Chapter 12

The sun beamedin through my open window, which stirred me from sleep. I blinked against the harsh morning light and reached for my phone. Two new messages from a number I didn't recognize. My stomach dropped when I realized who it was.

Unknown: Hey it's Reese. Willow finally caved and gave me your number after you left.

Unknown: Why did you leave? I was kind of waiting for you to swoop in and save me from a strange girl who wouldn't leave me alone and kept calling me Ross.

I propped myself up on one elbow, rubbing my eyes and trying to make sense of what I was reading. Does that mean Reese didn't fall for one of those girls throwing themselves at him? I typed a reply, hesitating for a moment before hitting send.

Did Willow really give you my number willingly, or did you have to pry it from her cold, dead hands? Is she alive, Ross?

I hear a soft chime from my phone as Reese responds almost instantly.

Reese: Very funny. Let's just say I can be very persuasive. But don't worry, I promised her I would be a gentleman.

Reese: Meet me at the marina near the field after practice today?

I'll think about it.

Reese: I'll take that as a yes.

I arrived at the marina. My palms were sweaty and my heart was pounding, unaware of what might be in store for me. As much as I tried to convince myself that this was just going to be a brief and casual encounter, I couldn't deny the fluttering in my stomach. That fluttering that had been happening a lot lately. I knew we kissed once, and it was incredible, but where could this even go?

I was well aware that I needed to keep my distance from Reese Carrington. Getting caught up in his whirlwind would probably bring chaos into my life, and I couldn't afford to let that happen. This wasn't a play—this was my actual life, and I was used to living in my safe, comfortable bubble. I knew I had to be cautious around him because of his reputation. Despite everything, it seemed as though the world shifted when we were together and the pull between us was too powerful to resist.

As soon as I spotted him, leaning against his speedboat with an air of nonchalance, I was struck by his presence. Reese's unreal eyes met mine, and a smile spread across his face, revealing those dimples. His golden deep tan seemed to glow beneath the sunlight.

"Hartford. Wasn't sure if you'd show. Hop on," He extended his hand towards me as he held the boat steady. The water lapped gently against the sides of the vessel as I hesitated for a moment before finally taking his offered hand. His grip was firm and reassuring, and I found myself reluctantly stepping onto the deck.

"Where are we going?" I asked, attempting to sound casual.

"Not far," he said, flashing me another one of his heart-stopping grins. "I figured we could just go for a ride and enjoy the view."

Reese started the boat's engine and looked effortlessly at ease, steering us into the open water with practiced skill. I couldn't help but admire the way he was so confident and calm in everything he did.

"Reese," I called out over the wind as we started to speed up, "why did you invite me here?" My voice wavered slightly, betraying my nerves.

He glanced back at me before he slowed the boat to a more relaxed pace. "Last night was... interesting," Reese replied cryptically, a mischievous grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "I was kind of hoping you'd come find me."

I raised an eyebrow, attempting to maintain an air of indifference despite my racing heart. Interesting? I guess you could call it that. He knew exactly what he was doing last night, being extremely hard to resist. It was infuriating and exhilarating all at once. And to top it off, I had to witness those girls throwing themselves at him.

"Well, you had plenty of attention last night," I said, pushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear and averting my eyes. "And interesting? Is that what you want to call it?" I challenged, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Would you prefer me to be more specific?" Reese teased, turning the boat towards a secluded cove.

"Maybe I would," I shot back defiantly, trying not to let my gaze linger too long on his toned frame. "And then maybe you could be more specific about what the hell we're doing out here."

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked rhetorically, pulling the boat to a stop and cutting the engine. The silence that followed was almost deafening, leaving only the sound of gentle waves. "I'm into you. How much more specific can I be?"

My breath hitched at his admission, but I refused to let him see just how much his words affected me. Instead, I shot him a steely gaze, determined not to fall under his spell so easily.

"You don't even know me," I blurted out, feeling the need to draw a line in the sand. "And you should know that nothing is going to happen between us again." The memory of our previous encounter threatened to surface, but I shook it away.

He's not the type of guy I'd ever picture myself dating. He was arrogant and self-assured, and he probably had no intentions of settling down. He was alluring, I'd give him that—but we lived completely different lives.

Reese's smile broadened into a devilish smirk as he leaned back against the boat railing, his emerald eyes glistening with mischief. "I know… that's another reason we're here. I wanna get to know you," he said, with amusement. "I'll play by your rules."

He paused for a moment, running his fingers through his dark hair before continuing, "But want to know what I think?" I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite my reservations. He pushed off the railing and leaned in close, his warm breath tickling my ear as he whispered, "I think you're going to have a hard time keeping your hands off me. Before you know it, you'll be begging to kiss me again… probably asking to sit on my face."

