Page 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Evan

My sister texted a few times today, so I take this opportunity to call her while I drive back to my place.

“Did you kiss her?” she asks as her hello.

“Is that all you care about?”

“Um … yeah, pretty much,” she jokes. “So, did you?”

“Did I kiss her in the middle of Target while we picked out garbage cans? No.”

“Ugh. Why not?”

I laugh out loud. “Because we were choosing garbage cans. Not really a romantic place for a first kiss.”

“But what about when you said goodbye? How come you didn’t kiss her then?”

“One, why are you so curious about who I kiss? And, two, we haven’t said goodbye. She’s driving behind me right now to come back to my place to help me put all this stuff away.”

“Let’s go!” she screams out in joy.

“Do you actually hear yourself right now? You’re acting like I hit a home run, not spent the day with a girl.”

“No, I’m saying if you land this girl, it will be like you hit a home run.”

“You’ve never met her!”

“Talking on the phone with a complete stranger for an hour tells you a lot about a person, and I like this one. I expect a full report tomorrow.”

“You know this is weird, right? Sharing my love life with you.”

“No, it’s not weird. If you had a love life, you would know this.”

“I’ve dated girls, Samantha.”

“You’ve dated, but none of them got past those dates, or you would have told me about them.”

“No, a few did, and I didn’t tell you because you didn’t need to be a part of my love life.”

“Um, yes, I do. And sorry, little bro. With this one, I’m all in. Get used to it.”

“Fine. Just please don’t start sharing things about you and Mike.”

“That’s different.”

“How?” I chuckle in surprise.

“We’re old and boring. New relationships are fun and exciting.”

I shake my head as I turn onto my street. “Whatever you say.”

“Please just tell me you’ll kiss her goodbye.”

“If the moment is there, yes, I will kiss her. I’m pulling up to my house now, so I’m hanging up.”

“Wait, keep me on the phone so I can say hello.”

“No, Samantha.”

“You know I have her phone number, right?”

“Yes, and I’m sure you’ll program it to your Favorites as soon as we hang up, but you can’t talk to her tonight.”

“Okay, fine. Have fun!” she singsongs.

“I will,” I say, copying her tone.

I pull into the garage, and Christy parks right behind me.

As I grab the items from the back, I say, “I’m just going to apologize now if my sister ever calls you again.”

From the bed of the truck, I hand her the stack of laundry baskets with the small garbage cans I bought, and she takes them from me.

Christy smiles. “I like your sister. She can call me anytime.”

“You might regret giving her that option,” I tease.

“I get the overinvolved sister, so you’re good. They come from the right place.”

“Eh … we’ll see about that.” I wink, then grab some more bags and lead the way into my place, flipping on some lights as we make our way through.

We try to set things in the area that they’ll go in. Then we continue unloading the truck, both of us making trips back and forth.

“I think this is everything,” she says, carrying the last of the bags.

“Nope, one more thing.” I head back out and grab the yoga statues from where I tucked them in the back seat so they wouldn’t break. “So, where are we putting these?” I ask as I walk back in.

A huge smile covers her face. “Well …” She walks around the entryway and living room area, thinking where the best place will be. “We got that table to go right here behind your couch to separate the dining room. It would look good there or?—”

I interrupt her, “How about right here?” I set them on the kitchen counter, where I always put my keys and things I use daily. “This way, I’ll get to see them every time I come and go.”

I step back from where I put them and stare at them some more, making sure they’re placed even on the counter. When Christy doesn’t say anything, I turn to her, and she has the softest, most genuine expression of wonder written all over her face, but isn’t saying a word.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask.

She turns to grab a bag and starts unloading it.

I head her way, stopping her from what she’s doing by reaching for her arm. “Hey.”

She looks up at me, her eyes trying to hide what’s really going on inside her mind.

“Why did you seem so surprised that I put the statues there?”

I feel her hesitation, so I let go of her arm and bring her just slightly closer to me by sliding my hand around to her lower back. We stare into each other’s eyes, and I feel my heart pound a little harder with every breath.

I give her the time she needs to reply, loving just being this close to her.

She finally says, “I guess I thought you would hide them or throw them away, not put them in such a visible spot.”

