Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“They do indeed.”
The umpire escorted Shitty out off the field, and for a moment, I felt like cheering. Finally, something had gone right. But then the coach jogged over. “He’s just making him wash his hands and change his cap.”
My jaw dropped. “He’s not throwing him out of the game?”
“It’s an exhibition game,” the coach said for about the twentieth time. And Dom’s coach hadn’t even bothered to come out here. What a joke.
“Thanks for catching that,” Dominic said quietly. “Guess I’d better get another bat.”
That was smart in case any of the sticky residue had transferred from the ball to the bat.
Dom was ready when Shitty retook the mound. “Break a leg,” I said when he stepped back into the batter’s box.”
“Thanks.”
“No, I mean break his leg. Either hit it over his head or hit it down his fucking throat.”
“That’s the plan,” Dom said. But he only had one strike left.
Shitty hadn’t started his windup, so Dominic looked up in the stands. It wasn’t very hard to figure out who he was searching for. After a brief smile, he faced forward again, all business.
Shitty threw the ball.
Dominic swung the bat.
They connected with an extremely satisfying thud. I leaped to my feet as Dom took off for first. The ball sailed past over the heads of the infield. Then the outfield. Then it hit the stands.
“It’s a grand slam,” the announcer yelled. “A walk-off grand slam. How do you like that, folks?”
That son of a bitch did it. I couldn’t help grinning as Dom rounding the bases. Justin was cheering like a madman. I didn’t know what pleased more more—the look of joy on my friends’ faces or the look of fury on Shitty’s. The threw his glove down and stormed off the field.
Even though it wasn’t a real game, Dominic’s decisive victory had his teammates swarming the field. They cheered and clapped him on the back after he crossed Homeplate. Justin and I were right there with him.
And through the roar of the crowd, I thought I could hear a single voice. A high-pitched feminine voice that was nothing like the soothing tones she used when giving a massage.
Naomi was as happy for Dom as Justin and I were.
22
NAOMI
It was an amazing night. In order to get some much-needed privacy, Tye had gotten us a suite at a local hotel with a huge, California king bed.
And we made the most of it.
The next morning at breakfast, I was still blushing from some of the things I’d done, and still pleasantly sore.
“I wish I didn’t have to go,” I said for the millionth time.
Justin took my hand and raised it to his lips. “We wish you didn’t, either.” He exchanged a look with the other two, a look that I couldn’t quite interpret. Did it have something to do with the spectacular conclusion to last night’s game?
As happy as I was that Dom had finally gotten his grand slam, I was more interested in the fact that the three of them would be starting law school soon. “I’m so happy for you three,” I gushed. I’d also said that quite a few times.
The exchanged looks again. “Be happy for us four, actually,” Tye said.
Huh? “There are four of you?”
“Four of us,” Dominic corrected. “We want you to come live with us.”
My breath caught in my throat before I could even think through the ramifications. At first, all I felt was joy. They wanted me nearby.
They wanted me.
That made me so happy because I sure as hell wanted them.
But the warm and fuzzy feelings faded as I realized it wasn’t that simple. “I wish I could, but I can’t afford it.”
“No one’s asking you to afford it. We’re buying a house,” Tye said. “There’s plenty of space.”
“It’s an old frat house,” Justin said. “It’s huge.”
Dominic grinned. “Don’t worry, we’re going to sterilize it before we move in.”
For a moment, I let that tantalizing thought wash over me. To live with them. To see them every day. God, it was tempting. “But… what would I do when you were in classes?”
“Go to classes yourself,” Tye said. “Between the three of us, we can cover your tuition and fees.”
“You could study physical therapy,” Dominic suggested.
“Or anything you want.” The happiness on Justin’s face was so sincere that it made me bite my lip.
It sounded perfect, but…
“I can’t.”
“You literally can,” Tye corrected. “We’ve figured out your room, your board, and your tuition. And we already know how to keep you warm in bed at night. What more could you want?”
I shook my head. “You’ve got it all figured out,” I said softly.
Dominic beamed. “We have.” He didn’t see the issue.
“You’ve got my life and my future, all figured out.”
Justin’s face fell as he read something in the expression on my face. “Is that a bad thing?”