“I had no idea you lived here… near Nate,” I add.
Connor flashes me a smile that looks like it belongs on a billboard for perfect teeth.
“Were you coming from Campbell's place?” he asks with a slight accusatory tone.
“Yeah, I fell asleep there. We’re just friends though. Nothing going on there,” I say, awkwardly. I have no idea why I feel the need to explain myself to him.
“Just friends?” he questions.
“Just best friends.” I laugh, gripping the leash tightly.
“Have you always lived here? I’ve just never seen you around here before,” I ask.
The dinner at the Rec Center was the first time I’d met Connor and I’m certain I would have remembered his dirty blonde hair and dark eyes if I’d seen him before then. Plus, his height and build alone is memorable.
“No. I just moved in recently. I play baseball. I’ve known Nate a while though… professional athletes tend to run in some of the same circles,” he states.
My eyes widen and I nod my head up and down as we stand in this hallway.
“What?” Connor laughs. “Got something against baseball players? What if I said I’m a shortstop? Will that convince you to get dinner with me?”
Get dinner? I’m too stunned at his forward request to answer right away.
“It doesn’t have to be tonight… but I’d love to take you out some time.” My cheeks blush at his proposal. I’m intrigued and cautious at the same time. I’m tempted to say yes, but nothing comes out.
He nods his head up and down as I start to back away from his door while he stands there.
“I’m sorry, you just completely caught me off guard… but um…” It can’t hurt to get dinner with him. Before I can talk myself out of it, I make a quick decision. “You know what? Yes. Sure. Dinner would be great.” A smile forms on my face as he hands me his phone and I give him my number.
“Nice to see you again, Mia. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Yeah, you too,” I say steadily.
Like any normal girl, the second I walk away, I google him. Between the dinner where we first met and this morning, I feel like I just got surface level information. I need the nitty gritty if I’m going out with him. He never actually gave me his last name, but he plays baseball here so how hard can it be to find him?
Connor Hughes. Twenty-nine years old. Shortstop for the Tampa Angels.
A date can’t hurt. Hell, I’ve been on countless bad dates, what’s one more if this one goes south?
Hendrix and I walk for a while before I see the dark clouds rolling in and that’s when I begin to pick up our pace. The phone call earlier was Summer, so I make a mental note to call her back when I get a chance.
I feel the light patter of rain just as we’re rounding the corner to Nate’s building and as soon as we get inside, the floodgates open and all hell breaks loose from the clouds. A beautiful morning turned into tropical storm force weather within minutes.
“I was hoping you’d make it back before the rain,” Nate’s voice startles me as I’m walking in.
“Jesus!” I say, dropping my phone on the floor creating a loud thud in this quiet apartment. “Warn a girl next time. Why are you standing in the dark, you psycho?” I bend down to take Hendrix off the leash and he darts off into the other room.
“I’m not standing in the dark, that light is on.” He gestures to the dining room light that’s dimly lit, casting a small shadow across the floor.
Nate’s leaning his shirtless body against the counter as he stares at the outfit of choice I have on.
“Not a word. This is because of you.” I point my finger at him, noticing his brown hair is going in a thousand different directions after probably getting the worst night of sleep possible on that couch.
“You passed out in my truck. It was just easier to toss you in my bed. You’re welcome, by the way. My fucking neck and back are killing me from tossing and turning all night on that couch.” His fingers graze the small of my back as I walk by and I arch myself forward in response. Nate and I have always been touchy, feely, but that right there sent goosebumps down my spine. And that’s not something that’s happened in a long time.
Flipping on the kitchen light, I pour myself another cup of coffee after handing one over to Nate.
“Fine. Thank you,” I say sarcastically into my coffee, as I watch the rain pound outside.
