Wanna see who’s next door? Maybe they want it.”
Jumping up from my spot, I head over to the door of the adjoining room. Rapping my knuckles gently on the wood, I wait for one of the guys to answer. After a minute without an answer, I knock louder.
Within a couple of seconds, I hear the lock flip, and the door swings open. And I’m struck speechless with my jaw on the floor.
Chloe stands across from me toweling her wet hair. Her face is wild and crazed, frustration laces her flawless, makeup-free face.
God, she’s perfect.
I don’t miss how her eyes travel over my body taking in my near-naked body as I stand before her. I watch her breath hitch as she realizes I’m not wearing much clothing, just a pair of loose boxers. If I’m not careful, I’ll be sporting a boner that will really make our situation that much more uncomfortable.
I can’t help my eyes from roaming over her, taking in the white tank top with tiny flowers scattered across the material. Down to her exposed petite, yet athletic, legs. And her shorts are barely covering her perfectly round ass.
Bringing my eyes up, I can’t help but notice her nipples are pebbled, and fighting this boner is getting harder and harder.
Stop thinking about things getting harder.
Her voice clears, and my attention snaps to her stoic face. “If you’re done ogling me, can you tell me what you needed so badly?”
Hudson chuckles from behind me, and I glance over my shoulder to find him sitting on the edge of his bed, taking a bite of pizza, enjoying the awkward show in front of us.
“I thought you were one of the guys.”
“Clearly, not.” She snarls. “Coach said he assigns rooms in alphabetical order, and lucky me, I get a room to myself that will always be next to yours.”
I quirk a brow, and her eyes roll. I’d love to give her a better reason to have her rolling her eyes.
“Jacobs. Larsen. Mariano. You really should pay more attention in classes, Jacobs.”
