It’s not long before Coach notices, and soon our teammates notice, too.
“What’s going on with you two?” Joe asks Cassy as we’re packing up. Her cheeks flush pink, and she looks down at her feet. “You guys got a bet I don’t know about?”
“No,” she says, her voice muffled. She flashes me an angry glare and grabs her bag. It’s the first time she’s looked at me all evening, and I notice her eyes are rimmed with tears.
“Let’s get tacos,” Joe suggests, always one to think about food. The boys second his suggestion, and before Joe can ask Cassy if she wants to join, she’s already halfway across the field toward the parking lot.
While everyone watches with confused expressions as Cassy storms off, Coach gives me a warning look. He doesn’t have to say anything for me to know he’s pissed. Fix it, his eyes say before he waves goodbye and heads home. Dang it, why does this have to be my responsibility?
“Maybe she’s on her period?” one of the guys helpfully suggests.
“Probably,” I say, and the majority nod their agreement before forgetting about the whole damn thing and turning the conversation to Halo as they head for Main Street. But I know it isn’t her damn period. This is my fault. I’m not exactly sure why or what I did that made her so mad. It seemed like Cassy had a great time last night. Until she didn’t.
Damn it. I better fix this, or else coach’s bogus prophecy will come true, and she’ll be off her game. As good as I am, there’s no making up for what she brings to the team.
* * *
I’m headed back from my dinner when I spot her. She’s walking across campus, and she’s wearing teal shorts and a grey tank top. Nothing special in the slightest, but the sight stops me in my tracks.
“Cassy!” I call out. She stops walking, and an incredulous look forms on her face when she sees it’s me running toward her.
She avoids my gaze as if I’m Medusa. I expect her to say something, but she doesn’t. “Cassy, is everything alright?”
“Are you stalking me?” she says, accusatorially.
I take a cautious step forward, unsure why she’s angry in the first place. All I want is to diffuse the situation, to touch her again. But the way she’s glaring at me makes me think twice about touching her hips and pulling her close for a kiss. Even though it might just fix everything. “Look, I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, but I don’t really know what I did.”
She lets out a humorless laugh. “Of course, you think this has to do with feelings. We almost kiss, and now suddenly I’m an emotional wreck?”
Her voice is all over the place, and I can tell she’s on the verge of tears. “Uh, yeah, that’s kinda what it looks like.”
Cassy presses her lips together, unamused. “Well, I’m not.” She turns on her heel, but I grab her wrist to keep her from storming off. She eyes my hand still wrapped around hers, probably considering drop kicking me to the ground.
“I know you, Cassy. Something else is bothering you.”
“Since when do you know me?”
“Since we’ve been teammates,” I say, trying not to sound hurt. “Are you sure this doesn’t have anything to do with last night?”
Cassy rolls her eyes. “That didn’t mean anything. It was just attraction.” Her muscles tense up the moment her words leave her mouth. She closes her eyes, no doubt regretting it.
But I smile because I’ve got her. “So you admit you are attracted to me.”
Cassy pulls her wrist from my grasp and crosses her arms. “I can’t believe we’re talking about this.”
“I can. Cassy,” I take a half-step closer to her, and this time she doesn’t move away. “I had a great time with you, and I know you had fun, too.”
“So? It doesn’t mean anything has changed. You’re still just my teammate, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Why can’t we be both? Teammates and… something more?”
She puts her hands up as if it can stop time and let her think. “Look, I’ve done this before, alright? It turned out to be nothing more than attraction. I lost my only friend because of it, and the respect of my teammates. I don’t want that to happen again.”
“Is that what this is about? A high school crush gone wrong?” She avoids my gaze, embarrassment, coloring her cheeks. I soften my voice when I speak again. “This is different. We’re adults, and you owe it to yourself to take a chance, Cassy. I’m telling you, it won’t ruin everything.”
Her eyes grow glossy. “Yes, it will,” she says. “I don’t want to lose...” She turns away. “You don’t understand.”
