MILLER
I still need to know if he can come play. We kinda made plans.
PRESTON
Quit being an idiot.
TAYLOR
I don’t think he knows how.
MILLER
Taytie Tot, you’re still here?
TAYLOR
You literally saw me yesterday.
I get so lost in the back and forth that I miss Chase reaching for his phone on the nightstand until he’s typing and an alert comes through in the chat.
CHASE
Looking forward to it.
“Why are you in the group chat?” I turn to him in the bed beside me where he’s already looking at me with a smug smile on his perfect face.
“Your friends like me, Princess.” I shoot off a quick text to Miller separately.
ME
Why is he in the group chat?
“But seriously, why are you in the group chat?” I ask again as he takes my phone and tosses it to the side with his. Ivory said she may include Chase in our next cookout, but I didn’t anticipate him being added to the group chat.
“Is that a bad thing?” He buries his face in my neck, kissing gently along my neck.
“I’m not sure.” This feels very couple-y, and no one besides Miller even knows we’re a couple.Are we a couple?
“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” He taps my temple.
“It’s just—” I take a breath because I know this sounds stupid but it makes sense to me. “They’re going to figure it out if they see us together.”
“Okay, and? Are you ashamed of this?”
“No, of course not. How could you think that?”
He sits back on his calves and sighs. “I don’t know, Bree. You’re pretty set on this being a secret.”
“Are you not okay with that? I thought we agreed it was best for now.”
“Secret from the public, fine, but from your friends, Bree? What are you scared of?”
“There’s a lot at stake. I am overseeing your community service for the team and the MLB. You need to rehab your image. I’m literally in charge at work right now and this couldput all of that in jeopardy. We need to be careful.” I sit up and pull the sheet tighter to my chest.
“Okay, I get that. Your career is important to you, but what are you really scared of Princess because it can’t all be about work.” He gets off the bed and pulls on his shorts.
“Where are you going?”
