Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
I rub the back of my neck. “I can come by after I leave dinner with Green, Kage, and the kids,” I finally answer.
“Does that mean I’m going to be your dirty little secret, Marigold?”
“I actually figured I’d be yours,” I murmur.
“I’ll be waiting,” he promises and then turns and walks away without even acknowledging Green.
Shit.
I think I disappointed him. That shouldn’t make me feel bad and yet I do…
CHAPTER 12
Slater
“What’s wrong with you?” Ryder asks.
It was a mistake coming to the team’s quarters here. I should have gone straight home to see if Marigold showed up. I was mad, though. I needed to unwind, and I thought the weight room would be empty. I mean, hell it’s Saturday night after a big game. Most of the guys are either out getting shit-faced or laid—maybe both—or home with their families.
“Nothing,” I huff out as I wipe sweat from the back of my neck and face.
I want to be alone. I guess I should consider myself lucky that it’s Ryder here and not one of the other guys. He is at least one of the quieter ones. That’s probably because he’s not been on the team as long as most of the other players. Before I came, he was the newbie. He signed on to replace the empty slot in the lineup after Cyrus Martinez left to play for the Mistletoe Moose. I shake my head, some of these teams have horrible names. “Why aren’t you out celebrating with Finn, Parker and the others?”
“Didn’t feel like it. Talked to Mom tonight and guess I just got to missing home a little. Thought I would work off my frustration.”
“Yeah, I can understand that. Wyoming isn’t that far away. You should go down there. We have the next couple of weekends off,” I point out.
“I’ve thought about it. There are things at home I’d rather not deal with. It’s complicated.”
“Life usually is,” I sigh out, throwing my towel down on the weight bench and moving over to the torture device from hell—the elliptical machine. I normally avoid the son of a bitch, favoring the treadmill or just weights. Tonight, though, I need something to kick my ass hard enough so that I get out of the headspace I’m in.
“Especially when a woman is involved,” he volunteers. I can’t do anything but grunt since I agree with him. “I take it your troubles involve a woman, too,” he says.
“Yeah.”
“Coach’s kid sister?”
“She’s not a kid. If she was, I’d be out getting laid and not pissed off.”
“Has the great Slater Daniels finally crashed and burned with a chick?” Ryder asks and I flip him off.
“Fuck you,” I mutter. “I didn’t strike out, not even close.”
He lets out a whistle. “Then what are you doing here instead of with her?”
“Because Marigold Lucas is confusing as hell,” I growl making him laugh.
“Sorry, buddy, but I think that’s women in general.”
“No, I’m pretty sure she’s worse than the normal woman.”
Ryder gets off the treadmill and sits down on a bench across from me, taking a swig of water. “Does she really have you that tore up? I didn’t realize you two were even dating, let alone this serious about one another.”
“We’re not dating, or apparently serious,” I grumble, the words just making me even angrier.
“What the hell does that mean? If she’s not special to you then you shouldn’t be here acting like the universe is out to get you.”
“That’s just it. She is special,” I admit, my gut burning with the confession.
“You’re going to have to explain this to me,” he laughs.
“She means something to me. I think she’s amazing. I want her and I don’t even give a fuck that starting something up with her could cause issues with the coach and me being on the team.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah,” I breathe. Ryder gets it. He knows more about me than the other guys on the team. He knows how important baseball is to me—how important being here is.
“Still, isn’t that good thing? Shouldn’t you be out with…her?”
“She’s coming by for a booty call later.” I wince. I sound like a little bitch. I mean, fuck. One of the hottest girls on the planet is coming by my house later so I can fuck her senseless and I’m complaining. What the hell?
“Why does it sound like you’re not happy about that?”
“That’s just it. I shouldn’t be, but I’m mad as hell. She wants to keep what we’re doing hidden like I’m some…” I stop talking because I know I’m starting to sound like a pussy.
“Have you considered that Marigold is a private person and just doesn’t want people in her business? I mean hell, Coach is her brother. I could see why she’d want to keep things quiet.”
“Yeah, I guess,” I mutter, realizing that even though Ryder is making sense, I don’t really want to hear it. I’d much rather Marigold walked out of the stands with me tonight and told Green to kiss her ass. I’ve never been treated like I wasn’t good enough when it came to women before and tonight, that’s exactly what it felt like—like she was ashamed for anyone to know about us.