Page 23

Chapter twenty-three

Rhett

The week leading up to the All-Star break somehow feels like the longest and shortest week of the entire year.

We’re only halfway through the season, and I’m fucking exhausted from playing close to eighty games. We all are. I’m glad I’m not on the All-Star team this year, partly because I want a break, but mostly because I’m hoping to spend more time with Evie.

Things between us are shifting, there’s no question. I like her way more than I should, and I don’t have the first clue what to do about it. I’m hoping that the break will give me — give us — a chance to maybe figure that shit out.

I grab my mail on the way upstairs after a grueling few hours at the stadium. We didn’t have a game today, but Coach Stirling still kicked our asses in an intense practice.

Tomorrow we leave for a quick three-day road trip down to Oregon for a series against the Rose City Roasters, then it’s back up here for another three-day series before the break.

Six games. I can do this.

I’m flipping through my mail when I get to a large envelope with the logo of the bank my mom has her mortgage with down in Tennessee. Which means it’s the paperwork I’ve been waiting for.

Which also means it’s paperwork I can’t afford to not understand properly. My goal of paying off Mama’s mortgage hinges on me getting through this damn paperwork.

When I open the door to the apartment, I can hear the shower running, so I quickly unlock my phone and call Kai.

“Dude, what did I tell you about phone calls. Just text me,” he complains by way of greeting.

“I would, but I don’t have time to fight the goddamn voice-to-text. I got that stuff from the lawyer. Can you come over tonight and gimme a hand readin’ it? Evie’s going out with some friends,” I say quickly in a quiet voice, one ear on the shower to make sure it’s still running.

“Oh. Yeah, sure, man. You got dinner covered?”

My eyes roll. Like the guy can’t afford his own dinner. “I’ll order food.”

“Deal. See you in an hour.”

I hang up and head to my bedroom where I leave the envelope on my dresser. I’m halfway through changing into some shorts when arms wrap around me from behind.

“Hey, when did you get home?” Evie’s lips press a kiss to my spine.

I turn in her arms and lift her up into mine, carrying her over so I can sit on the bed. “Just a few minutes ago. You were in the shower.” I thread my fingers through her hair and pull her in for a proper kiss. “Hi.”

“Hi.” She smiles against my lips.

We stay like that, kissing on my bed for several minutes. It would be so easy to lose myself in this.

In her.

Evie’s the one to pull back first, standing up with a small sound of discontent. “You have to stop being so distracting, Rhett Darlington,” she teases. “Or I’m going to be late for class.”

I frown in confusion. “I thought you were going out with Carlee?”

She shakes her head. “No, my sensei called and needs my help with one of his classes tonight.”

Shit. I was counting on her being out late with her friend so that Kai and I would have time to go through all of the paperwork. Her Aikido class is only an hour and a half, which doesn’t leave much time at all.

“Oh, okay,” I say distractedly, rubbing the back of my neck. “Well, you know, if you want to go out with Carlee after, I’ll be here to look after Ruthie. Your brother’s coming over to hang out.”

Evie strokes my hair back from my forehead with a small smile. “I gotta say, it’s kind of nice having you co-parenting my dog with me.” She laughs lightly. “Although, I do feel like I’m getting off easy with the whole new puppy chaos.”

“Oh yeah?” I tease right back. “Is that the only reason you’re happy to be here? Because I help you with the dog? And here I thought I had other qualities that interested you.”

She slides her arms around my neck and presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “Trust me, there are plenty of ways you keep me interested. But I really should go.” She steps back and I follow her as she leaves my room, Ruthie trotting along beside me .

Like we’re two lost little puppy dogs following our beloved owner.

In her room, the bag she takes to the dojo is open on her bed. I watch as she throws a few more things in it, then zips it shut and picks it up.

“I’ll let you know what I end up doing,” she says as she moves into the living room and slides her feet into a pair of shoes.

I nod, stuffing my hands in my pockets so I don’t reach for her again. I really need to figure out what the fuck I’m feeling, because it’s a hell of a lot more than just casual at this point. Lines are more than blurred; she’s more than a roommate or a woman I’m only having sex with.

“Sure, sounds good. Have a fun night.” I stay where I am, waiting to see if she reaches for me, or if I’m the only one having a hard time fighting my desire to constantly be near her.

But Evie just bends down to give Ruthie a pet and then gives me one more smile before she walks out the door.

And even though she’ll be home in a few hours, I instantly regret not kissing her goodbye.

I’m so fucked.

Kai shows up an hour later, unlocking the door and letting himself in like always.

“Yo, dude, where’s the food?” he says instead of a “hello” like a normal person.

“It’ll be here any minute,” I reply, opening the fridge and pulling out two bottles of the nonalcoholic beer I have on hand.

As if on cue, there’s a knock at the door, and it’s my doorman with the bag of Mexican I ordered. I thank him and close the door. Sometimes, the perks of living in a nice building are good. Like not having to go downstairs and deal with delivery people gawking over the baseball player who just wants to eat a damn burrito.

I hand Yami his drink and then dish out our burritos. We head over to the living room and sit down on the couch.

“Fuck, this is good,” Yami groans around a mouthful of beans and beef.

I turn on the sports highlights and we sink into the couch, filling our faces with food and watching the game that’s being discussed on TV.

“Did you hear the Roasters are giving Pink the series off? We might actually have a chance to get on base.” Yami’s voice is a mixture of admiration and annoyance.

The Rose City Roasters, a newer team to the league, are who we play next, and their star pitcher has a killer arm.

“Thank fuck for that. We need those wins going into the break.”

