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.Just wait until she starts playing.She’ll be achy and sore.Yeah, she said that she’s been keeping up her skills by participating in an amateur softball league once a week near campus, but that’s nothing compared to what she’s going to go through now, and just wait until the fatigue of traveling starts catching up with her.The baseball season is a grind.It’s definitely not for those who require a lot of sleep."Do you mind if I come in?" I ask, and she hesitates, adjusting the shoulder strap on her bag.Great, she doesn’t want me invading her space.I should’ve just kept my big mouth shut."I don’t think it’s such a good idea.It’s late," she states, stifling a yawn."I really should get some rest."She’s blowing me off, and quite deliberately too.It’s not like I’m trying to make a move on her.I just want to tell her some things I think she should know.Tomorrow’s going to be hectic enough, and I don’t know when I’ll have another opportunity to talk to her alone.I’m sure the Kings are going to tell all of us to stay far away from her hotel room.They’re not going to want a whiff of misconduct getting out.It’s going to be a delicate balance having a girl play on an all-male team.The repercussions of any impropriety would be catastrophic.Wait a minute.Is that what she’s worried about? Is that what those PR drones were drilling into her head all night? Telling her to stay away from me?"Sasha, do you not want me to come in because you’re tired or because the Kings told you to keep your distance from me?" I cross my arms in front of my chest as she walks into the room and collapses on the couch."Both," she mumbles, burying her face in the cushion.I pick up her feet, placing them on my lap as I sit next to her.I probably shouldn’t be taking such liberties, but at this time of night, I really don’t care.I hate that they’re already getting involved in our private lives.It’s none of their business."What else did they say?" I prod her cautiously."They don’t like the fact that we’re living in the same building, much less the same floor," she responds, turning her head to the side and closing her eyes."Someone in the front office is looking for a new place for me.They want me to move as soon as we get back.""You’re not moving anywhere," I say a little too forcefully, causing her to sit up."Why are you freaking out about this?" she asks, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes."I’ll still be in the city.It’s not like we’re never going to see each other.""It’s better if I’m nearby…so I can keep an eye on you," I insist as she struggles to get up off the couch while I stubbornly hold on to her feet."So that’s what this is all about?" She’s angry with me, but I don’t know why."You made some kind of promise to Kyle that you’d be my watchdog.Well, you don’t have to worry about it.Kyle thought that it’d only be for a couple of days.He never would’ve put you up to it if he knew how long I was going to be here.It’s not fair to ask you to babysit me.I’ll be fine.The Kings will make sure of it.""And that’s what worries me," I grumble, absently stroking her ankle."I don’t want you falling under their influence.You need someone in your corner who will watch out for you, someone who cares about you."She whips around to face me.Shit.Did I really just say that? I can’t control my thoughts whenever I’m around this girl.They just come tumbling out."What do you mean by that?" She levels me with her gaze, daring me to lie to her."You care about me…how exactly? Like a friend? Like the sister you never had? Or something more?"Damn.She doesn’t mince words, does she? It’s her first night here and she’s laying it all on the line.She wants answers.She deserves answers.But I’m not ready to give them to her yet.Not when we don’t know what’s going to happen to Kyle.He trusts me to look out for her.I can’t let him down, especially once he hears about what she’s gone and done.But Sasha doesn’t give me a chance to respond.I relax my grip on her legs, and she scoots them underneath her, drawing herself in next to me.She’s so close.I can see the gold flecks in her eyes.Our lips are inches apart.It would be so easy to lean in and kiss her.I remember how she tasted that night on the beach, sweet and soft.I couldn’t get enough of her.Until Kyle interrupted us and told me to get the hell out of there before he beat the crap out of me.Seeing his angry face in my head, I pull away from her, and she sighs in disappointment.Ever since she arrived, we’ve been caught in this dance I don’t understand.She moves forward, I push away.I come closer, she freezes up.Something’s off between us, and it’s all Kyle’s fault.He’s trying to be the good older brother, but he has to know that I would never hurt her.He’s just getting all territorial because he’s afraid that he’s lost control of everything.When Matt went down, his whole world shifted.I was there.I saw it happen.He was never the same after that.And now that it’s happening to him, he’s going off the deep end."Maybe you’re right," I say, getting up."I should go.Maybe this isn’t such a good idea, living so close to one another.""Stop," she demands, grabbing my arm.But I don’t face her.If I do, I’ll give in, and I won’t stop until we’re naked and going at it on the couch.I want her so badly it hurts.I’ve dreamt of this moment for over a year, and all I have to do is reach out and take it.But my damn sense of loyalty is keeping me from going after the kind of night I’d never forget."I don’t want you to leave," she whispers, breaking my resolve.Her fingers run up my arm, and I do everything I can to control my breathing."I get it that you don’t want to have a relationship with me.When I didn’t hear from you after Kyle’s wedding, I thought you made that pretty darn clear.I won’t keep bringing it up if that’s what you’re afraid of.I’ll drop it and pretend like Jamaica never happened…if that’s what you want."It’s not what I want.It’s the exact opposite of what I want.But I can’t tell her that.I shudder as she stands, pressing her cheek against my back, and wrapping her arms around me from behind.She feels so good pressed up against me.Her right hand lands on top of my heart, and there’s no hiding how fast it’s beating.She knows I’m not being honest with her.I think she suspects that my hesitation has something to do with Kyle, so she’s not going to push it—at least for now.She understands that Kyle and I go way back.She doesn’t want to rock the boat, but what she’s doing is making it clear that she’s not giving up on me either.I place my hand on top of hers and will myself to speak."Let me show you how to pack."My response has the desired effect as she drops her arms from my body, giving me a playful shove."I’m not a child.I know how to pack," she huffs in agitation."Not like you should," I banter back, finding the guts to turn around."Is that your suitcase over there?" I point to the zebra-print wheelie in the corner."Yeah, so?" She crosses her arms defiantly."Casey must’ve had someone bring it over from the hospital.""It’s got to go.There’s no way you’re boarding our charter plane tomorrow with a piece of girly luggage like that." I step forward and kneel down, flipping it on its side and sliding the zipper around the base."Hey! What are you doing? Who gave you permission to rifle through my stuff?"She attempts to swat me away, but I don’t budge.The first thing that assaults my eyes is a Chase Whitfield T-shirt.For a moment, I freeze, just looking at it, unsure if I should touch it or not."You’re certainly obsessed with him, aren’t you? I hate to break it to you, but he’s married with a kid [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]