Chapter 25

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FIVE

DANI

We walk back into the suite, and everyone has settled into the game. The friendly banter is flying, and everyone is comfortable. Jenny sits between Cole and Chance, watching the game and cheering when Luis catches a fly ball, ending the inning.

Xander leans down and whispers in my ear, causing goosebumps to cover my arms. “What can I get for you, sunshine?”

I shake my head, not trusting myself to speak just yet. I’m still keyed up from our kiss.

“You’ll tell me when you want something, right?” I give a slight nod.

“Well, well, well, look who decided to join us,” Trevor says from the couch. He shoots us a devious grin. At that statement, all eyes turn to us.

Xander runs his hand down my arm, letting me know he’s still with me. His smile is another new one for me, directed at his friend. “Fuck off.” He chuckles, and I can feel his chest against my back. He does a quick sweep of the suite. “Where are Ash and Jules?”

I look around and notice they’re missing from the suite. Alexander keeps tabs on everyone. He’s the shepherd watching over the flock. That can’t be a simple job with this group. No wonder he’s stressed.

“They went to see your dad,” Cole offers. “I wasn’t sure he’d think I was dressed appropriately, so I stayed.” He tips his hat as a reminder.

“Nah, your jersey speaks volumes, and you know he wouldn’t care. Admit you just wanted to watch the game,” Chance says.

“How are my boys doing?” Xander asks as he guides me down to the stadium seats where most everyone is sitting.

We take a seat behind Jenny. I can’t see a thing sitting behind Chance’s broad shoulders. How tall is he, anyway? I stand back up. “I’m going to get water. Can I get anyone anything?” Xander stands, and I place my hand on his shoulder, signaling him to stay put.

“I’ll come with.” Jenny pops up from her seat. She squeezes past Chance, her ass in his face, and he diverts his eyes and is greeted by a snickering Cole.

Jenny reaches her hand to me, and we take the few steps up to the bar away from everyone.

“So?” she asks, her eyes wide as saucers.

“So what?” I whisper back. We’re shoulder to shoulder, doing our best to keep this discussion between us. Jenny gives me a skeptical look. She’s not buying my innocent look.

The bartender puts two bottles of water in front of us, gives a wink and knowing smile, and steps to the other end of the bar to give us privacy and watches the game on the TV.

I gulp water to buy time before responding. What do I tell her? That I had the most sensual, soul-crushing kiss I’ve ever had in my life? That I’m scared I might be in over my head. That I want to see more underneath that grumpy facade. This totally out-of-my-league guy rocked my world with a kiss.

I don’t want to share those details. “I told him about Riley.”

“Shit.” Jenny takes a drink of her water. “And?”

“I don’t know. He was understanding.” I’m not sure what Xander thinks about me marrying someone I didn’t love for his military benefits. I’m not sure how I feel about it seven years later. It happened so fast and seemed like a quick solution to an uncertain situation. My father was furious and felt it was dishonest. We didn’t expect it to happen the way it did. Riley wanted to provide for his kid, and his life insurance would have done that. It’s the thought that counts, I guess. I still have moments of sadness that he’s missing out on Tyler.

“Well, it was a messed-up situation, and you did nothing wrong. If he wasn’t understanding, that says more about him than you, right?”

“Yeah, but it is what it is. At least he knows.” I know that kiss was judgment free. Xander doesn’t hold my past over me.

“And the kiss?” She wiggles her eyebrows at me.

“Unforgettable.” I sigh and touch my lips, still feeling his scorching kiss.

“Um, there must be more to the story than what I saw, or you are in worse shape than I thought.” She’s glaring at me. She senses I’m not telling her the whole story.

“Oh girl, so much more to the story.” I giggle as the suite and stadium burst into cheers.

“That’s my boy!” Cole yells, hugging Darcy.

I watch on TV as Matt casually runs the bases, rounding third. He must have hit a home run.

“World Series bound, boys!” Cole shouts, hugging everyone. He reaches for Alexander, and there’s a pause. Alexander gives a slight nod and hugs Cole. I suspect there’s a story there too.

He looks at me over Cole’s shoulder and gives me a new look. This man has a thousand different expressions, and I vow to learn them all. I’m not sure about this one, but I’ll label it as a promise. His eyes sparkle and smolder as they lock onto me. A slight smile peeks from his lips. He gives Cole a hard slap on the back and focuses back on his friends.

“You think we should leave them to celebrate?” I ask Jenny. “I don’t want to be a distraction.”

“Girl, I think you’re beyond that. And if you think he’s letting you walk out of here, you are sorely mistaken. He’s locked on you, so you best buckle up.”

I think she’s right but also wrong. I don’t think he’ll ever do anything I don’t want because he still sees me as a victim. I notice it in his hesitancy before he touches me. Being a young, pregnant widow adds to my narrative, but it’s part of my story I can’t change. The most important thing to me is he doesn’t see me that way. There’s only one way to erase those images from his mind, and I devise a plan to start a new chapter with Alexander Decker. He may see me as a victim, but I need this man to see me differently. But first, he needs to celebrate and enjoy this moment with his team.