Page 19 of Catching the Coach

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My phone buzzes again. I look down and see his contact across my screen. Against my better judgment, I open it.

World’s Sexiest Catcher

Lucy, there was an article published, someone leaked a picture of us at practice. Please don’t read it.

I chew on the inside of my cheek, my finger hovering over the reply button.

Fuck it.

I hit reply.

Me

Too late. But don’t worry Kessler, I knew it wasn’t real.

Ok, so for a minute a small part of me was hoping it was, but that bitch better sit down and shut up from now on.

World’s Sexiest Catcher

No, Lucy, it is. I meant what I said the other night, and today. I asked my agent to publish that to throw the media off. I’m not ready to share you.

I read the text, then read it again.

He wouldn’t be trying so hard if he was lying.

That small part of me pipes up.My phone buzzes again.

World’s Sexiest Catcher

Please Lucy, trust me.

Trust him? I barely know him.

Me

I’m sorry Kessler, I just. I don’t know.

World’s Sexiest Catcher

Don’t give up on me yet Lucy. I’ll earn your trust.

I want to block his number and be done with this whole thing, but I can’t bring myself to do it. He’s done nothing wrong. Kara would tell me I’m just projecting from my past, and I know she’s right. Why does this have to be so hard?

Me

Ok.

I put my phone back on silent and shove it into my desk. I look at my untouched lunch and put the lid back on it, having lost my appetite. I’m about to work on some patient notes when a knock sounds at my office door.

What now?

“Come in,” I call out.

My door opens and a huge bouquet of flowers walks in. Rhonda peeks out behind it. “Delivery,” she says in a sing-song voice. She sets the beautiful array of stargazer lilies with sprigs of baby’s breath and lavender on my desk and plucks the card out, handing it over to me. I take the card from her and open it.

Five simple words and my stomach is doing things it’s never done before. I’ve never had anyone give me flowers, and here I am getting flowers from someone I haven’t even agreed to go out with.

Yet.

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