Page 44 of Stetson
I couldn’t make out too many features behind the catcher’s mask, but two dark eyes peered back at me. “I said, ‘slut.’”
Damn, he was bold. My bat hit the dirt, and I ripped off my helmet. Everything around me faded away. “Want to try that again?”
He raised his mask and stretched to his full height, accepting the challenge. Like most other players in the MLB, he towered over me, but that didn’t mean anything. I could hold my own. I ignored the umpire’s hand attempting to keep space between us, and I stared the other guy down. “You heard me,” he snarled, his chest bumping mine.
I wiggled a hand between us, giving the guy a shove. “Oh, come on. You can do better than that.”
“You’re not worth it,Rookie.”
My hands were on him before I could think of doing anything else. I hauled him up by the straps of his vest and slammed him against the fence. But before I could get in a swing, another arm grabbed me—a familiar touch. My fists loosened, and my mind registered a broad chest behind me. Warmth crowded against my back. I let go of the catcher. “Stetson, remember where you are.”
Daddy!
“Time out, Holloway!Now!”
A coach approached to my left, and I realized I was in trouble. Levi’s grip tightened, and I let him pull me out of the situation. I couldn’t even muster the nerve to listen to the announcer, nor did I care to hear whatever Coach had to say. I was tuned into one thing and one thing only, and when Levi asked everyone to give us some space, I was relieved.
“Where’s Barrett?” I asked once we were alone in the clubhouse.
“Minnesota,” Levi responded in that warm, soothing voice that seemed to be one of the two things I wanted in that moment. I wanted Barrett. “He already knows, and he’s dealing with it there.”
I wiggled out of Levi’s grip and moved for my things. “Why are you here with me?”
“Because only one of you has the shortest fuse in existence.”
I stopped in my tracks. Heat bloomed up my cheeks, but I couldn’t even argue. My actions on the field only proved his point. “He needs you,” I muttered.
“He needsus, baby. And we need you.” I turned, my body seeming to find his like a magnet. Buried in his chest, I relaxed. Sort of. His arms wrapped around me, and I fought the urge to break down. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to cry or trash the place. Possibly both, but neither would make me feel any better. “He’ll be on the field right. There’s no sense in trying to call him.”
“He shouldn’t be playing.”
“Then neither should you.”
I tipped my head back, resting my chin on Levi’s sternum to look at him. “I can’t leave.”
“No, you can’t,” Levi agreed. “So you’re going to go back out there and wait this out on the bench. After, I’ll take you home. Barrett will meet us there as soon as he can.”
Since there were no real punches thrown, the umpire didn’t label my little meltdown as a fight, and neither team was penalized. I was benched, which worked in our favor. I took my anger out on a plastic water bottle while I watched my team conquer Florida. They all went out to celebrate, and I wasn’t invited. I had better places to be anyway. After rushing through a shower, I met Levi outside the clubhouse, where he led me through a back entrance and into a car. I’d never been more grateful for anyone in my life. I at least got the door shut before the press figured it out.
Levi executed everything, even a security guard to escort us through the airport and onto the flight. Being so late at night, it was a quiet one. The entire journey, I continued to try and get in touch with Barrett. I was met with silence, which only stoked the fire in my belly. Why was he ignoring me?
By the time we landed in Atlanta, I was a panicked mess. For what felt like the thousandth time, he reached over and stilled my bouncing leg. He squeezed my knee, hard. “Don’t worry, Stetson,” he repeated. “Minnesota is two hours behind us. Barrett called while you were on the field. He’s fine, he doesn’t blame you. He just needs to meet with his publicist.”
“Why did he tell you that and not me?” I whined, looking at the multiple messages I’d sent him that had all gone unopened.
“Because you’re also a pro athlete and he knows how time-consuming game days can be. Besides, I told him I would take care of you so he could process. It’s been a long day for everyone, baby; his phone may have died. There’s no need to panic.”
Levi’s words went in, my brain processed them, but I didn’t want to deal with them. I wantedbothof my men. The only thing time accomplished was sending me into a spiral. What if Barrett blamed me and didn’t want to say? Barrett had gotten comfortable in his relationship with Levi and I tore into their happy little life. His name was in the headlines because ofme.
I tried calling him again when Levi was in the bathroom. There was no answer. Damn it, why wouldn’t he just talk to me?
When he came out, Levi took my phone and stashed it away in my bedside drawer. “You need to rest.” As I opened my mouth to protest, he shushed me, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “I know. I promise we’ll face this tomorrow and Barrett’s not going to get away with his lack of communication. But tonight, all you can do is try and sleep. It won’t do you any good to be tired.”
Instead of letting me answer, Levi pulled the blanket back and gestured for me to get into bed. I did, reluctantly, and let him kiss me goodnight. He climbed in himself, not giving me a chance to protest the gap between us before closing in behind me and wrapping an arm around my waist. He took my hand and between his thumb brushing along the back of mine and his lips on my neck, I quickly lost my body’s fight and dozed off.
I awoke sometime later, only coherent enough to realize it was still dark outside. Levi was no longer cuddling me, having turned in the opposite direction. Snoring echoed throughout the room. Free from my restraints, I eased the nightstand drawer open, feeling around for my phone and pulling it free. Nothing from Barrett. The device fell to the bed, and I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling. I didn’t know what to do. Barrett wasn’t speaking to me, Levi wanted me to drop it.
Maybe I was out of my element.
