AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Richard relaxed his shoulders. Erik stopped tapping.
“His parents love to watch him play,” Amelia explained. “So, I’m always the designated picture taker when they’re not around.”
“That’s so sweet!” Lainee almost swooned. She shifted her gaze at him, eyes twinkling.
“Oh yeah. Parker is a big family guy, but he’s also the baby of the family, so a little doted on. His parents are awesome, though; his sisters are also the sweetest.”
A twinge of jealousy stabbed at me. I was jealous at how Lainee had momentarily thought about him. I didn’t like it. I was jealous of the fact that Amelia knew his parents and that she was close to his sisters.
The realization that I would never get to meet them slapped me. The stories he had told me would always remain stories. Which was fine, I repeated to myself. This is just temporary.
The protein bar had not been enough, and my stomach was grumbling. Further down, toward the other team’s dugout, was the concessions area. An older woman was manning it, and some players from both teams stood in line during the short break.
“I’m gonna get a snack,” I announced. “Anyone want anything?”
“I’ll take a Coke if they have one,” Lainee said.
I took note of it and walked over. The line had shortened since, and I was almost at the window when I heard a familiar voice behind me.
“Hey, Blakey,” Bradley walked up behind me. He was too close to me but the perfect distance to hit him.
“Bradley.”
“Are you still mad at me?” he taunted.
“No. I just don’t like you.”
“Come on, was getting knocked out by Natty not enough?”
“You should’ve been kicked out of the league altogether. Now leave me alone.”
The chain link gate behind us shut, and I heard steps. The people in front of me were taking their sweet time in deciding what to get.
“Come on, you don’t have to like me to have some fun with me.”
“You’re disgusting. Don’t you have a game to get back to losing?”
He took a step toward me, and I felt the warmth of his body inches from mine. In the time I contemplated which part of his body to injure first, he grabbed my wrist and turned me toward him.
“Don’t touch me!” I shoved him away with all my strength and into a brooding Nathaniel. He must’ve seen Bradley come up to me. Gabby and Parker were running toward him. Everyone looked from the benches after I screamed.
“You should walk away, Bradley,” Nathaniel warned, voice deep and commanding.
“This is none of your business, Natty,” Bradley squared up to him. “This is between me and Blake.”
“I won’t tell you again. Walk. Away. Asshole.”
“Bradley, just leave,” I pleaded.
“You’re either fucking one or the other, you can’t have both. Unless…”
“What the hell did you just say?!” Nathaniel’s anger snapped.
“No, no, no,” I stepped between them. “Hey, it’s okay. Gabby!”
She broke into a full sprint, and she was soon between Nathaniel and Bradley as well. Parker came right up behind her, followed by a couple of members of both teams. Everyone from the office watched.
Gabby pulled Nathaniel back, and Parker stepped between them with me. His arm set a firm barrier between me and Bradley as he turned to Nathaniel. “Dude, if you let him get to you and assault him, you could lose everything. I’d happily help defend you, but it’s not worth it. Blake is fine.” He turned to me, a flicker of concern. “You are fine, right?”