Anger floods my veins. Why is she so stubborn? We could see where this goes if she’d only give us a shot. But instead, she’s inventing her own problems. Anger bubbles inside me, along with regret, and a slew of conflicting emotions that put me over the edge.
“No, you don’t understand,” I say. “You can’t lose what you never had.” Cassy’s eyes go wide with shock and pain, but I just turn on my heel and head for my dorm without looking back.
Chapter Ten
Garrett
Our first game of the season. It’s finally here, and though I’d been shrugging it off like a guaranteed win, now that I’m standing under the bright lights and the gaze of thousands of viewers waiting for the pitcher to throw me a good one, I’m anxious as hell. We don’t have the lead I anticipated we’d have. In fact, we’re neck and neck. And the worst part is it’s all my fault. Everyone’s playing phenomenally on our team except for me. My head is in the gutter because all I can think about is Cassy and what I said to her last night. Why couldn’t I just respect her wishes? Leave it be? She wanted me at arm’s length, and so did coach. But I had to go and meddle, and now coach’s damn prophecy is coming true, except I’m the one who’s off my damn game.
FWOOSH! The ball shoots straight at me, and I barely get my bat on it. CRACK! I drop my bat to the ground and book it to first base, praying the ball goes where I want it to. Instead, it flies right into our opponent’s catching glove. We lose the inning, and it’s time to switch sides.
I can practically hear my teammates groaning, but they don’t let on to their disappointment in me, except for Cassy, who ignores me entirely as we switch into our outfield gear. Which is a good thing? It gives me room to get my head on straight. I tell myself to worry about her later. After all, she seems to be doing just fine. For now, focus on winning.
We manage to hold the other team off for the next inning before we switch sides once more. I watch from the dugout as Joe steps up to bat. He hits a nice one far back into left field and manages to get on first. Suddenly, the energy of the entire stadium changes and I realize why.
Bases are loaded. Two balls. Two strikes. And Cassy’s up to bat.
She makes her way to home plate to the sounds of crazy cheering from her teammates and the crowd alike. The pitcher gears up to throw, and I realize I’m holding my breath. I don’t think I’ve ever been as invested in a game before, even one of my own.
Everything that happens next seems to happen in slow motion. The ball leaves the pitcher’s hand, and Cassy steps and twists like I showed her the other night. A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth at the memory of that night, and because I can already tell she’s hit a homer.
WHACK! The sound of her smacking the ball confirms my suspicions. The tiny white orb soars through the air, and everyone screams like crazy as Cassy races for first, continues to second, and pushes her teammates all the way through third to end the ninth inning with a bang.
Tempt University students and families go wild in the stands, and the moment Cassy rushes past home, the boys pile around her in a celebratory bundle of jumping hoots and hollers. I join in, trying to force myself to feel even an ounce as happy as the rest of them. I should be relieved we won, that Cassy proved herself and all that good stuff. Maybe I would feel that way if she were happy, too. But I can tell there’s something up with her. The smile she’s sporting doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Hell yeah!” Coach joins in on the celebrating and gives Cassy a special hug. “That’s how you hit a ball,” he says to her like a proud father. “Great job, all of you.” He slaps me on the back and gives me a knowing nod.
My team and I recount moments from the game, reliving the glory and making fun of my weak moments. The whole time I’ve got one eye on Cassy. I need to talk to her. I need to apologize to make things right between us. But not while everyone is here.
The crew eventually decides to head to dinner (a mid-tier steak place with five-cheese macaroni and bone-in ribeyes—all courtesy of Coach as a gesture of celebration), and this time Cassy agrees to join us. It catches me off guard. I must have made a face because she decides to finally look at me. Her expression is something I’ve never seen before, and I’m not quite sure how to interpret it. Is she sad? Upset? Relieved?
All I know is, she isn’t glaring at me anymore, and that alone sparks a backflip of hope in my stomach. Maybe there’s still a chance for something to happen between us.