Yami grunts in acknowledgment and we go back to eating.

I finish first, Yami soon after. He pushes his plate back onto the table before leaning back on the couch with a groan. Ruthie immediately jumps up on the couch, putting her paws on his chest and attempting to lick his face, but he pushes her away.

“Not gonna lie, brother, I’m kind of glad you’re stuck with this ball of fur. I don’t think I’m a dog person.” He pushes her away again and glares. “Stay away from my fucking face.”

“C’mon, Yami, it’s the most action you’ve had in a while,” I tease with a grin, earning a punch to my shoulder.

“Shut it, Darling. When was the last time you got any?”

I am not answering that…

Instead, I stand up. “Want another beer?” Without waiting for him to respond, I grab both of our plates and toss them in the kitchen sink.

I return to the couch and deposit two more beers on the table. Ruthie is still relentlessly trying to get Kai to pay attention to her, and it seems he’s finally given in when I see him heave a sigh, then start petting her back once she settles down on his lap.

“Even you can’t resist that face, can you.” I grin.

Yami rolls his eyes but doesn’t stop petting the puppy. “Yeah, yeah. Go get those damn papers. Let’s get this over with.”

He’s right. A glance at the clock tells me Evie’s class will be over soon, so we don’t have long. Even less if she doesn’t go out after.

I go into my bedroom and grab the envelope off my dresser and take it back to the living room, dropping it in front of Yami.

“Thanks for doing this, man. I appreciate it,” I say gruffly, sitting back down beside him.

“All good, you know it’s no big deal,” Yami says. “But why wouldn’t you ask Evie to help? She’s already here.”

“Because she doesn’t know about my dyslexia. And the last thing I need is anybody else knowin’ that I can’t fucking read.” I try not to snap at him, but is he serious right now?

Apparently he is, and he isn’t done.

“Yeah, but Evie’s different. She wouldn’t give a fuck. I mean, hell, look at what she’s doing for work. Her job is literally going to be helping kids that struggle in school and can’t read.”

“Kids,” I growl. “Not an almost-thirty-year-old grown-ass man. Just help me get through the papers.”

He looks at me for a long few seconds, making me wonder if I’m gonna have to deal with him pushing me to explain why I’m so adamant on Evie not knowing about my dyslexia, but thankfully, he doesn’t.

He tears open the envelope and pulls out the stack of papers, and sure enough, the printed words are so small there’s not a chance I would have been able to make sense of them.

“Why do they have to type this shit so small?” he complains.

I get a small amount of satisfaction knowing it’s not just me.

“Hell if I know, what’s it say?”

Yami takes a minute and scans the document. “Looks like it’s pretty basic. They want to confirm your personal information and the fact that you’ve got your mom’s power of attorney. Then there’s the section asking you to confirm the amount you’re giving.”

His eyes bug out a bit when he scans the number. “Dude, you’ve been holding out on me. How the hell did you save up this much money?”

I just shrug. “I don’t spend a lot on stupid shit, and my last signing bonus was good. Who better to spend it on than my mom? She deserves it.”

Kai nods. He knows my mom and how amazing she is.

“That she does,” he says. “The woman is a saint. Okay, well, everything looks good on this page, you just have to initial in a few places and sign the bottom to approve the transfer.” He turns the page and starts reading the terms and conditions aloud.

I stand up and go to grab a pen from the kitchen drawer when all of a sudden there’s the unmistakable sound of a key in the lock .

“Shit.” Evie’s back, a hell of a lot sooner than I anticipated. I race back to the couch to snatch the papers from Yami and hide them somehow.

“Dude, stop panicking. It’s fine.”

All I can do is glare at him because the door is opening and Evie’s walking in just as I shove the papers under a throw pillow.

Hopefully, she didn’t notice.

“Hey, Gigi,” Yami says, and Evie frowns as she drops her bag and toes off her shoes.

“Are you ever going to stop calling me that?”

“Maybe when it stops bugging you so much.”

I take advantage of their sibling bickering and try to slow my breathing down from panic level to normal. In the entryway, Evie bends over to pet Ruthie.

When I finally feel like I’m not ten seconds from losing it, I say, “I didn’t think you’d be home so soon. What happened to going out with Carlee after your class?”

“It was a short class, and Carlee has a headache.” Evie straightens and flashes me a soft smile. “But don’t worry. I’ll go into my room and leave you two alone.”

I’m nodding in agreement when Yami stands up, giving me a meaningful look. “Nah, it’s all good, sis. I’m gonna take off. That burrito I ate is moving through me quick.” He rubs his stomach.

“Gross, Kai.” Evie wrinkles her nose. He walks over and gives her a one-armed hug, despite her trying to push him away.

I stand, trying to be subtle about checking that the papers are out of sight, and follow him to the door.

The look I’m giving him sends a clear where the fuck are you going message, and the one he sends back is just as clear. Talk to her.

No thanks. I’d rather be covered in dog shit. No offense, Ruthie.

The door closes behind my supposed best friend, and I stand there for a second, wondering if maybe Evie didn’t notice my crazy panic when she first walked in. If she doesn’t ask about it, I don’t have to tell her.

But if she does, well, Mama didn’t raise me to be a liar.

I go to the kitchen and try to act busy putting dishes in the dishwasher and finish tidying up. But a minute or two later, I can sense her walking up behind me.

“So that was kind of weird when I walked in.” She pauses and the burrito in my stomach turns to stone. “What’s going on? I thought we were the ones keeping a secret from Kai, not the other way around.”

Well, shit.