“Yup,” I replied, popping thepout of annoyance.
Carlos smirked at me. “If it wasn’t for today, I’d think you were lying to save your own ass. But something has you grinning like a fool and I’d bet my left nut it is a woman.”
My mouth opened to argue it wasn’t, but since I was nowhere with the bet, I didn’t want to out myself. He could believe whatever he wanted.
It had been two days since we started walking into work together. We had also been texting back and forth. I wasn’t usually one for endless messages or idle chitchat, unless it was sexting, then of course, I was all for it. It was the monotonous small talk I couldn’t care less about. Except,Iwas the one reaching out to April. I was genuinely concerned about making our plan work. Our last messages were about meeting in the morning to walk to the stadium together.
My heart raced when I got to her floor, wondering why the fuck my palms were sweating and I was feelingsomething.What the hell was this?Was I…nervous? I knocked three times, then wiped my palm on my pants. April winced as she opened her door.
“What happened to you?” I asked, instinctively checking her out.
She groaned and held her neck with her right hand. “I slept on it funny last night. I think I kinked it.”
“Thinking about me all night, huh?” I lifted my eyebrows, sort of hoping it was true.
She turned her body toward me. “You’re an ass.”
“You love it.” She rolled her eyes. It was fun teasing her. “Can you even turn your head?”
She grimaced as she attempted to turn to the right and stopped. “Ouch! Apparently not.”
“That’s gonna make a rough day for you.”
“Yeah. Thanks.” She grabbed her duffle and tried to put it on her shoulder, but shrieked in pain.
I took the bag from her and she didn’t protest. “Why didn’t you take today off?”
“Why?”
“April, you can’t move unless you turn your entire body.”
She waved me off. “I’ll be fine.”
She was so stubborn, marching ahead of me toward the elevator despite wincing every few steps. Carrying her bag, I followed her out. Even with the clouds outside, the air was thick with humidity. My forehead was starting to bead with sweat.
“Crap, is it ever muggy today.”
April attempted to look up at the sky and cringed immediately. Oops. “Maybe, they’ll keep the roof on tonight.”
I sighed in agreement. I preferred it when it was open. There was something about the atmosphere thundering through the streets when we were up at bat or someone made a good play. It was electric.
Silence hung between us as we walked into the building. I was unsure if I should reach for her hand, but she had already stepped in a head of me.Mind made up then.Something about coming in slightly early had a calming vibe. It was humming with workers and the excitement of the night’s game. The sweet smell of the freshly-cut grass lingered in the air as the lawn crew were out cleaning it up and making sure the lines were just right for the game. We were tied 1-1in a three-game series against Boston and I wanted to win this one. Not for nothing, but Boston was stellar this year thanks to their trade for Mikey. That was just another reminder wecould all be shipped out. That was something I tried not to think about.
April and I flashed our badges at the security check point, although it was more formality than necessary. Then we made our way to the tunnels, down to the locker room and gym.
We passed a few of the guys already heading out to the pitch to warm up for the game. I ignored the shocked expressions of me tugging April down the hall. At some point, she stopped resisting and gave me the leeway to take her into the massage room.
“Sit down,” I ordered, pulling her over to one of the massage tables. She tried to get back up, but I put my hand firmly on her shoulders, forcing her back down.
“Ouch! Why? What are you doing?”
“You’re no good to us if you’re injured,” I explained. “I needyouto be good, sowecan be good.”
“I’m fine. I swear.” She winced, even as she sat with her neck still crooked to the side.
“April, seriously. Let me help. You can't even turn your neck right now.”
She sighed, but the tension in her shoulders eased. Once I knew she wasn’t going to bolt, I placed a towel around her. Then I went over to the warmer and pulled out a small steaming weighted bag.