His confidence was bordering on arrogance, yet it was undeniably alluring. I felt a flutter between my legs and my pulse raced at his bold statement, but I refused to show any weakness. Instead, I laughed hysterically at his confidence, trying to brush off the weight of his words. Those words that sounded incredibly hot coming out of his mouth.

"You're laughing at me?" Reese asked, smirking in disbelief.

"Your ego," I said, shaking my head. "It's just... very impressive."

"Is it now?" he replied, raising an eyebrow playfully.

"I don't even know how there's room for us to be on the same boat with your ego," I confirmed, unable to suppress a grin.

As I looked over at him, I could no longer keep it suppressed—the memory of our passionate kiss came flooding back. Thinking about his soft lips against mine sent cold shivers through my body, despite the warm sun shining brightly above us. I scolded myself for even entertaining the thought, but it was becoming harder and harder to ignore.

"At least you think something about me is impressive," Reese replied, his gaze never leaving mine as he maintained a confident grin. "But it's only a matter of time before you realize what a catch I am."

"Keep dreaming," I shot back, trying to ignore the way my skin tingled under the intensity of his stare. As much as I wanted to deny it, there was something about the force drawing me into Reese Carrington that I couldn't control. And it terrified me.

"We'll see about that," he said simply, his eyes glittering with anticipation. He straightened up, giving me some much-needed space as he turned his attention to the glistening waters surrounding the boat.

I exhaled slowly, my pulse gradually returning to normal for a moment. I knew that Reese had planted a seed of doubt in me. Could I really resist the magnetic pull between us?

"Truthfully, you want to know what I like about you, Hartford?" Reese said, breaking the comfortable silence. His eyes were fixed on me.

I raised an eyebrow, letting out a playful smirk. "Let's hear it."

He smiled, shaking his head slightly. "You don't play mind games. You're honest, sometimes maybe too honest, but it's refreshing." Reese's tone was surprisingly sincere.

I looked out over the lake, the tension slightly fading between us. "I've spent so much time playing characters, immersing myself in drama... When I'm not on stage, I just want to be me. I like authenticity."

Reese watched me closely. "Sounds exhausting. Wearing a mask all the time."

"It kind of is," I admitted. "Sometimes it's exhausting and draining—but in the end, it's all worth it. Just like I'm sure baseball is for you."

"Definitely worth it," he laughed. "Speaking of baseball…I need to hit the batting cages later tonight."

He pulled open a cabinet door to grab his phone to check the time, revealing neatly stacked books that filled the small space to the brim.

"Wow, I didn't take you for the bookish type," I said, unable to keep the surprise out of my tone as I stepped closer.

"There's a lot you don't know about me."

"Apparently," I admitted, crouching down to get a better look. My fingers brushed against the spines of various titles—literature, philosophy, several law books—each book a new layer of Reese Carrington.

"Listen," I said, my voice cheerful with the thrill of this new discovery. "Books are the way to my heart. They're how I travel."

A soft chuckle escaped him. "Is that so? Haven't heard that one before."

"Absolutely. They can take you anywhere you want to go." I explained.

"Noted," he said simply, his smile widened, revealing a rare vulnerability that he usually kept locked away.

I pulled out one of the books on top, my focus shifting as a post-it note slipped from between the pages, fluttering to the floor.

"Oops," I said, bending to pick it up.

"Leave it," he said quickly, but not quickly enough to stop me from seeing the scribbled notes on it.

"Criminal law?" I asked, holding up the slip of paper, noticing that several other bookmarks were peeking out from the book's edge; it was covered with similar neon post-its.

A brief look of vulnerability crossing his face before the mask of confidence returned. "Maybe I'm full of surprises—or maybe I just think the law is interesting," he said with a small smile, taking the note from my hand and tucking it back into the book.

"Maybe there's hope for you after all," I teased, though the realization that Reese might have dreams beyond baseball and the carefree lifestyle he projected struck a chord within me.

I watched him carefully replace the Criminal Law book among the others, the post-it notes now hidden from view. It was then, surrounded by his secret studious world, that I understood that there was more depth and complexity to Reese Carrington.

"Here," he said, handing me a particularly worn volume. "I think you'll appreciate this one."

I glanced down at the worn cover—a vintage edition of ‘Hamlet'—and felt an inexplicable throb in my chest. How could he have known? I performed as Ophelia in our last theater production, a role that I was incredibly proud of.

"Hamlet?" My voice echoed a mix of astonishment and curiosity, betraying the surprise that had taken over me. The moment felt heavy, almost as heavy as the leather-bound book I held in my hands.

Reese's smile widened. "Yeah. You strike me as someone who appreciates the classics. The tragedy, the madness—the undying love or whatever."

I knew one thing for certain, this boy was anything but simple—and there were layers to him that went beyond what could be seen on the surface.