Shoving the bag that contained my damp shirt into my purse, I headed out of the bathroom and in the direction of the locker room. I prayed Jack wouldn’t be able to tell that anything happened and that I’d be able to hold it all in. I knew keeping this from him was probably wrong, but I convinced myself that it was in Jack’s best interest. He needed to keep his mind on the field and his head in the game at all times. He wouldn’t be able to do that if he knew this kind of shit occurred. And I’d never be able to forgive myself if anything happened to his career because of me.
A Lot of the Guys Cheat
Jack
After the game and the team meeting, I changed, took a quick shower, and headed out of the navy blue locker room doors. I burst through, looking around for her face. The minute I locked on her tired green eyes, I knew something was off.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, as my protective instincts flared.
Her lips formed a tight smile and I eyed the Mets shirt that hugged the curves of her body. “Nothing’s wrong. Like my new shirt?”
She turned around, lifting her hair to proudly display my last name and jersey number written on the back of the shirt. Carter 23.
“Like it? I fucking love it,” I answered and her face softened, but the worry lines between her eyes remained.
My mind instantly flashed back to the night she was mugged at Fullton State. She was with a group of my teammates heading toward campus to meet up with me when a guy high on drugs and alcohol assaulted them and claimed to have a gun. I was scheduled to throw out the first pitch for the softball team that night, but I left the second I heard whispers about what happened, running into Dean and Brett along the way. I remember sprinting across the parking lot as quick as my legs would move me, toward the street searching for any signs of her. When I saw her silhouette, being helped up by my buddy Cole as they walked, I nearly crumpled with pain. It was my job to protect her and keep her safe, and I failed.
Seeing her beautiful face bruised and beaten in my mind caused my blood to start boiling. I promised her that night that I’d never let anyone hurt her again, and I meant it. The thought alone could make me come completely unglued. No one could fuck with my Kitten like that ever again.
“You going to tell me what’s wrong?” I pressed again and she avoided my eyes.
“Really it’s nothing. I just want to go home. I’m exhausted.”
I leaned my head toward her, my lips grazing over her ear as I whispered, “I know you’re lying. Tell me in the car.” I kissed her ear before pulling my lips away and throwing my arm around her shoulder.
I relaxed the moment she pulled her body into mine and confessed, “I love you. I’m so fucking happy that you’re here. That we’re here together. You know that, right?” She smiled as the words left her lips.
God I loved that smile. I loved everything about this woman.
“I am too. I love you.”
I refused to stop for any fan autographs or pictures, instead walking straight to the car, my arm around my girl. Cassie’s body tensed as small flashes of light exploded around us. I was used to this, but she wasn’t. I squeezed her tighter, longing to reassure whatever bothered her.
“Hey, Matteo.”
“Hi, Jack. Cassie.” His smile quickly faded when he said her name. He sensed it too. Something was wrong.
Once in the privacy of our car, I reached for Cassie’s hand, stroking the top with my thumb. “Tell me what’s wrong, Kitten.”
The car sped forward and Matteo glanced at us in the rearview.
“I’m just really tired, Jack. It’s a long day when I come straight here after work, you know?”
She had a point. Cass was gone in the mornings before I woke up, and we didn’t get home until well after eleven.
“You don’t have to come to all the games.” I offered her a way out. Did I want her there? Of course I did. I wanted that girl everywhere I was. But maybe I was being unreasonable by asking her to come to the games when I don’t even play.
Her eyes softened, and I had to touch her. I cupped her chin in my palm, her eyes closing. “I want to be at your games, Jack. I’ll miss plenty of them because of work. I want to watch every one that I can.”
I sighed.
Actually fucking sighed.
Matteo was probably thinking about what a giant pussy I was. Hell, I was thinking about what a giant pussy I was.
I changed the subject. She was avoiding my question for a reason, and I refused to push her about it in the car. I’d ask her again once we were home…and alone. I handed her a manila envelope filled with paperwork.
“What is this?” She scrunched up her nose, and it was so goddamned cute that I instantly hardened.
“It’s my travel schedule for the next three weeks.”
Her eyes widened, “Oh! I meant to ask you about that the other night, but I completely forgot.”
“Well here it is.” I slid my hand up her thigh. “Part of it anyway,” I added before she swatted my hand away.
“Stop it,” she whispered, her cheeks turning pink.
I loved the way I affected her. It made me even harder, and I adjusted my jeans, attempting to relieve the pressure. She flipped through the papers, pausing to read some pages more thoroughly than others. I leaned into her neck, the smell of her skin overwhelming my senses. I kissed her softly, allowing my tongue to glide up her neck as she released a slight gasp.