“Alright, let’s go get some juicy bone-in ribeyes!” Joey calls out. The boys chant and cheer, but Cassy speaks up.
“Actually, I’ll meet you there. I’m gonna run a few laps first.”
They all look at her incredulously. “We just played our asses off! Are you crazy?” Joey says.
Cassy laughs. “I guess it’s just tradition, at this point. Trust me, I’m faster on my feet than any of you. I’ll be done with twenty laps before you make it halfway to the restaurant.”
Joey shrugs his shoulders like I give up. “Fine, ya weirdo.”
Cassy doesn’t wave to me or even look before putting her earbuds in and starting her jog. I take it as a sign that I’ll just have to wait for another time to talk with her. But as the team and I make our way toward Main Street, the sick feeling in my stomach builds until I can’t stand it any longer. I need to talk to Cassy, tonight.
I make a big show of searching for something in my bag, then say, “I’m, uh, I forgot my water bottle. I’ll meet you there.” They all snicker.
“Sure,” Joey mumbles.
“What does that mean?” I snap.
“Just kiss her, dude,” someone says from the back of the pack.
I stop in my tracks. Did I miss something? I thought whatever was going on between Cassy and I was just that: between us. In fact, I didn’t even know anything was going on until just recently. I look to Coach to see if he’s heard any of this exchange. He glances over his shoulder.
“I told you it was obvious, son,” he says. Words escape me. What the hell am I supposed to say to that? “Look,” he continues, slowing down, so we’re walking side by side, “my only concern is that we continue to play our best. I didn’t want you to distract our newest member and end up causing problems for the team, especially since we’re under pressure to prove she belongs.” He give me a sideways glance. “But it looks like she’s not the one having problems staying focused.”
I shake my head, confused by this oddly private-public conversation.
“What are you saying?” I ask.
Now Coach stops walking, and so does the rest of the team. We’re all taking up the entire sidewalk, and everyone’s got their eyes on me. I feel like I’m being interrogated by a mildly intimidating college gang. “Do you have feelings for her? Truly?” Coach asks.
I can’t believe this is happening, let alone in front of the entire team. “Yes,” I mumble.
“Do you believe Cassy has feelings for you?”
Joey and I catch eyes, and he gives me an almost indiscernible nod of encouragement like he’s seen it all along, and he can’t wait for me to get on board. “Yes,” I say decidedly. “She does.”
“Is it just a fling that’s gonna end after one date?” Coach asks, his eyes boring into my soul.
Every dream I’ve ever had about dating Cassy flashes through my head. One date would never be enough to unwrap the enigma of that crazy woman. I want to spend every day with her. My neck tingles at the realization. I shake my head. “Definitely not.”
“Then go get her!” that same nameless guy calls from the back of the pack.
Coach nods at me, a cheesy grin pulling his mouth into a smirk. “We’ll see you at dinner.”
“Or not,” Joey says low enough so only I can hear him. I punch him in the arm and head for the field, eager to get my girl.
Chapter Eleven
Garrett
I make it back just in time to catch her packing up her things. She stops for a moment to take a swig of water from her bottle. I take that as my cue.
“Cassy,” I call out. She jumps five feet and screams bloody murder, spilling her water bottle all over the front of her, which only accentuates her feminine curves.
“What are you doing here?” she asks.
“Dugout. Forgot my water bottle.” Jeez, I can’t even form full sentences. Get your head out of the gutter. You’re here to win her over, idiot.
I just stand there looking at her, trying to figure out what to say next. Eventually the right words come out. “You did amazing tonight.”
“Thanks.” Cassy closes her bottle and places it in her duffel bag. “You were… off your game, actually. You’re never off your game.” She looks at me thoughtfully, and I can see there’s something more she wants to say. Like she wants to break this ice between us, too, to get back to our old wise-cracking banter as badly as I do.
