Page 22 of Beneath the Scars
Shadow snorts, making Addie and me jump apart. We both start to laugh as Shadow stares at us, an almost disapproving look on her face.
“Sorry, sweet girl.” Addie giggles. “But can you blame me? Look at him.”
Shadow tilts her head at me, and if it weren’t physically possible, I’d swear she’s rolling her eyes.
I raise an eyebrow at Addie. “I’ll see you later?”
“Absolutely, handsome.”
I watch Addie and Shadow walk away. Addie is talking a mile a minute. I have no doubt she’s telling Shadow everything about our relationship. It makes me laugh and wonder how the hell this has become my life.
Everything feels brighter with Addie around. It always has.
My phone starts ringing in my pocket, and I thank everything holy that it didn’t ring while I was trying to get Shadow back into the field.
My stomach drops when I see Ryan’s name on my screen.
Fuck.
Not even a bucket of ice water could cool me off the way seeing my best friend’s name does. This thing between Addie and I is moving at light speed, but what does it say about me that I don’t want to tell her brother about us?
I could give every excuse under the sun as to why, but the truth is, I’m a coward.
Because if he’s against our relationship, I’ll not only lose the love of my life, I’ll lose my best friend too, and I’m not ready to take that chance just yet.
Chapter 12
Addie
Gravel crunches under my tennis shoes as I stare at the night sky. The moon and stars are so bright that I can see across both baseball fields without an issue.
A dark shadow is reclining on the bleachers, and my heart skips at the sight. I’m as giddy as a teenager sneaking out to meet a boy. My heart is racing, and my stomach is in knots as I wonder what would happen if we got caught.
Nothing. We’re consenting adults who are allowed to do whatever the hell we want, but the teen I used to be is doing the cha-cha because I’m secretly meeting my crush.
Michael straightens as I come around the corner. The metal bleachers echo with every step I take to get closer to him.
“I used to fantasize about making out with you under these bleachers,” I tease him when I sit down.
“I used to fantasize about fucking you in the dugout after a game.”
“Damn, you win.”
“I do not recommend getting an erection while wearing a sports cup.”
I throw my head back as I laugh. “You looked hot in thosebaseball pants. I’d sit right behind home plate because I could stare at your ass without anyone thinking anything of it.”
“I always wondered why you sat there. I liked it though. Felt like I had my very own cheerleader.”
I hum. “That could be a fun role-play. I could probably scrounge up my old cheerleading skirt from my closet.”
“I would not fit in my old baseball pants.”
“That’s okay. You can be the coach, reprimanding me for distracting his players.”
“Fuck, Trouble.” Michael adjusts his pants, and I grin with pride. “Here. Take this before you get us arrested for public indecency.” He hands me a cup of my favorite ice cream from Jones’s Diner.
“You spoil me.”