“But you told me you wanted me to have something that would make me think of you every time I saw it.”

She nods, but doesn’t say anything.

“Does it surprise you that I want to be reminded of you every time I enter and leave my house?”

“A little,” she whispers, her neck fully tilted up so she can see me.

“Don’t be. I only play games on the field. You wouldn’t be here right now if I didn’t want you here, so, yeah, when you’re gone, I already know I’m going to want you back here as often as possible.”

Her eyes bounce between mine and my lips, so I take that as my invitation to do what I’ve wanted to all day.

With a step, I’m even closer to her as I keep one hand on the small of her back and move my other one up to her neck, wrapping my fingers through her hair and bringing her lips to mine.

I plan on just a soft kiss, but once I feel her lips, I instantly want more, so I hold her a little closer and open my mouth, swiping my tongue against hers, needing a taste of the woman who’s captured my attention all day.

I know this can go to far very fast if I don’t put a stop to it now, so it takes everything in me to step back and not take us there the first time we kiss.

“Yeah. I’ll need more reminders of you—stat,” I say, and she lets out a loud laugh. “More to come on that for damn sure.”

I leave her in her thoughts, which I’m sure are racing through her head because I know they are in mine. I head to the kitchen to start unboxing the dishes I bought and load them into the dishwasher to clean them before putting them away.

Christy

Why does this guy always leave me speechless? I’m never one to not have something to say, yet today, I’ve noticed he’s had that effect on me multiple times.

He walked to the kitchen, acting like he hadn’t just tilted my entire existence on its side, so I head to the bathroom and start unpacking the things he bought. I’m so thankful when country music fills the air around me, giving me a reprieve from the thoughts swirling through my head.

Once I’m done in the bathroom, I join him in the kitchen, where he surprises me once again by grabbing my hand, twirling me around, and bringing me to him to dance to the lyrics sung by Chris Stapleton.

As the song ends, he hugs me a little tighter, then releases me. “That was perfect timing for you to enter the kitchen. I was just about to surprise you in the bathroom to dance.”

“I’m glad too. Dancing in the bathroom really isn’t my thing,” I respond with a chuckle.

He goes back to what he was doing and asks, “I thought I’d order a pizza. Sound good?”

I nod, so he grabs his phone from the counter and makes the call, and we work together, putting the rest of the things away.

By the time the pizza arrives, we have the place almost finished.

I’m hitting Start on the dishwasher as he enters the kitchen, holding the pizza.

“Your dinner is served, madam,” he says with a high-class accent and bows, offering the pizza to me.

“Fanciest pizza I’ve ever seen,” I tease.

“It will be even fancier when we eat it while sitting on the floor.”

I laugh as I grab some paper plates he bought since all the dishes are in the dishwasher and head to where his table will go when it arrives. I cop a squat, glad to be able to sit down and relax for a bit.

He joins me and sets the pizza down in between us, then sits with his back to the wall, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

“Pizza for you,” I say as I hand him a plate.

He takes it, then reaches over to the side, where a case of water is sitting, and tosses me one. “Catch,” he says with zero warning, throwing the bottle toward me.

I do, and his eyes open in surprise.

“Good job.”

“I have a boy, remember? He does that to me all the time.”

He takes a bite, nodding his head. “I think he and I are going to get along really well.”

I laugh, but my stomach does a flip. I haven’t thought about what will happen after today. I’ve just gone with the flow, enjoying our day together. I haven’t dated anyone since Nolan was born, so I’ve never had to introduce him to anyone.

“Tell me more about him,” he says.

I shrug. “There’s not much more to tell. He’s seven. Crazier than all get-out. Keeps me on my toes until way too late into the night and I beg him to go to bed. I actually tease him that he’s like a dog and he needs to be walked.”

“Ha!” he says loudly. “But you love every minute.”

I grin from ear to ear. “I do. Even though I seriously think I’m losing my mind sometimes, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

“My sister would say the same thing. I wish I were around my nephews more.”

“I’m sure they think it’s super cool to have a baseball-playing uncle.”

He nods with a proud grin. “Yeah, I’m the cool uncle for sure. They are coming out for opening day, so you’ll get to meet them all.”

I’m mid-bite, so I cover my mouth when I respond, “Really? I’d love to meet her in person.”

