Page 103 of Foul Territory

“I do. We’ve become toxic. I think it’s best if we call it before we hurt each other anymore. You have your baseball career to look forward to and I have my life in North Carolina,” she says, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

“No.” I shakemy hand. “I’ve made mistakes. Me.” I pound my fist into my chest. “But, baby, you and me.” I drop my head to hers. “You and I are not a mistake.” Intertwining our fingers, I give her hands a gentle squeeze. “I never believed that.”

“I need time,” she says, softly. “You need to give me space to think about what I really want. I need to do that without being under the influence of you.”

“I’ll be gone the next two nights for games. I know it’s not a lot of time, but can I call you when I get back and check on you? I don't need your answer. I just want to hear your voice and make sure you’re okay.”

She nods slowly. “I think that would be fine.”

“Good.” I kiss the top of her head. “I can’t go back to pretending I’m nothing more than a family friend with you.” Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her so close you can’t tell where I start and she begins. I pull back and cup the side of her neck in my hand. “I know you don’t want to hear this right now but know that I do feel a certain way about you. I always have. I pray one day you will let me tell you just how far that feeling goes.” I lean down and give her a chaste kiss on the lips.

“You should go,” she says, wiping at her face and then wrapping her fluffy pink robe tighter around her middle. The words are a dull knife to my chest.

“Alright. I’ll check in with you in a few days. You promise you’ll answer?” I ask. She nods as her eyes fill with moretears.

“I don’t like leaving you alone like this.” I hesitate by the front door.

“I’m fine. Lauren will be home later.” She opens the door and I reluctantly walk out.

I stand outside her door, hoping it will fling open after having a quick change of heart. I don’t know how much time has passed but she never comes back out.

“Are you okay?” Wren asks from behind me.

“Never better,” I reply, faking a smile. Pushing away from the door, I turn toward Wren.

“Wyatt is forcing me to watch the entireMiss Congenialityseries tonight. If you want to suffer with me while he says every line from the movies along with the actors, I wouldn’t mind having backup.”

“I don’t think I’ll be the best company right now.” I glance at Sydney’s door.

“That’s okay. Wyatt isn’t either most days.” Wren walks toward the stairs, but I’m still hesitating. “Give her the time she needs to come to the conclusion you already know. You can’t force it. Her heart will lead her back to you.”

Wren waits for me to take the first step before she continues toward the stairs. The whole drive home I keep thinking about what Wren said and hoping she’s right.

That Sydney’s heart will lead her back to me where she belongs.

“Someone going to tell me why we’re here again?” Wyatt asks, staring at the flashing neon light in the window.

“Because Koa needs a little tattoo therapy and we need something to remember our last year at Newhouse together,” Hart says, grabbing Wyatt by the shoulders and pushing him through the door I’m holding open for them.

“I’ve got lots of memories right here.” Wyatt taps the side of his head. “I don’t need to stick a needle in my arm a million times to remind me what it was like living with the two of you the last four years.”

“What about something for Wren?” I ask.

“Do you think she would like that?” he asks, scanning the flash art on the wall.

“Sí,mí brujitaloves all my ink.” Hart lifts one of his tattooed arms.

Wyatt grunts, flinching every now and then when the sound of a tattoo gun starts up.

“What can I do for you gentlemen this evening?”

“Do you have time for a few walk-ins?” I ask. It’s our last night in New Orleans. A lot of the guys from the team went out drinking but we didn’t find that appealing without our girls with us.

“If you only have time for two tonight, I’ll bow out,” Wyatt tells the guy with a nervous smile, making him laugh.

“It’s your lucky night, young man. We can take all three of you.” He smirks at Wyatt.

“Goody.” Wyatt grimaces under his mustache.