Page 47 of Coastal Rewind

Fuck.

I didn’t do crushes. I didn’t do feelings. I floated around and disappeared when things got serious. But I couldn’t do that this time—not yet. I was in this commitment until September. I was living in his house where everything smelled like him. I was surrounded by his presence everywhere I went.

I ran back out to the car and dropped my bag inside, leaning against the side to let my thoughts settle.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to like him, it was that I couldn’t. Mason could have any woman he wanted. He was going to want more children and a future. One I couldn’t give him. The moment he realized that, he was going to run for the hills and leave me behind.

I took a deep breath, shaking my entire body to expel the negative thoughts. I was the queen of living in the moment which was exactly what I needed to do now. There was no time to stop and let the intrusive thoughts sink in.

I grabbed my camera, slung it around my neck and headed back into the stadium.

MJ and I were seated to the left of home plate on the third base line, right next to the away team’s dugout. If I reached on my tiptoes, I could peer right inside. The Sparrows were having batting practice as people filed into their seats for the game.

A whistle from the field caught my attention and when I glanced up, Mason was standing at the barrier with a massive grin on his face. He gestured for us to walk down the few steps to the barrier, and I complied as MJ bounded toward his dad. When I reached the blue padded wall, Mason rested his elbows on it as his hands slid behind my thighs and pulled me closer.

“What are you doing?” I whispered, looking over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

Mason completely ignored my question as his eyes trailed up my jersey to the number 42 on the sleeve. “Nice shirt.” His eyes had a little sparkle in them as his lips ticked up on one side.

“Are you one of those possessive guys?” I taunted.

“Nah. I don’t have to be when you’re wearing my number.” He winked and leaned in to place a gentle kiss on the tiny sliver of flesh between my tank and shorts before pushing off the wall and backing away.

My heart did a traitorous backflip when the exposed skin erupted in goose bumps. Fine. I guess I had a small, tiny, miniscule crush on the man.

Whatever.

I took my seat next to MJ who was looking at me with a weird expression.

“What?” I asked.

“Your face is all red.”

“I’m wearing blush. That’s all,” I lied. My entire body was hot, and when Mason fucking Saxley walked up to bat, the heat only intensified.

After the game, we walked down to the locker rooms to wait for Mason and Nolan so we could head to the hotel. The Sparrows blew Tampa out of the water and clinched the first win of the series. Spirits were high as players exited the door to head out to the team bus that would take them to the hotel.

When Mason walked out, his eyes found mine instantly, like they always did.

“You guys okay to ride with Nolan? I’ll meet you at the hotel. I already checked you in,” he said, pulling his duffel bag over his shoulder.

I nodded just as Nolan came sauntering down the hallway swinging his keys around his finger.

MJ put up a fight about going on the team bus, but we were able to get him into Nolan’s rental with the promise that he could hang out with the team the moment we got to the hotel.

When we pulled up to the beachfront hotel in Clearwater, my body suddenly became aware that I was about to be trapped inside a hotel room with Mason—and I wasn’t sure what he would do about that.

twenty-one

Mason

I closed the door to MJ’s room and walked out into the living room of the suite I booked for Ryleigh and him. I probably could’ve just booked them a regular room, but a very selfish part of me wanted some privacy with Ryleigh while I could have it.

I spotted Ryleigh sitting on the couch with her laptop propped on her legs. She had changed into a pair of loose cotton shorts and a shirt that was a few sizes too big, dwarfing her small frame. Her hair was in a messy bun and the light hint of makeup she had on at the game had been washed off.

Some girls caked on makeup every day, but Ryleigh rarely ever covered her freckles, so color me surprised when I noticed her cheeks were a little rosier tonight.

Ryleigh closed her laptop when she saw me lingering in the entryway to the room.