He gives me a knowing look. “Be careful. She’ll talk your ear off.”

I raise my eyebrows with a smirk. “And I’ll do the same to her.”

“You and Nolan should come to opening day. They have a suite set up for them since it’s my first game, or I can see about getting you tickets closer to the field.”

Yet again, his words twist my insides.

Of course I knew he was a baseball player for the Terrors, but I didn’t really wrap my head around what that actually meant or how I’d get to watch him on TV or go to a game and see him out on the field. I’ve always looked at those players as these people who weren’t real. I have never thought what life was like for them outside of what I saw on TV, yet here I am, sitting with one of them on his kitchen floor, having pizza.

Yes, my head just exploded from the thought, but I try my hardest to hide my reaction.

“I feel like I just watched your mind bounce around like a ping-pong ball in that head of yours,” he says nonchalantly.

When my eyes meet his, he grins.

I sigh. “Was it that obvious?”

He laughs. “A little, but I’m used to it. People either already know I’m a ballplayer so they are instantly infatuated with the job or they are shocked when they find out and not sure what to think. I can tell you’re fighting with the latter.”

I drop my head to my chest, embarrassed, then look up at him. “I guess I’ve just never known anyone famous.”

“One, I’m not famous. My baseball card isn’t worth a damn—yet.” He stops to make a point. “I’m just a guy who gets to play all day. It’s everyone’s dream, right?” He smiles proving his genuine love of what he does for a living.

“That it is.”

“So, you’ll come watch?”

I pull out my phone to check my calendar. “What day and time is the game?”

“Thursday. Game starts at seven.”

“Like, two days from now, Thursday?”

He nods as he takes another bite.

“You just got here Sunday night, and the game is on Thursday? Boy, they don’t give you much time.”

“Nope. I only got today fully off. That’s why I had to cram everything in. I go in at two tomorrow.”

I see that I’m off at five on Thursday, so I respond, “I should be able to make it by seven.”

“Great. I’ll get you tickets.”

My phone dings with a text message from Sasha.

Is Nolan sleeping here tonight?

Then she sends a GIF of a couple staring at each other, then kissing passionately.

I try to stifle a laugh, but can’t fight it anymore when she texts back.

I just spent entirely too much time looking for the right GIF. If you type sex, literally nothing comes up.

“What’s so funny?” Evan asks.

“You think your sister is bad? You haven’t met mine.”

I text back.

No. I’ll come get him shortly.

“She was asking if she should get Nolan ready for bed.” I slightly bend the truth about her text.

He checks the time. “I didn’t realize it was getting that late.”

I finish my last bite of pizza and stand. “Yeah, I should get going.”

He does the same, taking my plate from me and putting it in the trash. I down the rest of my water and put the bottle in the recycling bin he got and head to where I put my things when we first got here.

As we walk to the front door in silence, nerves race through me. Yes, he’s already kissed me, but that was on the spur of the moment. Now I don’t know how to act as we approach our goodbye.

“Text me when you get home so I know you arrived safely,” he says, placing his hand on my arm.

I turn to face him. “I will.”

He opens the door for me and follows me out to my car. I hit the Unlock button, and he opens that door as well. Before I climb in, I face him, my heart racing a mile a minute.

“Thank you for helping me today,” he says, staring me in my eyes.

“It was fun. I’m always happy to spend someone else’s money,” I tease.

He laughs, stepping a little closer to me. “I meant every word I said earlier.”

I swallow and look up at him, but don’t say anything.

He tucks my hair behind my ear. “I want to see you again. You and Nolan. I know there are rules to dating a single mom—my sister was one for years. I get it. We’ll go slow. But I’d like to see where this can go.”

I nod, and he leans in to kiss me once again. Our last kiss turned passionate quickly, but this one is soft, lingering like he’s promising more to come.

He pulls back, and I instantly want more. The smile he gives me proves he knows it, too, so I tuck my head down and climb into my car to hide my blush.

“Don’t forget to text me,” he says.

“I won’t. Bye.”

“Bye.”

He waves before I shut the door, and I start the car, feeling like I need to get out of here as fast as I can before I open the door back up and jump into his arms for one more kiss.