The energy in the training room is wild as the guys get their things together, wanting to get back to the hotel as soon as possible, but I keep my eyes on Miller, who stands there, infinitely proud of herself for getting me out for the night.
Chapter 13
Kai
My hand itched to knock on the door between my room and Miller’s, wanting to walk down to the lobby with her, wanting to show up in front of my teammates together in hopes they’d understand she’s off-limits for tonight.
She’s off-limits always.
For them and for me.
Instead, as soon as Monty was settled in my room to watch Max, I headed down to the lobby alone, forcing myself to wait for her there while pretending to be entirely unaffected by the prospect of having a night away from the house or hotel with the girl I, annoyingly, can’t stop thinking about.
The entire team seems to be down here already, drinking pregame beers and all too excited to have a night off without needing to be at the field tomorrow. I find Isaiah on a couch and as soon as my ass hits the cushion next to him, he’s holding out a fresh beer, top popped already.
“Never thought this would happen again,” Isaiah says, clinking his bottle to mine. “You coming out with us.”
“It’s a one-time thing.”
He doesn’t say anything, simply brings his beer to his lips, but I can feel the unspoken words he’s dying to say swirling around us.
“What?”
“I just find it interesting that the night you decide to join us is the same night Miller is.”
“There’s nothing interesting about that.”
“Really? Because I thought it was especially interesting how suddenly, after Travis invited her, you were in too.”
I find our catcher hanging out with Cody and a few other of our teammates. I like Trav a lot, he’s a good guy and a good baseball player. He’s also twenty-six years old, a lot closer to Miller’s age than me, and doesn’t have someone else that he revolves every minute of his day around.
I’m not surprised that he might be interested in her. Hell, I think anyone would be interested if they knew her, but I hate that if Travis’s interest was reciprocated, it’d make a whole lot of sense.
“He into her?” I ask as casually as possible, taking a pull from the bottle.
“Would it bother you if he were?”
I shoot my brother a side glance. “Answer the question.”
“You answer mine.”
Rolling my eyes, I stare straight ahead once again. “It would only bother me because she’s here for Max. I don’t want it to get in the way of her taking care of my son.”
My brother barks out a laugh. “Oh my fucking God. You’re so full of shit.” He scrubs a hand over his face to hide his disbelieving grin. “Don’t put this on Maxie. I saw the way you were looking at her in the stands today.”
“I wasn’t looking at her. I was looking at my kid.”
“You can lie to anyone else, including yourself, but don’t try to bullshit me. I’ve known you since the day our wonderful mother blessed the world with me, and I haven’t seen you watch a woman the way you watch Miller in far too long. Hell, maybe ever.”
Fuck my life. I thought my lingering glances were sly, but I can’t lie and say I haven’t found myself looking at her anytime she’s in the same room as me. The way she is with Max, the odd juxtaposition of her as a person—polished and put together in the kitchen then reckless and wild outside of it—makes me want to learn everything there is to know about her. It doesn’t hurt that she’s fucking stunning and her blatant statements about the way I look make me feel equally as desired.
I try to save the lie anyway. “She’s good with my son. So, yeah, of course I like watching them together, but it’s only because Max is happy.”
“I make Max happy. Monty makes Max happy, but I don’t see you looking at us like you want to fuck us against the wall.”
“Fucking gross, Isaiah.”
“I’m just saying, it’s okay to admit that you might be interested in more than Miller’s babysitting skills.”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. She’s leaving.”
Out of my periphery, Isaiah’s cheeky smile lifts. “Fucking knew it.” His voice isn’t low at all. “Fucking knew it. Glad to know the Rhodes’ family jewels are still functioning because I was getting worried there for a minute.”
“Can you please shut up?” I look around to make sure no one else heard him. “I haven’t slept with her, Jesus.”