Page 24 of Bad Run

We spent one night together. She can’t be the one.

I shake my head at him. “Just because it worked out for you doesn’t mean it works for everyone. Also, this isn’t just about some unspoken bro code. There are rules about dating a colleague.”

“Dude, are you forgetting who Maryse is married to?” he asks.

I run through what I know about Maryse. She’s married to retired Evaders’ pitcher Mateo Diaz. They met and dated while she was an employee and long before he retired.

“That’s different.”

Cam pushes off the fence and frowns. “How?”

“Maryse isn’t the owner’s daughter.”

He shakes his head. “Whatever. All I’m saying is Gwen’s awesome. She’s smart and funny. She’s easy on the eyes.”

I know. Why do you think I slept with her?

I bite my tongue to keep from snapping back. I need to keep my ridiculous thoughts to myself.

Nico and Gwen walk in our direction. I watch as she keeps her gaze on her pink and white sneakers as she talks to Nico. As she gets closer to the dugout, she slowly brings her pretty aqua eyes to meet mine.

This time, when our gazes collide, it feels like a damn gut punch. My lungs constrict, expelling all the oxygen from within.

Cam nudges me with his elbow and whispers, “Maybe she’s worth the risk.”

Gwen approaches the fence line and lifts the clipboard she’s carrying to her chest. “Hey, guys.”

“Hey, G. Are the guys treating you well, or do I need to knock some heads?” Cam jokes, making Gwen giggle.

The sound zaps me to life, and jealousy rips through me.

It should be me making her laugh like that. No one else.

What the hell is wrong with me?

My heart beats in my ears as I grip the fence and try to rein in my emotions.

“Lance?” I jerk my head up to find Gwen watching.

Her pretty little teeth are buried in her bottom lip, and she’s looking at me as if she’s waiting for me to answer.

All I can do is picture her on her knees with those same pink lips wrapped around my cock as I fucked her face. My dick rages behind my cup, making it really fucking uncomfortable for me to talk to her.

Cam helps me out. “Taylor, it’s your turn to talk with Gwen.”

“Fuck no,” I blurt out without thinking.

The color drains from Gwen’s cheeks, and the sparkle in her eyes is snuffed out. Nico frowns and glances between me and Gwen. He’s probably putting the pieces together like Cam.

Fuck.

“Lance,” Cam growls.

With a grunt, I shake my head no. I know I’m supposed to talk to her, but I can’t. Not now, and definitely not with my cock half hard and my emotions out of control.

I look to Nico and with my eyes plead for him to punch me in the face so I can’t say or do another stupid thing. He crosses his arms and shakes his head in disgust at me. Don’t blame him. I fucked up. Again.

“It’s okay.” Gwen flips a switch and plasters on the fake smile I’ve seen before, and I think the smile hurts more than if she just told me to fuck off for being an asshole. “I don’t need him. I think the rest of the team has given me enough to work with. See you guys later.”