Prologue – Beck
Midseason - July
“Alright, I’ve seen your slutty thigh tattoo, but there’s no fucking way you’re pierced.” Jensen pins me with a look that makes my very-much pierced dick twitch.
We may be surrounded by all our friends for a game of poker, so hell, I’ll call her hand. She’s the one who started this conversation—not to mention, she’s a licensed piercer and a soon-to-be licensed tattoo artist—as if I would let this opportunity pass me by.
I give her a cocky grin. “Want to find out, Jennie? I’ll show you all my slutty tattoos and piercings if you ask nicely.”
Jensen clenches her jaw as she grits out, “In your fucking dreams, Beckham.”
Oh, they are, Jenni-cakes.And while she might play like she’s not interested, I’m pretty positive I’m in her dreams too.
The rest of the table takes her words like the dismissal she wanted, but I don’t miss the rise and fall of her chest with the breath she takes. I don’t miss the flash of her eyes down and immediately back up. Almost as if she wanted to picture it but wouldn’t allow herself to.
My best friend, Dex, sits across from me with his former nanny, Lucie, who he’s head over ass for, and she leans on the table. “Anyway! Miles and I have been trying to talk Dex into playing again.”
All my attention switches over to Dex, because what does Lucie mean “trying”?
“Why the hell have you not immediately agreed to this?”
“I second Beck. Actually, turning up the aggression, why thefucknot?” Our newest starting pitcher, Will, backs me up. Which is slightly surprising, considering Dex is his pitching coach. But Lucie is his sister and if she wants it, then I guess he knows it’s better to just be on board.
Tripp, our third baseman, starts snapping his fingers at Emma, our general manager’s daughter and the new team assistant. “Ems, get your dad on the phone.”
Emma doesn’t even seem fazed by the demand because, apparently, they’re friends, which was a major shock to everyone here. We knew Olsson had a daughter, even though she hadn’t really been around much since he took over as our GM. When she started as our new team assistant, I half expected Tripp to hit on her, not tell us they’ve actually been close friends for a couple years now.
Dex sends Lucie a look with a deep sigh. “No, for fuck’s sake, can you all chill out? I’m perfectly happy where I’m at. You all can drop it now.”
The fuck I will. He’s lost his mind if he thinks I’m going to drop this now.
“Nah.” I wave my hand dismissively. “Hate that. Next option.”
Jensen’s eyes meet mine for a brief moment before she nudges our team catcher, Adam. “Wait, can he even come out of retirement?”
Adam shrugs. “I mean, yeah. Olsson, I’m sure, would extend him a contract easily.”
“I’m not above forgery,” Lucie adds.
This time it’s me snapping my fingers at Emma. “Great. Emma, get your dad on the phone.”
Callie, our team photographer, hits my arm and whips out her phone. “Quit snapping at her, this is her first game night. I’ll do it.”
“Okay!” Dex yells. “I’ll tell you what—you guys win the World Series and I’ll play again.”
Our table goes silent. I don’t love the idea of waiting to have Dex play with us again, but if he wants to make it a challenge so be it. Just ask Jensen, I love a challenge.
I extend my hand. “Alright, Dad, bet?”
Dex begrudgingly shakes it before turning to pull Lucie’s chair closer and starts whispering in her ear. There’s a tug in my chest when she smiles back at him. I can’t seem to think of anyone who deserves happiness quite like Dex and Lucie do.
When Dex leans in to kiss her temple, I relax back in my chair and let my eyes wander over to Jensen—I can’t say I want that love from her. I don’t want a relationship from anyone, really.
I love my team. I love my friends. I love seeing my friends all happy and in love. However, I don’t want it, and I don’t exactly know how to explain why without someone trying to rationalize with me.
The pull I have toward Jensen I can’t really understand, and I know I should let it go, but something in me hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her since the night I met her.
Callie technically met her first—something to do with some weird “dating-not-dating” thing—I don’t really know nor care how it happened. But when Callie brought her to the bar, I nearly choked on my drink.
