Chapter 38

[Ross]

The next few days are more than rough, as we move from Philly to Phoenix, and the rumors continue. Speculation about Valdez's future on the team. Gossip about me and my superstition whisperer, who has been upgraded to slumber-party princess or lady luck .

"How you holding up?" Kip asks me as we stand side by side watching Royal take warm-up pitches. With summer almost here, Phoenix is a furnace outside this enclosed stadium. Even inside, it's warm. The team is in various stages of stretching and final batting practices are being completed.

Staring at the field, I blindly watch my young pitcher and simply shake my head in answer to Kip.

We've already discussed how it wasn't him who told anyone about the arrangement Vee and I had. He also checks in with me almost hourly, knowing my head and heart are some eighteen-hundred miles away.

"If you're worried about where my mind is—"

"I'm not." He's been a good friend, knowing I'm hardly holding it together. He also knows Vee is all I can fucking think about right now. I'm focused on the field when game time arrives, but every other minute is pre-occupied with her.

"How's Vee?" he asks cautiously.

"Still not answering any of my phone calls or texts." Defeat is in my voice as I scrub my forefinger and thumb around my mouth, arms crossed over my chest. The position is casual but internally, it's like I'm trying to hold myself together. My chest aches. I miss Vee more and more every day that passes without contact.

Her snortle. Her smile. Her sexy sounds and pep talks.

Being back in Phoenix is torture. This is where I hatched my plan and Vee, sweet, generous Vee, agreed to my nonsense. My happy chance was propositioning her and her accepting the challenge. I never expected to fall in love .

I certainly never expected anyone to find out how we started, and frankly, I don't give a damn about our beginning. All that matters is how we end. What we have, which is rare and beautiful, special and life changing. Vee in my life has changed everything, and I refuse to believe this is the end of us.

I swipe my cap off my head and run both hands over my scalp before slapping the cap back in place. Then I rub the heels of my hands against my eyes, as if I can focus on this field better, and clear my mind only momentarily of the woman I need to chase.

"You look exhausted," Kip teases.

"I'm a mess," I grunt, not even hiding how tired I am. Worn down by the distance. Worn out by her absence.

I'm still stuck on the road for three more games.

I feel like I've dropped the ball on the most important game of my life. Only Vee isn't a game. She's everything to me.

Kip claps me on the back. "Let me know if you need anything."

What I need is Vee.

"You'll get her back," Kip adds, as if reading my thoughts.

I want to have the same faith he has, but each day that passes I become more and more certain.

"What you need is a grand gesture?"

I tip back my head and stare at the ceiling of the enclosed stadium, blinking several times. "Kip, what the fuck, man?"

"Don't you read her books?"

My head snaps back, my neck cracking at the move. As a matter of fact, I have been reading one of her books.

"I don't want to give anything away but near the end, the hero always needs to grovel. And it's best done with a grand gesture."

"Like what?" I turn to him, forgetting we're standing on a ballfield. I'm ready to beg him for his knowledge.

Kip chuckles. "I should torture you and make you finish the book, then you'll understand."

"Kip, I swear." The desperation in my voice, along with something in my face has my friend chuckling again. "Just tell me."

"Okay, here's what I suggest."