Trevor chuckles then, raising his head with such an affectionate gaze that I almost stop breathing. “I knew you’d be trouble.”
Me? Miss Rule Follower? The person who’s never DNFed a book even if I hated it because once I start something Ihaveto finish it?
His head shakes with a secret smile, muttering what sounds suspiciously like, “The death of me.”
He pats my legs before removing his touch. My gaze follows his hands, and the oddest thought occurs to me. I love those hands. They’re callused and scarred from years of baseball, from making quick plays and launching a ball over a hundred feet while on his knees. But they’re also gentle and caring with Banksand Jet. And with me? They’re perfectly possessive while also making me feel cherished.
Trevor leans forward, placing a quick kiss at my temple. “Let’s eat, Kenz. I don’t want all your effort to go to waste.”
I’m about to tell him to throw it all in the trash before reason comes crawling back. “You’re probably hungry.”
“Always.”
The corner of his mouth lifts, but his smile is different this time. There’s this flirty wanting in his gaze that sparks a bloom of heat behind my breastbone. Before I can do anything about it, Trevor lifts me off the counter and sets me gently on the ground.
“I really do appreciate all of this.”
Instead of deflecting or downplaying my efforts, I simply say, “You’re welcome.”
Our late-night meal is as comfortable as the many others we’ve shared, except now there’s a pulsing undertow of anticipation. I know I set the ‘slow’ boundary, but maybe that was a misstep? I shake my head slightly. It’s better to take my time with this relationship.
But as Trevor’s appreciative groans of delight wiggle their way under my skin, all I can think about is how I’m thankful that he has home games for the rest of the week.
“Yes!” Mallory shouts two weeks later, jumping from the couch and startling Banks. I’m honestly surprised he’s out here at all since he prefers to hide in his room when company is over. Jet, meanwhile, alternates between chewing on Mallory’s shoelaces and hopping on and off her lap.
“It’s okay, Banksy,” I coo, picking him up and tucking him into the cat carrier.
Mallory looks away from the replay of her husband initiating a double play that ended the inning with an eyebrow quirk. “I have to ask. Why do you look like you’re trying to smuggle him across enemy lines?”
“This?” I point to the sling. “Trevor got it for me so I could be hands free while carrying him.”
“And we’re carrying a cat because…”
“He likes it.” I stroke Banks’s soft head with a single fingertip as he lolls it over the carrier’s padded edge, looking at Mallory upside down.
“He looks like he’s about to file a complaint.”
“He’scozy, clearly living his best life.”
Mallory chuckles. “If you say so.”
Once Trevor left for this stint of nine away games, I crossed a new item off myDo It Scaredlist—befriend Mallory.
There were a few reasons I wanted to befriend Mallory. First, she’s incredible and a genuinely kind person. Second, I wasn’t ready to tell my parents—who I usually telleverything—about Trevor and me. If I thought the squealing Mallory had donewhen she found out about Aaron and I had been extreme, she’d practically lost her voice with excitement over my newest relationship. And third, Mallory could give me some much-needed insight intoactuallydating a major league baseball player.
I know how that sounds.Kenzie, what are you talking about? You dated a pitcher for nine months. Technically, I did, but my dating experience had been so limited I hadn’t known what to expect with Aaron. Other than a handful of either uneventful or embarrassingly bad dates—like the time I went to the bathroom and the guy stole my purse, I’d never been in a relationship.
Aaron showering me with gifts and compliments while scheduling one-hour meals with me on the one day he had off a week felt like top-tier courtship. That’s what they show in the movies, right? Gratuitous gifts.Good morningtext messages without fail. Rushing into an engagement while telling me I was his soulmate.
Mallory informed me point blank that what I thought was romantic was actuallylove bombing.After that, I started seeing our whirlwind relationship under a different lens. Had Aaron ever asked me a question about myself during any of those dinners? Why was my engagement ring white gold when I exclusively wear yellow gold? Why had he waited to introduce me to his parents?
That last question makes me feel a little guilty because, as far as my parents know, Trevor is still my roommate, but I think weall can agree dating for a few weeks and intending to marry are twovery differentthings.
Thinking of Trevor sends my mind skipping to my new favorite memories. Before he left for these away games, I kept finding excuses to corner and kiss him. The most successful locations were the laundry room, the walk-in pantry, and his closet when I asked to borrow another hoodie since the first one had lost his scent. I woke each morning with theintentionof maintaining my ‘slow’ boundary, but every time we enjoyed a late breakfast together, or he stretched while I gardened, or snuggled with our furry roommates, it was incredibly hard to keep my distance.
On Trevor’s day off—right before he left—I loaded myself with motion sickness meds, strapped acupressure bands on both wrists, and asked him to take me out on the boat again. I needed to redeem that first day together and try my hand at the helm again. Turns out, for as protective as Trevor is, he’s a limp noodle when it comes to saying no to me.
Fortunately, my preventative measures worked. I didn’t toss my cookies over the side. I was still a little nauseated when we arrived at Wilks Beach, but a nice long walk by the shore settled my stomach before we had a delicious lunch at Bayside Table to finally celebrate the end of tax season.
