Page 72 of Saving The Shortstop

He may be broken, but I’m the girl naive enough to believe I can fix him. So I’m staying right here, by his side.

THIRTY-ONE

HAVEN

I wake up in Dallas’s bed and immediately know he isn’t beside me because it’s cold and feels so … empty. The past few weeks have been a rollercoaster for us, but last night, something changed. And not for the better.

Sliding out of the bed, I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth and pull myself together before I go and find him, knowing that if I know Dallas the way I think I do, he’s probably in the workout room.

With my bare feet against the wooden floor, I trudge down the long hallway, walking up the stairs that lead to the home gym above the garage. I stand in the doorway and watch him as he lies on the bench, pushing the bar up before bringing it down.

The sight makes my mouth water. Him, without a shirt, a sheer layer of sweat over his muscles and a pair of baggy shorts on.

“You’re supposed to have a spotter, you know,” I say, leaning against the doorframe with my arms crossed. “In case you, I don’t know, drop the fucking bar on yourself.”

“Never needed one before, so guess I’m all set now,” he says, coldly. Each time he pushes the bar away from his chest, he lets out an angry, yet somehow delicious, groan.

“Okay, dickface, whatever,” I snap. “Just say what you need to say so we can move on with our day. How about that?”

“What are you talking about?” he grumbles, slowing down slightly with each lift.

“Well, you seem to have decided I’m your enemy again,” I say, trying to seem unfazed. “And I don’t accept that, so just go on and get whatever it is that’s making you a dick off your chest.”

Setting the bar and weights up on the stand, he remains lying on his back.

“You’re being crazy,” he murmurs.

“And you’re being a cold dick,” I say, matter-of-factly. “You know what happens to dicks when they’re cold. They get shriveled up and tiny. So let’s not do that.”

When he says nothing, I walk over next to the bench and kneel down.

“I’m on your side, Dallas,” I whisper, some of my annoyance melting away when I look into his eyes. “I’m so sorry that what I said last night upset you. I only brought it up because I truly want what’s best for you. It’s what you deserve.”

“I don’t deserve a goddamn thing!” he snaps, making me flinch. “Not everyone is good like you are, Haven. Some of us are just … shit.”

His eye color is more of a darker gray than usual. Almost like a storm is brewing in there, and after last night, I’m not really sure what to expect. It’s always seemed like Dallas has to keep his emotions in check at all times—like if he doesn’t, he’ll spiral.

I want to be there for him. I want him to open up to me so I can take some of the weight he’s carrying off his shoulders to let him rest. But I can’t force him to, so I guess I’ll just have to keep showing him I’m not going anywhere.

When I reach for his cheek, he flinches, breaking my heart, but I don’t pull back.

“You deserve everything, Dallas.” I lift his hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to it. “You deserve Lane and Memphis.” I press another, this time to his fingers. “You deserve the beautiful life you have now.” I kiss his wrist. “You deserve your spot on the football team.” Leaning forward, I kiss his neck. “You deserve the opportunity to figure out why school is so hard.” He pulls away slightly, but I kiss his jaw. “You deserve all good things.” Hovering over him, I look in his eyes to find them misty. “You deserve love, Dallas. In its truest, best form.” Now, I kiss his lips, pressing mine roughly to his. “And I wish you’d just accept the love I’m trying to give you.”

I kiss him again, deepening it this time and rolling my tongue against his slightly. “I know exactly who you are, Dallas Rivers. And I love what I see.”

I stand, throwing my leg over him, straddling him in my oversized T-shirt and panties. “You don’t have to tell me everything, but I need you to know that I’m here when you’re ready to talk.”

Beneath me, his cock stirs, gently nudging against the inside of my leg and bringing a deep ache between my legs. I drag my hands down his abdomen, keeping my lips hovered near his while we breathe each other in, lips barely brushing.

“You don’t know everything about me,” he rasps, his eyes dancing sadly between mine. Searching.

“I don’t need to,” I whisper honestly. “I know enough.”

“You think that now.” His lip trembles.

“I’ll know it always,” I say, not letting him add anything to that because I know he’s going to say something like once I know more, I’ll leave. “I want to know everything about you, Dallas. But only when you’re ready to share those parts of yourself with me. The dark, the light, the in between.” I smile sadly, my vision blurred with tears. “There is nothing you can say that will scare me away. I promise.”

When I feel his cock nudge me again, I reach one hand between us and shove his bottoms down. Glancing beside us on the mirrored wall, the sight of his hard cock, veins bulging as it stands up straight just behind where my ass rests on him, has me whimpering.