Page 19 of Praising the Pitcher

“All right,” I whisper, agreeing to go to his place. And even after the word leaves my lips, I wonder if it’s a bad idea.

NOAH

I wait outside the door while she changes into the sweatpants and T-shirt I insisted she wear. She tried to play it off like she was fine in the leggings and sweatshirt she had on, but I wasn’t having it. If she’s going to sleep the way she needs to, I want her to be comfortable. And seeing as my clothes will be about three times too big for her, they’ll work. I stopped at the convenience store for a toothbrush too. That way, she could go through her full nighttime routine. I also grabbed some sleeping medications—just in case she couldn’t fall asleep and wanted to try them with me being here.

Even though Gigi is normally a woman of composure and she isn’t the goofy type, she’s much more stoic than usual, and it’s obvious that if she doesn’t sleep soon, she’s going to break. It’s still true that I refuse to get romantically involved with her because she’s Haven’s friend and I’d never do anything to make things awkward between them, but my parents brought me and my sister up to be good people, so I’m not going to sit back while she’s struggling. I can keep my boundaries in check while also being there for Gigi when she needs me.

And right now, she sure as hell seems like she needs someone.

“Okay,” she says softly on the other side of the door. “All set.”

Even though I know she’s in a frail headspace right now, and I would never take advantage of her when she’s in that state, I still tell myself silently not to check her out while she’s in my clothes. That goes right down the shitter when I pull the door open and she’s sitting on the edge of my bed, her long hair normally neatly braided or in a low ponytail now free and flowing over her shoulders. My shirt hangs from her body, and she chews on her bottom lip nervously, making my heart skip a beat because fuck, she’s so beautiful.

“That shirt looks a lot better on you, Smoke,” I say, my voice raspier than I’d like it to be. “Think it’s yours now.”

The second those words leave my lips, I scold myself, knowing I have no business flirting with her when she’s in such a fragile state.

“Can’t help yourself, can you, King?” she says, shaking her head at me before she yawns. “Always have to turn on that charm, huh?”

“Sorry … force of habit,” I say honestly. “Now, let’s get you into bed. And no, I don’t mean that in a sexual way.” I shake my head at her, frowning. “Geesh, get your mind out of the gutter, would ya?”

“You’re too much. Did anyone ever tell you that?” She scoffs, rolling her eyes before turning and looking at the pillows. I know this is probably awkward as hell for her. I’m sure she isn’t a virgin, but I don’t think sleepovers with random guys are something she does often—not that I’d judge if it was.

Walking to the top of the bed, I peel the blankets down and pat my hand on the mattress. “Come on, sleepyhead.”

Reluctantly, and appearing unimpressed, she scoots her way to the top of the bed before slowly sliding under the covers. “I doubt I’ll be able to sleep, but if I do, make sure I’m awake by five a.m. I have two alarms set, but … you know, just in case.”

“Five a.m.?” I blurt, my eyes bugged out. “Woman, if we’re going to get you well rested, maybe sleep till like, I don’t know, at least six thirty or seven?”

She gives me a warning look. “I have strength training at six thirty.”

“Would skipping it one time kill you?” I ask honestly. “I don’t think you understand how serious it is not to sleep.”

“And I don’t think you understand how pissed my dad gets when I don’t stick to my schedule,” she bites back, telling me I’ve struck a nerve. “I can’t just not go to things. That’s not how my life works.”

The more I’m around her, the clearer it’s getting that her dad is a lot harder on her than I think anyone could ever imagine. My father is a retired NFL player. He had high expectations of me and my sister when we played sports, sure, but never like that. He has also always wanted us to have lives outside of sports.

I take a seat on the edge of the bed beside her. “What if you’re sick? And you tell the trainer in the morning?”

She lifts her brows. “Everything goes through my dad. We share a calendar, for crying out loud.” She snorts but it’s almost sadly. “We already turned off my location and silenced his calls and texts. I can’t imagine how pissed he’ll be about that—let alone if I’m suddenly sick.”

Fuck. She’s got me there. I sigh before it hits me I’m pretty sure I know who her trainer is.

She lies back, resting her head on the pillow before flipping to her side. She can’t even fight to keep her eyes all the way open and instead just has them cracked.

“Do you by chance work with Lynsey Spurling?”

“Yes?” She yawns through the surprise that I know her trainer.

“Well, she’s actually a friend of my mom’s. Her husband and my dad are close too.” I pause because as strict as her father is with her, I’m not sure how she’ll feel about what I’m going to say.

“If you’re sleeping soundly when it comes time for you to head to training, what if I just reach out to Lynsey to explain the situation and tell her if your dad asks, we’d appreciate it if she’d say you were at the session so he doesn’t worry.”

Her eyes open more, but only for a few seconds before she has to fight harder to keep herself awake.

“I don’t know …”

I move a little closer, putting one arm over the back of her and leaning slightly over her body before I brush her hair away from her face. “I promise, all of it—the training, the work—it’ll be there for you waiting once you get some rest. But right now, this is what is most important, okay?”