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That sounds fun, but when I remember I need to keep this relationship a secret for the time being, I decide it’s probably not the best idea to go out with the team.
“Actually, I think I’m going to call it a night.” I need to email Patti an update on the preseason posts scheduled for the team’s accounts as well as tell her about potential sponsors who’ve reached out to me since we’ve been in Florida.
Corey’s shoulders fall in disappointment. “Are you sure?”
No.
“Yes. But you should still go. Bond with your teammates and all that,” I offer him an encouraging smile.
He mock-scowls. “That sounds awful.”
“Hey now, some of the guys aren’t that bad. I’m a big fan of Joshua. And Kendrick is your friend from college.”
“Yeah, you have a point.” He runs a hand over his hair, but the gel holds it in place. “So… can I kiss you goodnight?”
I bite my bottom lip. All I want to do is throw myself into his arms and devour his lips with mine, but we just said we’d take things slow. Not to mention, my work says I’m not even supposed to be dating him…
“Let’s save that for another time,” I finally answer. Corey releases a defeated sigh.
“Alright. We can save that for our next date.”
“Or maybe the one after that?”
“Hey, a confirmed three date runway? I’ll take it.”
I laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you, Carlee Jones,” He picks up my hand and presses his lips to my knuckles, making my stomach dip. “Are more than worth the wait.”
18
COREY
I tryto keep my cool as I board the plane three days after my date with Carlee. The team won our second preseason game against Detroit, and now we’re on the way to Tallahassee to play the Blue Birds. We’re taking the team’s plane for the trip, and I’m hoping to snag a seat next to a certain social media coordinator who has been occupying my thoughts every second of the day.
Carlee and I haven’t had the chance to spend time together since our first date. I’ve been busy at practice and dodging Coach Vaughn’s attempts to push me into a leadership role that I’m not sure I’m interested in. The team knows I was traded to the Lonestars against my will. Why would they choose to listen to a guy who didn’t want to be on their team? I know I wouldn’t.
Carlee’s been a whirlwind, too, capturing content to use on the team’s social media sites while also helping individual players curate their personal accounts. She’s good at her job, and the team loves her. I’ve listened to more than one player talk about her, and I’ve had to bite my tongue when a few of their comments admired her looks rather than her work performance.
Carlee said she wants to take things slow. She wouldn’t like to hear that I had harsh words with a player for talking abouthow hot she looked in her yoga pants during the team’s practice yesterday morning. She’d been wearing an oversized Lonestar hoodie, but when she bent over to pick up a folder she’d dropped outside the dugout, we’d all gotten a good view of her perfect ass.
Joshua saved Greg from a black eye when he shoved the catcher and told him to keep his lewd comments to himself. It’s typical locker room talk, but that won’t save any of them if I hear anyone plans to make a move on the stunning blonde. They don’t know she’s mine, but they will. Just as soon as Carlee warms up to the idea of telling people.
I don’t like keeping our relationship a secret, but I understand Carlee’s reasons. Things didn’t go well the last time we were in this position. She needs time to trust me again, and I need to be open with her about my feelings—something that doesn’t come naturally to a kid who spent his childhood walking on eggshells in his home, hoping not to piss off the man responsible for what little food and shelter he provided.
Carlee needs reassurance that I’m not going to break her heart. And as I watch her walk onto the plane, laughing at something her uptight coworker, Chris, says, I know I’m going to do everything in my damn power to not mess this up. Women like Carlee are one in a million. No, a billion. And I won’t let myself sabotage this opportunity to be with her.
“Jones,” I call out when it looks like she’s going to sit next to her coworker. “I need your help with a post. The hashtags you listed aren’t showing up.”
The look she gives me is skeptical, but unless she wants to cause a scene by openly dismissing my request, she has no choice but to come over.
My chest puffs out in triumph when she says something to Chris before continuing down the aisle towards me.
“Never thought I’d hear Corey Johnson talking about hashtags,” Kendrick says from the seat behind me.
“Me either,” Joshua pipes up. “I thought the old man was hopeless when it came to social media.”
“He is,” Kendrick says. “That’s why Carlee is helping him.”
