“Yes, very much. Your sister is amazing, and I promise to make sure she never forgets it.”
Taylor’s eyes danced when she met my gaze. I finally exhaled as my shoulders sagged with relief.
Silas stood from the couch and came over to us. “I’ll let you guys talk. I need to head home and try to get some sleep before heading to the field.”
“Thanks for the ride,” I said as I straightened off the floor.
He leaned in to kiss my cheek. “Talk later?”
“Absolutely,” I said.
“Nice to see you again, Taylor,” Silas said as he shifted toward the door.
“You too, Mr. Jones.”
“You can call me Silas. You ladies get some rest.”
He shut the door behind him, and the fight not to swoon my heart out over him in front of my sister was taxing as hell.
“Wow, you have a baseball player boyfriend,” Taylor said, bouncing as she pulled at my arm.
“Manager, but yes. Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
Her mouth pulled into a frown.
“You’re not Mom. I know that. You’re always so afraid that you are or that I’ll think you are, that you…hover.”
She grimaced at me.
“I hover?”
“I know it’s because you love me. And sometimes, I hover right back because I’m scared Mom is going to come back and screw things up. But now, I get some free time because you have a hot, secret boyfriend. I wish I could tell the girls.”
I lost any words as my sister grabbed her backpack and strode to her room.
It was time for a long bath and a gigantic cup of coffee.
I grabbed my purse, plucking out the jersey and rooting around for my phone.
Sure enough, Taylor had texted me right after I’d left Silas’s apartment. At least I hadn’t missed it during sex, just while mooning over him as he insisted on driving me home because he wanted to take care of me.
From the time I’d met him, I’d wondered if Silas was a conjuring of my active imagination. When I turned too fast andregistered a dull pain between my legs, it was enough proof he was real.
Below my sister’s text was a message from Mrs. Ruiz.
Mrs. Ruiz:HE IS SO HOT. I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND YOUR GRAMS IS TOO.
Yes, I was sure Grams would be so proud of her granddaughter doing a double walk of shame.
But she wanted me to be happy. And I was. Uneasy, but happy.
It buzzed again as I plugged it into my charger.
Silas:Everything okay?
Me:Yes. She’s happy I have a secret boyfriend now so I don’t have to hover over her anymore.
Silas:Ouch.
