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Chapter thirty-three

Rhett

The first day back after the All-Star break should be fun. It normally is. Everyone’s relaxed after a week off, the guys that played are amped up, and we’re all ready to get back to business and win some goddamn games.

At least, that’s how it’s been for me every year until now.

Today, parking my truck in the lot behind the stadium doesn’t fill me with excitement.

Leaving Evie at home after our quiet flight home and even quieter night together was the last thing I wanted to do.

Sure, she sat next to me and cuddled into my arms while we watched a movie. But we didn’t talk. Not about her job search, not about what her sister said or what we’re doing, none of it.

As I’m getting out of my truck, I hear a voice call my name. Turning, I see Sin jogging toward me, a wide smile on his face.

“Hey, how was your break?” he asks as we pull each other in for a quick back-slapping hug.

“Good, good,” I reply. “Went back to Ontario with Yami and his sister for a couple days.”

Sin’s face sobers. “Yeah, I heard his grandmother was sick. That was nice of you to go with them. You’re close to the family?”

I nod. “You could say that.”

A confused frown draws his brows together. “Okay.”

I don’t elaborate. “What did you get up to?”

Sin fills the time on the rest of our walk inside telling me all about how he and Willow took their kids down to California to hit up Disneyland.

And by the time we get to the doors of the locker room, we’re both laughing.

“I’m not even joking, man, Peyton had Willow wearing princess headbands the entire time. I had to buy them each a new one for every day we were there.”

“Be honest,” I joke, “How many did you wear?”

“None, dude, none. That’s not a photo I need in the tabloids.”

I scoff. “You’re with the head of PR. You think she’d let that happen?”

“True.” Sin laughs as we head into the locker room.

“There he is,” Yami calls out as soon as he sees us. Before I can say or do anything, he strides over to my side and drops his arm over my shoulders. “Listen up, fuckers. Darling has decided to take his life into his own hands and date my baby sister. Don’t worry, I’m cool with it.” He points to the other guys in turn. “But you’re all responsible for reporting back to me if he does anything stupid that I need to kick his ass.”

I stare at him, open mouthed. “What the fuck, Yami,” I growl, shrugging off his arm. He just laughs, slapping my back as I stomp over to my locker.

“Dude, that’s a bold move, making a play on a teammate’s sister.”

I glare at Cortana, one of the second basemen who’s been around almost as long as I have.

“Fuck off, Cort. It’s none of your damn business.”

“Sounds like Yami just made it all of our business,” he fires back, a smirk on his face as he stands in front of me.

“Yami’s an idiot. It wasn’t his news to share.”

“Actually, my brother from another mother, it kinda was.” Yami drops down on the bench next to me. “See, she’s my sister, which means she’s mine to protect and defend. This is me, protecting and defending.”

My glare turns on my former best friend. “Announcing my relationship status to the entire team. That’s protecting your sister?”

“Sure as shit is. Because if you do anything stupid to hurt her, all of these guys” — Yami nods to the full locker room — “will know.”

“Do you trust me that little?” I ask, my voice dropping lower. For all his bluster and joking, Yami’s words sting.

His eyes widen. “Fuck. No, man.” He runs a hand over his jaw. “That’s not it. I’m just giving you shit. You know we’re good.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Really? Because I care about Evie. And I’m pretty damn sure she cares about me, too. I don’t know what our future is gonna look like, especially after what your sister said to her, but I hope it’s got me in it.”

“Ah, fuck.” Yami’s head falls back against the wall behind him. “You know about Viv’s freak out.”

“Evie told me some of it. I know she’s gotta focus on findin’ a job, and I won’t stand in the way of that.”

Yami stares at me for a long minute. “I respect that you can see she’s got to focus on herself right now. I know you’re a good guy, Darling, I always have. I trust you, and I trust Evie to make her own decisions.”

I nod. “Thanks.”

Yami holds up a hand, his gaze narrowing. “But. If you do something stupid like think Vivienne is right and you’re wrong for Evie, and that makes you push her away, then I will have a problem with you.”

Well, fuck. I hadn’t realized that was what their sister said to Evie. And it hits a little too close for comfort.

But that doesn’t stop me from looking Yami square in the eye.

“I swear to you, I only want what’s best for Evie. And I trust her to know what that is.”

What I don’t say is that I wish like hell I knew if a reality existed where I was what was best for her.

Don’t ask me how I get home after practice without crashing into something — or worse, someone. That’s how distracted I am after leaving the stadium.

Yami’s announcement in the locker room was annoying, but I can see how it was necessary, too. He got everything out in the open, and I’m relieved I don’t have to hide how I feel about Evie.

