Colton
Sweet summer child. Is your goal to freak her out?
Tenny
OBVIOUSLY NOT!
Colton
Bro, don’t yell at me.
Trevor
That might be a bit over the top. Maybe just stick to dinner? Keep in mind that dates don’t always go as planned. On our first official date, Kenzie ended up in the ER.
Shane
I can’t believe I’m participating in this nonsense, but let’s not pretend we don’t know how this goes. Women date players because of the money. They want the spotlight, the grand gestures, the expensive gifts—not the man. Whatever you’ve planned will probably be fine.
Colton
Whoa, Shane. Who hurt you?
Shane
I’m removing myself now. Don’t add me back in.
Rhett
It all comes down to her. Think about what SHE (as an individual person) would like. That’s all that matters.
Chapter 15
Tenny
As I climb the stairs to Alex’s hotel floor two at a time, my heartbeat thuds in my ears. I’m more amped up than I was for my first game in the majors. Equal parts excitement and panic sprint through my veins. Logistically, I know that I’m a catch and any woman would be happy to date me…blah, blah, blah.
Those are the well-intentioned things my sisters would say to settle my nerves. But they’re also used to my…my extra-ness. Heck, Arizona even profits off it with her social media account. I’ve always had the need to be liked, but I want to beunderstoodby Alex. If that means I need to subdue some of my tendencies for her to stick around long enough to really get to know me, so be it.
I’m glad I texted the guys earlier when I’d been spiraling about what to do tonight. It didn’t feel right, buying out all those places last minute. It would mean displacing everyone who was looking forward to enjoying their Friday night. What if there’s another sucker like me, standing outside his date’s door with his hands shaking, looking forward to nothing more than taking her bowling? There’sno wayI wanted to ruin that guy’s night.
My knuckles rap the door as I force myself to take a deep breath.
When Alex answers and her smile instantly drops, my heart falls three stories. “I didn’t realize we were getting dressed up.”
She glances down at her cute t-shirt dress and sneakers, frowning.
“I can fix it.” I tug off my suit jacket, tossing it on the floor. My fingers fly over the vest buttons, halfway down when Alex splays her hands over mine.
“Tenny, no.” She steps so close I catch her calming eucalyptus scent. “Don’t change. You look—” Her gaze slides over my open collar and down my chest as a swallow bobs her throat. “Can you put your jacket back on?”
“You’re sure?”
She nods, gaze fixed on where my necklace rests over my collarbones.
“Yes, um—” Her eyes finally find mine as she licks her lips. “Yes, please.”
There’ssomething about the way she sayspleasethat sends crackling electricity running backward through my body. I’m two seconds from crashing my mouth over hers when Mags comes out of the bathroom in a cozy lounge set.
