Page 54 of Praising the Pitcher

“We are just friends!” I snap. “I can still care about her, can’t I?” I’m rarely the guy who gets mad. I never really lose my temper, though right now, I’m feeling my temperature rising like I may explode.

When my gaze snaps back to Benny, he catches me yet again, only this time, he gets up and struts toward me.

“Can I help you with something, King?” he drawls in his stupid fucking accent that I’m sure the girls are just fawning over. “Because you seem to have something to say.”

“Oh yeah? And what gave you that impression?”

“The fact you’re fucking staring at me and have been all night,” he tosses back, holding his arms out. “So, what is it, daddy’s boy? Let’s get this over with.”

“Fuck you,” I spew, even though I know deep down I should just walk away.

“Noah!” my sister scolds angrily, but I don’t look at her.

He’s part of our team, and right now, we need the whole team to get along. But I can’t get myself to take it back or to walk away.

“Excuse me?” he growls, stepping closer so his chest almost touches mine. “Want to repeat that?”

I smirk at his douchey hair and his shorts that belong at the fucking country club with eighty-year-old grandpas talking politics and sipping their Old Fashioneds.

My mouth opens and I stand a little taller, but before I can say a word, Dallas has his arms wrapped around me and I’m being hauled backward, my sister following behind us. I fight him off, but I’m too drunk and he’s too strong. And I guess inside I know he’s my brother, and I’m not about to put my hands on him.

“What the fuck, dude?” I say when we get outside, and he shoves me toward the sidewalk.

“No, Noah. What the fuck to you.” His deep voice radiates anger, and I can tell I’ve pissed him the fuck off. “You’re out of control tonight.”

“What, gotta defend your new bestie?” I say, knowing I’m acting like a baby. What can I say, I’m mad. First, this fucker took my best friend, and now he’s trying to get the one girl I care about.

The one girl I can’t even say I care about.

“Is this about Gigi?” Dallas asks, his head dipping down as he examines me. “You’re really going to act like this to our teammate and me over the exchanging of phone numbers?”

“No different than you,” I say with a bitter laugh. “You’d fucking sabotage anyone who showed interest in Haven for years. Would even threaten to beat the shit out of someone for looking at her too long.”

My sister already knows all this, so it’s not like I’m ratting him out. But his eyes still flash with hurt, and I know I need to go the hell home and sleep this off. Usually, I’m a fun drunk, but right now, I’m just a dick.

“Yeah, because I loved her and didn’t want to admit it,” he finally says, his eyes holding on mine. “So what, you’re saying you love Gigi?”

“What?” I shake my head. “No. I don’t fucking love her. We’re friends.”

I feel my sister’s gaze on me before her small hand touches my arm. I flinch, pulling it away, but she only pushes Dallas aside and steps in front of me.

“We’re taking you home now,” she whispers, looking up at me. “You’re drunk and you need to sleep this off.”

Gigi may be nothing to me now, not even a friend, but I don’t want to leave her at a party where there are so many drunk people. Not to mention her new love interest seems to be infatuated already.

“No,” I murmur, attempting to step around Haven, but my sister doesn’t budge.

“D will take you home, and I’ll make sure she gets home safe,” she whispers, cupping my cheek. “If I would have known you felt this way, I wouldn’t have suggested giving him her number.” She looks sad. “I just thought it would be a good distraction for her,” she murmurs. “To have someone.”

I know she’s right. It would be good for her to have someone who could take her on dates and be whatever she needs. I can’t do that because look at me right now. So fucking jealous over a girl I’m not dating and a guy I hardly know.

If she was mine, I’d be a nightmare.

“It’s fine,” I say, my nostrils flaring. “We’re just friends.”

“Okay.” Haven nods. “Please, let D take you home. Sleep it off so you’re ready for practice tomorrow.” She pauses. “Going back in there won’t do anyone any good. Especially you.”

I know she’s right. I’ll end up fighting Benny. One of us could get injured and fuck up the next game. Or I could get suspended. Not to mention Gigi would think I’m insane.