But realizing how I feel about her is like a train that started out really far away, only to naturally grow closer and closer, until now it’s barreling down on me and there’s no way I can get off the tracks.

It’s too soon to say if it’s love, and I still don’t know if she’s “the one,” but what I feel for her is real. It’s more than just attraction, it’s more than just enjoying spending time with her, wanting to be around her, and not wanting her to move away. It’s so much more.

When I turn my truck off in the parking garage under my building, I sit there, staring blankly at the cement wall in front of me.

Evie and I need to talk. She needs to know I’m here for her, that I want to support her. But also that I want to be with her, whatever that looks like. It’s time to man up and tell her.

With that resolve, I get out and head inside.

I open the door to my apartment, and Ruthie comes scampering over. Dropping down, I ruffle her ears. “How’s my good girl? Did you have a good day?” She leaps up and tries to lick my face, so I stand up. “Thanks, but no thanks. Only kiss I want is from your mama.”

“Good luck getting her to stop,” Evie says, her voice warmer than it has been since we left Ontario. She walks over to me and wraps her arms around my torso. I pull her in close, savouring the feel of her in my arms. This is what was missing ever since her sister put whatever doubts in her head. The easy affection and connectedness, the peace I feel when she’s with me.

I kiss her head, then lean back so she looks up at me and I can kiss her forehead, her nose, and finally, her lips. “Hey, honey.”

“Hey,” she says softly, kissing me again. “How was practice?”

We release each other, but I take her hand in mine as I kick off my shoes and follow her into the living room. Her computer is on the coffee table, the screen dark. I sink down on the couch and pull her into my lap before I answer.

“Good. Everyone’s feeling strong. Your brother outed us to the team, by the way.”

Evie pushes on my chest and looks at me, outrage on her cute face, making me smile. “Are you serious? What did he say!”

“Just that the entire team better watch out and make sure I don’t fuck up.”

“Oh my God.” Her eyes roll back and she reaches for her phone, but I squeeze her tightly, pulling her back into my arms.

“Leave it, it’s fine. He’s your brother and he loves you. That’s all.”

“Yeah, fine, but still. He needs to mind his own business,” she says pertly, and I kiss her lips over and over until they relax under mine.

I know we need to talk, but as she kisses me, all the overwhelm and uncertainty fades into the background. This is what matters. That she’s feeling good. That we’re happy. Our kiss turns deeper, my tongue plunging into her mouth, chasing hers. My dick is hardening under her, and from how she squirms, I know she can feel it.

“Rhett, wait,” she murmurs against my lips, pushing on my chest again.

Reluctantly, I let her sit up but not move out of my lap. “Is it important? Because I haven’t had you in almost a week, and I’m dyin’ to get you naked and screaming my name.” I lean in and kiss the bare skin at the base of her neck.

“It is.”

That makes me freeze, my lips still against her. Slowly, I lift my head and take in her serious expression. Guess we’re talking now.

“Okay, what’s goin’ on?”

Evie’s tongue darts out to lick her lips, but she looks at me straight on. “I got an interview for my perfect job.”

Relief floods me and my smile is instantaneous and genuine. “That’s fantastic. I knew it would happen.”

Evie’s nodding, but she isn’t smiling back. Apparently, this isn’t all good news. I don’t let my smile fall, even though my chest starts to feel tight.

“It’s not here. It’s over on Vancouver Island, in a town called Dogwood Cove. They…they want me to interview in two days, and the job starts this September.”

It’s my turn to nod along with what she’s saying, even as a chasm appears inside of me. Sure, Vancouver Island isn’t that far. But it’s not here . Still, I hold strong. Her future comes first.

“I’m happy for you, Evie.” That much is true. “You deserve your perfect job, and I hear the island is a nice place to live.”

“It is, I’ve always liked it when I’ve visited.” She fidgets on my lap, and even though my emotions are not on board, good luck telling my body that. Even now, as I’m feeling all kinds of fucked, my dick is still hard just from holding her.

“I might not get the job,” she hedges, and I shake my head in disagreement.

“Of course, you will. You’re amazing, Evie. Smart, and kind, and the best person to do this kind of work. You’ll get the job.”

I can see a small smile trying to break free on her face, and it dawns on me. She’s not letting herself be excited, but she is. Time to put my misgivings aside and make my girl happy. Nothing can possibly be more important than that.

I reposition my hands to hold her better and stand up with her in my arms.

“What are you doing?” she says, a laugh in her voice.

“Told you, I want to get you naked and screaming. We’ve got somethin’ to celebrate and I can’t think of a better way. Can you?”

I’m already walking to the bedroom, kicking the door shut so Ruthie doesn’t disturb us, when she answers.

“No, I can’t.”