Page 16 of Beg Me

The evening sky casts a golden glow over the park. Trees sway in the perfect summer breeze, and birds sing their final song of the day. Pop used to call it the dusk chorus. He’d often sneak me a piece of candy, and we’d sit outside on the picnic table and listen to it until sunset, when Lolly made us come inside.

Those are some of my fondest memories.

“How’d I do?” Adam asks, crossing the court. “Did I make the cut?”

I laugh. “Yes. I mean, we have some work to do, but I think we can iron out the wrinkles.”

“Great.” He grins. “It’ll be much easier to go to work tomorrow saying I made it rather than telling the guys that you thought I was a chump.”

Men and their fragile egos.

The last hour has been the best hour I’ve spent on the court in weeks. I wouldn’t say that Adam is the best partner I’ve ever had. Not by a long shot. But he’s not exactly a chump, either, and at this point, that has to be good enough. I’ll make up the difference.

“As I said, we have a lot of work to do,” I say, grabbing a towel from my bag. “We have to get on the same page stylistically, but and I mean this nicely, your cardio is crap. We’ll have two games a day—sometimes three. I need to know you have the endurance to stay with me.”

“Endurance is my middle name.”

Oh please. I struggle not to roll my eyes at his innuendo. “Glad to hear it. Let’s just make sure it’s spelled out in capital letters.”

“You have nothing to worry about.” He tosses his gear into a backpack. “I work late this week, but I get off around five starting Friday. It’ll take me about thirty minutes to get here.”

“Where are you coming from?”

He slings his backpack over his shoulder. “I live on the far side of Colfax County. Just past Laveen.”

I hesitate before taking a drink of water. Colfax County is where Courtney, Jasper’s new girlfriend and pickleball partner, is from. I don’t know much about her because I haven’t bothered to look her up. She wasn’t the one breaking promises to me, and my problem has never been with her.

But now that an opportunity to inquire about her sits in my lap, I’d be silly not to take it.

“Do you happen to know Courtney Fitz?” I ask. “She’s from somewhere over there.”

“Oh yeah. My sisters played volleyball and softball with her. Why do you ask?”

“She entered the tournament. I’m just trying to see who we’re up against. That’s all.”

He nods as if that makes perfect sense. “She’s a great athlete. Went to Oak Grove for college and played a sport there, I think. I haven’t seen her in years.”

I sigh. The sound is a bit harsher than I expect or intend. Adam picks up on it but doesn’t comment. Unfortunately for him, his face speaks for itself.

“Looks like you’ll be seeing her soon,” I say, forcing a smile. “Welcome to the team. Let’s shoot for Saturday at noon?”

“Sounds great. I’ll see you then.” He heads for the parking lot. “And if I get a break at work tomorrow, I’ll run some wind sprints.”

“You do that.”

His laughter trails him as I begin to pack my gear.

A weight has been lifted off my shoulders as I slide my paddle into my bag. I was starting to believe that I’d never find anyone good enough to help me beat Jasper. Adam isn’t the best thing I’ve ever seen on the court, but he’s undoubtedly the best I’ve seen this year. Together, we’ll win. Hands down.

I turn to grab my bottle when something catches my attention. Oh shit.

Jory jogs toward me with an effortless, smooth stride. A smile tugs against his lips. A gold chain with a cross on it bounces against his bare chest, and a sprinkling of small, thin tattoos are spread across his skin.

My breath hitches as I take in his long, lean, professional-athlete body. He’s shirtless, sweaty, and so freaking sexy.

“Don’t let this go to your head,” he says, stopping at the fence. He rests his thick forearms casually across the top of it, not breathing hard or panting. His cardio, and endurance, are probably elite. “But that guy you were playing with is nowhere near as good as you.”

I fight a grin. “Story of my life.”