AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“After we got back from Elmhurst.”
Well, shit. That just pushed one of my suspicions higher up on my list. “Why didn’t you show me?”
“Because of that look on your face right now. I knew you’d worry.”
“Well yeah.” I let out a charged breath. “Do you blame me?”
“He’s a dick, Cruz.”
I run a hand through my hair, wondering if I should call the guys and raincheck on today. Cal seemed pumped we’d be doing something together and I didn’t want to rock that boat.
His good days were becoming less and less as the summer went on. I actually missed arguing with him about who was the greatest ballplayer of all time—Hank Aaron, no contest—and which movie got it right when it came to the magic of the game.Field of Dreams, of course.
“Baby, I need you to do me a favor.” I sit down on the bed, weighing whether to tell her what I was having Jake’s dad look into, or not. Deciding I don’t want to worry her just yet, I hold off for right now. “I need you to stay here today.”
“What?” She sits back. “Why?”
“I need you to trust me. Don’t go to the beach or the boardwalk. Just stay here.”
She tips her head up, eyes searching mine. “What’s going on?”
“I’ll explain everything when I see you later. Just humor me until then, please?”
Seeing how serious I am, she kisses my shoulder and nods. “Okay.”
“Thank you.” I grab her hand and give it a squeeze. “When I come over tonight, I’ll fill you in.”
She nods. “I’ll hole up here and go through all this paperwork again and see if anything new pops out at me. Weather looks like crap anyways.”
“Good girl.” I kiss her forehead.
“Say it again,” she grins.
I bring my lips to her ear, my voice a low growl. “Good girls get fucked any way they want, Ellie.”
When I pull back her cheeks are flushed. “Here’s to hoping today flies by quickly.”
I laugh and kiss her goodbye, then make my way to the door. When I hear her call my name, I stop and look over my shoulder. “Can Jenica come over?”
I stalk back toward the bed and pull her into my arms,crashing my mouth down mouth down on hers. “Yes,” I whisper against her lips. “And tell her what I told you. Stay here.”
“Aye aye, captain.”
She gives me a little salute, and I wink, then make my way out the door.
When I get back to my place a few minutes later, Cal and Marcus are in the living room playing SEGA.
“Damn, it’s getting crazy out there,” I hike a thumb over my shoulder. “Maybe we should stay here today and grill and chill?”
In the time it took to drive from Ellery’s house to here, the wind’s picked up and I can see from here, the waves have gotten bigger.
“Works for me,” Cal shrugs, keeping his eyes on the TV. “Jake wants to head toMiller’sand pick up some food and beer. Got any cash? I’m out.”
“Yeah, sure.” I reach for my wallet and take out a couple of twenties. When I do, a picture flutters to the floor and lands near his foot. I bend down to grab it but he gets it first.
“Well, well, well.” He grins while looking at it. “What do we have here?”
The photo is from the strip that came out of the booth that night at the boardwalk. I didn’t tell Ellery then, but I did put a few tickets in, only, by the time we started going at it, I’d completely forgotten.
