He leaned back in his chair, resting his chin on his hands and giving me a thoughtful look. Then he slowly nodded, understanding dawning on his face. “Yeah. Yeah. That could work. I’m out at least two weeks, probably three.”
“Yeah. That’ll put us well into July…and I’ll be moving out into the dorm first week in August anyway.”
“Then it’s settled. This has been great so far, so I can’t wait for more with you,” he said, giving me a playful smile. “I’ve been instructed to not do much for fourteen days. I have a lot of energy inside me that’ll need a way out. Can you think of anything?”
“We’ll manage, I’m sure.”
He eyed me over his mug and I dared to ask the question that still hadn’t been answered. “You played shitty. Describe that to me.”
“Didn’t make every play in the outfield, didn’t get on base as much as I wanted.”
“Vague statements. Are we talking straight errors in the field or base hits you couldn’t cut off?”
He exhaled and tensed his jaw. “No errors in stats, but the scouts there saw me not read a ball well.”
“Did a runner advance?”
“Yes, to third.”
“Did they score and was that run the one that won the game?”
He snorted and the tension around his eyes lessened. “I forgot you actually know baseball.”
“Hello…ball park rat. I wish I didn’t know it. But I take it by your lack of response it didn’t lose the game. I might be far off here, TJ, but there is aslimpossibility you overreacted.”
His broad shoulders relaxed and I knew I had him. He gave a goofy smile, something between regret and embarrassment. “Maybe.”
“I knew it. Also, correct me if I’m wrong, summer ball is…not a big deal. Like, anyone can be on this team, right? Transfers, people in town…it’s not legit. So if scouts didn’t talk to you, why is it a big deal?”
“Because I want to be on their radar all the time.”
“Fair enough.” I thought about how to add to that, but he interrupted me and had a playful smile going on, one that sent those goddamn flutters in my stomach.
“Do you have plans today, Kenzie?”
“Hm, no. No work, no homework. Why?”
“Want to watch baseball movies all day? We can make popcorn, eat and watch them naked. If I only get to enjoy your body when I’m injured, I want to get as much as I can.”
“Depends on the movie.The Sandlotbetter be on your list.”
“Please,” he scoffed and pushed himself up from his chair to grab ice from the freezer. “We can start with that movie.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Tanner
Four days later, the pain wasn’t throbbing in my leg, but the limb still ached when I didn’t stretch. It was almost torture not being on the field with the guys and the only thing keeping me sane was Kenzie. When Zade and Aaron were at home, she suggested we go to a café to write our papers for our film class. When they were gone, we were in bed, naked and starting a tally of orgasms.
It fucking rocked.
“Hey, you’re smiling over there like a weirdo.” She nudged my side at the coffee shop she’d found ten minutes from the house. They had incredible cold brew and the walk was good for me, even though it sucked. “You have this cute expression on your face and your eyebrows come together to form a little triangle right here.” She pressed on my forehead and the gesture caused an odd flurry just below my ribs.
It felt as though the ground shifted under our table, but I ignored it. “I don’t havecuteexpressions.”
“Yes, you do.” She smiled and pushed her glasses up. “Why are you so happy today?”
“I was thinking about what we did last night.” I slid my hand under the table and squeezed her thigh. She blushed red and squirmed against me. It did not help my dick, because whenever she was around, I was ready to go.
