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Tillie is like a ghost that keeps haunting me. I close my eyes and I can see her standing in front of me in my shirt. I fall asleep at night, and I can feel her in my arms. I get in my truck and I imagine her in the passenger seat. I can’t find any relief, because she’s not here, turning these fantasies into reality. I didn’t know it was possible to miss someone this badly.
I try to concentrate on my buddy. We’re tight. I’m probably closer to him than anyone else on the team. He’s still talking about Mary, and I know I should listen. Mary is Slater's Tillie. That woman has had him wrapped around her finger since day one. He risked everything to be with her and I mean that literally since she’s also the coach’s sister. She’s pretty. A curvy brunette that made his eyes bug out. I swear he's the version of the cartoon that has heart bubbles floating above his head every time he talks about her or looks at her. Anything regarding Mary and the poor man is mush. I always found it hilarious.
But now I understand completely.
“Man, I just miss her,” I blurt out with a heavy sigh, interrupting whatever Slater was talking about. I rub the same spot in my chest that has been increasingly achy since I came back to Texas.
“Are you talking about that same girl?” Slater asks, looking over his shoulder at me with a frown.
I had told him enough about Emily that he wasn't a fan. I was stupid. I didn’t see the hell she put me through, not to mention the mess she made between Tillie and me.
“No, this girl...she's different...she's…” I stop. I can't seem to form the right words. How do I explain she's in every thought? How I crave her? “She's everything. Funny, beautiful, curves for days, and a smile that lights up the room. She's it man. She’s the one.” That prompts Slater to turn around and study me. I see the doubt on his face, but I shake my head. “I'm serious, man. I took one look at her in her daddy's store, and I knew it. I spent my whole trip getting her to believe me. Took me a bit to convince her, because there’s history there I have to make up for. Yet, she let me in and now… Fuck,” I growl shoving my hand in my hair, pushing it from my face. “I'm miserable without her.”
“Yeah, the whole team can tell, man. Your playing sucks since you got back,” Slater mumbles, chuckling.
“I know and it’s only been a week!”
“The only advice I have for you is to lock her down. If I had known how great life with Mary is, I would've married her the first day I laid eyes on her.”
That makes me laugh and shake my head. “Yeah, right. She wouldn't have given you the time of day. Not after the way you approached her.”
“I would've tied her to my bed and fucked her until she was delirious. She would have agreed, then,” Slater brags with a shit-eating grin.
“Do you really think that would've worked?” Mary asks from behind him.
Slater turns as we both see the skeptical look on her face.
“Damn it, woman. What are you doing in the locker room? You're not supposed to be anywhere other men might have their dicks swinging about freely.” He shakes his head as he steps over to her, pulling her into a kiss.
Everyone has already dressed and started clearing out. There's no way Slater would be joking about it if there was a chance in hell of that happening. He'd have her hauled out of here before she even caught a hint of another man's junk.
I watch as he leans over, kissing her belly, before looking down at her. She's his world, but she's carrying his baby. Their surprise baby. It's one hell of a surprise, but both of them are happy now, even if they wanted to wait a bit. Impending parenthood looks good on both of them, though. I know he loves her more than anything, and he can't keep his hands off her rounding belly any time she's near.
“What's wrong?” Mary asks, looking up at Slater. “Are you afraid I'll find another man who can swing his bat better?”
Slater growls. “Keep it up, and I'll remind you of how addicted you are to my bat.” It's almost hard to watch the way he looms over her, wrapping a possessive arm around her waist. It's the way I am with Tillie. I can’t even pretend to rein it in. The woman drives me crazy.
Mary lets out a heavy, fake sigh, pretending to swoon. “Yeah, I do like Turbo Jr, even if he is a fertile mofo.” Her eyes are only for Slater as she smirks up at him. He gives her an annoyed look.
“If you don't quit naming my dick after a damn rat, I'm going to spank your ass.”
Turbo? A rat?I refuse to ask. There are just things a man shouldn’t know about his buddy.
She giggles. “Promises, promises.”
Slater picks her up with ease, yelling over his shoulder. “Call your woman. I don’t want to be the only one pussy whipped in our friendship,” he orders.
“Oh! Wait! Ryder has a woman?” Mary asks, peeking over Slater's shoulder at me with a megawatt smile. She’s been threatening to use her matchmaking skills on me for the last year, and I told her no way.
“Yeah. I do,” I tell her with a sappy smile on my face.
“Tell me more,” she says, looking at me expectantly.
Slater keeps walking. “I'll fill you in later. First, I’m going to make you swear you'll never call my dick Turbo again.”
I shake my head, turning back to my locker. I pick up my phone and dial Tillie’s number, but the smile on my face melts away as it goes to voicemail.
I don't want to have to call her. I want to see her. I want to sweep her off her feet into my arms. I want to introduce her to my friends.
