“You didn’t.” I clear my throat to get rid of the sleepy gravel sound. Turning back around so I’m not looking at her, I recite as many of my youth stats as I can remember to try and get things to settle down so I can stand up without freaking her out.
But my self-control is put to the test when I hear her set Cat down and the familiar sound of coffee being poured. Then it’s shot to hell when she walks over and sets two coffee mugs on the table. I just barely have time to grab the blanket and throw it over my lap before she sits down at the opposite end of the couch.
Picking up her own coffee, she takes a sip and lets out a sound of contentment that does nothing to help my situation.
For ten years, I’ve woken up alone. Even at training camp, or on away game trips, I have my own room. Ever since leaving the group home at eighteen, I’ve lived by myself. I like silence. Solitude. I like not having to deal with people first thing in the morning.
But Sadie doesn’t say anything, just sits there sipping coffee in the quiet. And slowly, surprisingly, I find myself relaxing back into the couch. I lean forward, pick up my coffee, and take a sip, then look at her. “This is good. Thanks.”
She gives me a quick smile, but still doesn’t say anything. Just drinks her coffee at the opposite end of the couch, gently stroking Cat who hopped up between us to curl into a ball.
And fuck, it’s actually kind of nice.
Sadie finishes first and stands up from the couch. “I’ll just take a quick shower if that’s okay. I can go find a café to work at today.”
My confusion must be clear becauseshe goes on.
“I haven’t been to the office since this started. The reporters…it got a little crazy that first day so my boss suggested I work from home.”
In an instant, that confusion is replaced with indignation. “Are you serious?” She nods. “You were working out of that shithole? For the last three weeks?”
Her eyes fill with fire. “Listen. That shithole was my home. I get that it’s not up to your millionaire athlete standards, and I’m not saying I love it there, but it was home. I did what I had to do, aftera manturned my entire life upside down. And yeah, I hated working from home. Being stuck there all day, every day. But once again, it was what I had to do afteranother manmessed up my life even more.”
The way she’s glaring at me makes it clear who she’s referring to. And I guess I’m a sick bastard because the way she’s standing up and pushing back at me is fucking hot as hell. It’s not hard to see that Sadie tends to think of everyone but herself. That what she wants comes second to what everyone around her wants. And I wish so badly I could tell her to stop. To put herself first because fuck knows no one else will. It’s a lesson I learned the hard way.
But seeing that fire in her, even as she’s giving me hell, is a relief. Because maybe she won’t have to go through anymore shit to realize she’s worth being a priority in her own life.
“Sorry, Specs,” I reply, and I mean it. I am sorry my notoriety made things messy for her. But I’m not sorry for stepping up when her ex was being a fucker.
Sinking back down onto the couch, she lets out a long sigh. “No, don’t apologize. You haven’t done anything wrong. Heck,you’ve been nothing but good to me.” She grimaces, looking down at her empty coffee mug. “My life was a mess before you showed up, and you were just trying to help that night.”
I say nothing as she stands up again and reaches out for my mug. “Anyway. I’ll shower, then get out of here for the day so you can have some peace and quiet. I could probably just take my stuff back to my parents’ place for a while or go stay with my friend.”
“If those were good options, you’d have done them already, wouldn’t you?”
I see her swallow before she answers. “It’s not ideal, but I can’t crash here forever, either.”
I stand up to join her, taking both mugs and moving into the kitchen. “No, but you don’t have to go anywhere yet.” Reaching into a drawer, I withdraw something and make my way back to her. “Stay. I’ve got to go to a rehab session at the stadium anyway. But if you do leave, for the day or whatever, come back here after.” I take her hand and place the spare key in her palm.
She stares at it, then slowly lifts her head to meet my gaze. “Why?”
Her soft question hits me, and I don’t know how to answer. I shrug instead. “Why not.”
Walking away, I go into my room, grab some clothes, and then walk back out. She’s still standing in the spot where I left her, staring down at the key in her hand. “I’ll just get changed quickly, then the place is yours.”
I get the barest of nods, and that’s it. By the time I finish getting changed and brushing my teeth, the door to my bedroom is closed.
I have no idea if she’ll stay or not. But I do know if I find out she’s back in that fucking apartment, I’m gonna lose my shit. And then Colin would be mad at me.
She better be here when I get back from the stadium…
My entire body is aching the entire drive home from the ballpark several hours later. Lark and the rest of the training staff fucking tortured me, and holy fuck, am I feeling the exhaustion, but Doc made my goddamn day when he said I can start throwing again in a week.
I pull into my spot in the underground parking garage and ride the elevator up to my floor, slowly rolling my shoulders.
As I approach my apartment, the door across the hall opens.
“There’s a woman in your apartment.”