I nod. “I was off my game tonight because of you,” I say. She presses her lips together, a guilty look. “We also won because of you, too. You proved yourself tonight, for sure.” She looks at the ground and smiles sadly. “But you don’t look very pleased about it,” I add.
“I’m not.”
I take a step toward her, my protective instincts kicking in, wondering what I can do to make her feel better. “What is it?”
She looks into my eyes then. “I should be over the moon happy, but I played like that tonight because I was channeling all my emotions about you into my game. I can’t stop thinking about you, Garrett.”
I shake my head, cursing my stupidity, wishing I never acted like I did last night. “I’m sorry—”
“No.” Cassy holds her hand up. “You were right. About everything. I thought I was protecting myself from losing you and the guys, but the truth is I can’t lose something I never had. And that’s something I intend to change. I thought I had to choose between being with you or playing baseball. It seems so stupid now because I realized if I can’t have both, I don’t think I’ll be happy with either.” Her eyes turn glassy as she looks up at me, and every bit of weight on my shoulders evaporates. “Does that make crazy?” she asks.
I chuckle. “Wanting to be with me makes you feel crazy?”
A faint smile slides onto her face. “I never thought it would happen, is all. That I’d actually want to hear your stupid smack talk and watch you try to one-up me in my free time.”
Behind that sweet smile, Cassy’s eyes silently beg for me to touch her again. My own body aches for the same thing, and I don’t hesitate to please her. I finally slip my hands around her waist like I’ve wanted to for what feels like months. Cassy quickly wraps her arms around my neck. It feels right to have her pressed up against me. It’s like we’re meant to fit together.
“I’m scared. How do we know it isn’t just sexual attraction?” Cassy asks.
“Because I don’t just want your body. I want to spend all my time with you, too. I want to know everything you’re thinking. I want to watch the games with you, kick your ass in a slide-off again.” I wink at her, and she gives me the biggest, sweetest, most sincere smile I’ve ever seen on her. I lean down, so our noses barely touch. Her eyes widen, and her mouth parts slightly. “Will you give us a chance, Cassy?” I ask.
And then she kisses me.
Chapter Twelve
Cassy
His lips feel like a dream, which is probably just so because there’s no way this is happening.
My insides explode with a tingling sensation that spreads throughout my entire body. I’ve kissed guys before, though not many, and I have to say, this hits them all out of the ballpark. Garrett’s thumb gently traces my jawline as we discover our own rhythm with our lips. My mind gets lost in this moment. Everything that’s happened between us in the last few days comes together in a moment of epiphany.
I was trying so hard to keep him away, to prevent myself from feeling what I felt the last time I fell for a friend, that I didn’t even realize what Garrett said is true. You can’t lose something you don’t already have. I convinced myself I’d lose him and my teammates if I got too close, but never let myself truly be close with them to begin with. What’s that saying? Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.
I guess I didn’t understood that saying until now.
Garrett lets his hands roam to my front, and his thumbs brush against my erect nipples. I suck in a breath when he touches me there, and he smirks against my lips. I love that stupid sexy smirk of his. It always made me want to kiss him, but I never thought I’d ever actually do it. Now that we’re in the middle of the best kiss of my life, I don’t want it to end.
As if he can read my mind, Garrett pries my mouth open with his lips, and I let him, enjoying the way he explores my tongue with his.
He tastes sweet, surprisingly (I guess I expected all that witty sass to come with a bit of a sour), and I can’t get enough of him. It’s like my body doesn’t even need air anymore. It just needs to taste him and to feel him holding me close. How could I go from despising Garrett to adoring the way it feels to be wanted by him? He pulls me tighter, melting me in his arms, and I realize I’ve always wanted him.
For every minute that passes, our kiss deepens. Our baseball caps bump into each other a few times, so I brush his hat off as I run my hands through his wild hair. Garrett does the same and lets his rough, boyish hands feel down the sides of my torso to my ass. He grabs me aggressively and groans. I suck in a shocked breath, pulling away from him.
Tempt University: Year One: A College Romance Collection Page 11