Hell, I guess I’m pretty different too.
I’ve gotten to know some of the guys, and they include me in things. I’m playing as well as I did at the start of my career. Best of all, I’m enjoying the game. It isn’t tedious, or what I’d consider work. It’s me, my glove, and the field.
And it’s Layla.
I’d be lying to myself not to acknowledge how her presence has changed my outlook. Clearly, her diet is working, because I have more energy than I’ve had in years. I’m sure she’ll get snippy with me when she finds out I eat fried chickenonce a week, but it’s nowhere near as bad as it was when I’d be eating fast food and crap from restaurants for every meal.
Honestly, I don’t know how I made it this far without a beer belly and acne. Since I’ve been mostly adhering to Layla’s nutrition plan, I’ve shaved five pounds off my weight, and my abs are looking the best they ever have.
And if Layla happens to see me walking around my apartment shirtless, wearing only athletic shorts that are hungverylow on my hips, then so be it. If she won’t let me fuck her, she might as well see the merchandise she’s not allowed to touch.
Knowing she leaves earlier than me, I may have set an alarm to be out in the kitchen when she’d inevitably walk out of her room. Leaning back against the kitchen counter, holding a bowl of cereal, I muffle a laugh when she literally tiptoes past me. She still hears it, shrieking, and throws her shoes into the air. “What the hell, Max?”
“How can you be angry at me? You’re the one sneaking out of here like it’s a walk of shame,” I answer, raising a brow at her. I hide a smile behind my spoon as I clench my ab muscles, then watch as she completely loses her train of thought.
“You scared — I mean, I figured you’d sleep in your abs — fuck,” she hisses, but can’t break her gaze from my body. When her eyes finally snap up to mine, she audibly gulps. “I think we should have a ground rule of always wearing clothing in the apartment.”
I gesture down to my shorts. “I’m clothed.”
Popping a hand on her hip, she gives me a glare. Decked out in a pair of gray pants and a maroon top with the Rocky Mountain Raptors logo over her heart, it should scare me how much I like seeing her in my team colors. Unfortunately, it makes me think about how I’d like to see her wearing only my jersey while I fuck her from behind, and that makes my dick twitch. Since the only thing I’m wearing is made of incredibly thin material, now is not the time to get a half chub. Turning toward the sink, I dump out my cereal, then take a moment to wash the bowl as I will my body to calm the hell down.
“Max, you’re trying to bait me, and it’s not going to work,” she finally says, but her voice is breathy.
“Is that so?”
She nods emphatically. “What happened in Houston was an error in judgment on my part. While it was definitely enjoyable —”
“That it was,” I tease, making her lips twitch.
“It won’t happen again. I can’t lose this job, Max. And if you have any respect for me, you’ll honor that.” Her gaze is imploring me to agree. God dammit.
“One more for the road?” I ask hopefully, making her throw her head back in laughter. I know what the answer will be, but her laughter was worth it.
“Can I have a key to get back in this fortress?” she asks, effectively shutting me down.
I push the keycard across the island toward her. “I already put your name on everything, so you shouldn’t have any issues getting back into the building. If you do, just call me.”
“I don’t understand.” Layla’s confusion is written all over her face.
“The keycards are programmed to access specific areas of the building,” I explain. “It’s helpful when getting groceries delivered — all the food you requested should be here in the next hour, by the way — because we can allow a delivery person into the elevator, but not into any other areas of the building. Or if we have guests, we can give them access to the gym, but not the garage. You can go anywhere.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” Layla says softly. She walks around the island, and I naturally open my arms to her. Once she’s snuggled against my chest, I breathe her in. “Thank you, Max. For everything. You know, you’re actually a pretty decent guy.”
“Don’t tell anyone,” I joke. “Can’t let that get out. It’ll ruin my reputation.”
“I doubt anyone would believe me, considering your glare is visible from the top row when you’re all the way out in right field,” she says, deadpan.
“Har-har,” I reply. My arms tighten around her, not willing to let go, but I do when I feel her let out a long exhale.
“I’ll see you at the field,” she says, dropping her arms. She gives me one shy smile, collects her thrown sneakers, and quietly leaves the apartment. I look over to find both guinea pigs staring at me from their cage, as if I’m the reason why their mom left.
“Don’t look at me,” I say defiantly. “I didn’t want her to go either.”
One lets out a tiny squeak, while the other turns around to face away from me. Marilyn, I think, then proceeds to kick her hind paws through the cage bedding, and I watch as multiple turds hit the hardwood floor in front of me.
After putting all the groceries away, I’m watching the piggies absolutely wreck a handful of baby carrots, and find it is way more enjoyable than I’d have thought. When my phone vibrates with a text, I assume it’s Layla checking on the girls, but am surprised to find it’s the group text with half the Raptors team.
Holloway
