Page 55 of The Change Up
“I’m sorry, sir.”
He grumbles on the other line as I hear the ice clink against his glass. “I knew you would never amount to anything. You walk around like you’re some baseball god, but you’re nothing. Too weak. Undisciplined. Always choosing to get your dick wet over baseball. Now look at you, kissing half-naked girls on campus.You might as well have just whipped it out and given everyone the entire show.”
I zone out as his words continue. It’s always the same thing, with just different reasons for why I’m undisciplined, weak, and overrated. I’ve always wondered if things would have been different if he had made it to the major league. Even if it were just for a year or two. Would he have been a better dad? Would he have supported me instead of being my harshest critic? If Mom never would’ve gotten pregnant with Leah, would she have stayed?
I cringe at that last thought because I would never wish for a life without Leah. The two of us have been each other’s rock since day one. But the drinking got worse after Mom had Leah. A small part of me wonders if he would’ve shown his true colors sooner, would she have found someone else to have a family with?
“Are you listening to me, boy?” He grumbles a shout on the other end of the phone pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Of course.”
“We’ll see you at the game in South Carolina in a few weeks. Try not to be worthless.” He hangs up the phone before I can respond. This is how the calls always go. He calls, I answer. He bitches, I take it. He hangs up on me, I stare at the blank screen wondering why he keeps this up.
Ty pulls up to the curb, and I pull open the door, rushing inside before he even has a chance to put the car in park.
Ten minutes later, he’s dropping me off in front of the townhouse Chloe and Brynn share. Racing up to the door, I knock rapidly until Brynn whips the door open. Quinton isn’t far behind her, and the two glare at me.
“She’s in her room. She won’t let me in.”
Brushing past her, I take the steps two at a time. With a light knock, I don’t wait for Chloe to respond before I push throughher door. I find her curled up in a ball under her covers. Used tissues lay on her pillow surrounding her.
“Wildflower.” The word leaves my lips in a whisper, and I feel broken at the sight before me.
Toeing off my shoes, I lift the edge of the covers and slide in behind her. Sliding my arm around her middle to pull her closer, I feel my skin graze her bare skin. I roll my eyes to the ceiling and take a long deep inhale praying my dick doesn’t get excited. This is not the time.
“Cody,” she mumbles. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to check on my girl. I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. Practice was harder than I let on, and I crashed when I got back to the house.” Brushing the hair off her shoulder, I lean in and press my lips to the spot between her neck and shoulder.
Her back straightens, but I see her soft inhale as she tries to fight how she feels. “I can’t believe I let that happen.”
“You didn’t let anything happen, Chloe. What happened earlier wasn’t your fault. If anything it was mine. I wasn’t thinking. I couldn’t go another minute without feeling those lips on mine. I should have been more aware of where we were. Drama seems to follow me around. Especially when it comes to the Gazette. They love writing shit about my life.”
She lets out a frustrated groan. “That’s not what I’m talking about, Cody.”
“I’m not following, Wildflower.”
Chloe sits up, and I watch the covers fall from her shoulders down her almost bare body. She catches them at her chest, crossing her arms, which does nothing but press her bra-covered boobs higher.
Of course, she’s wearing a sexy lace bra. The pale green color looks perfect on her body. This girl has no clue how beautiful she looks. I could just sit and stare at her for hours. But I won’t because that’d be creepy as fuck.
Sliding off her bed, I reach my hand out. “Get up,” I demand, harsher than I intended, but there’s something we need to do right now.
“Wh-what?” she stammers, confusion lining her face.
“I said, ‘get up.’” Pushing my hand toward her, waiting for her to grab it.
Tentatively she places her hand in mind. Pulling her off the bed, I lead her toward the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. Stopping a few feet away, I rest my hands against her curvy hips as I position her body so that she is standing directly in front of the mirror, her back to my front.
Pausing, I take a few moments to appreciate the beautiful woman in front of me. Her ocean blue eyes stare back at me as she watches my eyes skate over her pale green lace bra, down her slender stomach, and down to her matching pale green lace boy-short panties. Panties that hug her lean hips where her hip bones protrude slightly. My eyes wander down her petite, yet strong, athletic legs made from all the miles she runs. Bringing my eyes back to hers, I watch her cheeks tinge pink from my blatant perusal of her features.
I see the moment she wants to hide herself flick across her face, but she doesn’t. Instead, she slowly straightens her back and holds her head high. It takes her a minute to do so, but she does it nonetheless.
“When you look in the mirror, tell me what you see.” Shock and confusion flash across her face. “Tell me what you see, Wildflower.”
Clearing her throat, I watch as she takes in her reflection. Chest heaving, she chews on the inside of her cheek as she skims her body. Her head tilts from side to side as I patiently wait for her to answer. Just when I think she’s going to avoid the question, her mouth opens.
“I see a girl who let the freshman fifteen get the best of her,” she finally replies.
