“Raine.” Trip snuck up behind me, making me jump. “Whoa, where was your head at just now?”

“I’m just sleepy,” I snapped.

Practice was early since Trip would miss the next four because he was attending Pappies’ training camp. He wanted to get one more in before he had to leave.

“Are you going to miss me?” Trip whispered right before we walked into the locker room, making it impossible for me to respond.

The truth was, I would miss him, a lot. Renee was slowly moving her stuff to Brian’s. She and Norah had been staying there even more than before.

Every time Renee would mention the wedding my heart broke a little more. She was unintentionally shredding it apart piece by piece.

The only person keeping me somewhat together was Trip. The nights he wasn’t at a function with Robin he was over at my house, making me forget I was alone. When he was out with Robin we would text back and forth, making my empty house bearable.

“Good luck, Butler.” Coach Mae hugged Trip and a pinch of jealousy was sprinkled across my nervous system.

“Thanks, Coach. Don’t let my pitchers slack off while I’m gone.”

Trip’s head shot toward mine before going back to Coach Mae. I rolled my eyes as I resisted a smile.

Cocky bastard.

“I’ve been interviewing a new pitching coach to take over when you go back to the Pappies permanently. I thought I was going to have more time. I should’ve known you weren’t going to stay away from the field. When you come back, I’ll introduce you two. I figured the last week you’re here, you can give him the rundown of what you have been working on with Hoffer and Raine.”

Trip grabbed the bill of his hat and pushed it up and down, before settling it back on his head. I unlaced my cleats slowly, wanting to overhear.

Coach Mae hadn’t mentioned she was interviewing new pitching coaches. I didn’t know why it came to such a shock. Trip was healing faster than expected, and sooner rather than later he was going to leave us to go back to his dream. Hearing the words out loud left a sourness in my stomach.

“Replaced that easy, huh?” Trip joked, his voice scratchier than normal.

Coach Mae pushed Trip on the shoulder. “You know you can’t be replaced, Butler. I wasn’t naive enough to think we’d be able to keep you the full season. I’m just looking out for my players. Remember I knew you when you were little. There’s nothing that could keep you away from the pitching mound.”

Trip let out a strained laugh. Coach Mae continued talking, but my ears refused to work. I couldn’t handle any more reminders that Trip was leaving. In the locker room I grabbed my stuff, not bothering to change, and jumped in Dora.

After rereading the same paragraph four times and not comprehending any of it, I set my laptop down on the couch. When I got home I showered and threw myself into studying, but not even my books could get my head out of the fog it was stuck in.

When a knock sounded on my door it was a welcome interruption. I would even settle for a Jehovah Witness wanting to explain their religion to me. Anything to get me away from my thoughts.

“Harley, what are you doing here?” I asked, pulling the door open when I spotted Trip’s sister standing outside.

“I’m here to pull you out of your funk. Or something along those lines.” She shrugged, walking toward the recliner and plopping down as if she had done it a million times before.

“I took a shower. I assure you there’s no funk,” I teased, unsure what was going on.

“Trip called and asked me to make sure you had fun today. The cocky bastard thinks you’re going to be sad since he’s away at training camp. I told him he was an asshole to think you wouldn’t be able to function without seeing him every day. But I came over anyway, because I’m Bruce free today, and I wanted a girls’ day. What do you say?”

Harley spied my open computer on the couch and bit her lip. “If you’re studying, I can come back another time. I don’t want to bother you. It’s just Trip said you were alone and without Bruce I kind of got carried away.”

“A girls’ day out sounds great,” I assured her, running over and shutting my laptop down. “I’ve been studying like a mad woman. Getting out is just what I need.”

Harley clapped her hands together. “Yay! I’m so excited. My parents have Bruce for the rest of the day, and honestly I didn’t know what to do with myself. When I wiped the kitchen counters for the third time I knew I was in trouble.”

“Good, then we both need this. Let me go get dressed really quick and we can go.” I walked away, happy Trip had sent Harley here as distraction. Before I entered my room I yelled over my shoulder. “No wiping the counters down while I get dressed.”

Harley’s laugh bounced off the walls as I threw on a pair of shorts and a Pappies T-shirt. Harley didn’t comment when she noticed I was wearing her brother’s team. I had the urge to run back and change.

“I’ve been a fan since I was a little girl. I had this shirt before I met Trip.”

The need to defend my wardrobe choice was out of guilt. If Trip, or his family realized how deep my crush for him ran, or how long I’ve had it, they would make him run, and honestly I wouldn’t blame them.

“I wasn’t going to say a word,” Harley said, putting her hands up as if she was surrendering. “Maybe there was some truth to Trip sending me over here while he’s gone.”

“Stop, or I’ll go back inside and you can go back to polishing your kitchen,” I threatened, pretending to turn back to my apartment.

“I’m kidding. Please don’t leave me. I’m not fit to be alone. I need supervision.”

I laughed, hopping into Harley’s Highlander. “Where are we going on this girls’ day out?”

“Well, I thought we could start at the tile store and pick out new tile for my kitchen. When I was cleaning the counters I noticed the floor really doesn’t match. Then Bruce needs some new shorts, so I thought we could hit the mall.” Harley tried to keep a straight face, but she was just as bad as her brother.

I nodded my head, actually fine if those were our plans. I really didn’t care as long as I was out of the house, and Trip was somewhat stuffed in the back of my mind.

“We could also go and pick him up a new mitt for t-ball,” I added.

“Manis and pedis first?”

“I think I could make an exception. As long as we hit the tile store next.”

“Deal.”

“So what happened with my parents at lunch?” Harley asked as we soaked our feet in the warm water.

I let the massage chair work its magic as I turned my head toward Harley. She had another gigantic smile on her face, and I rolled my eyes at her.

“I have a feeling you already know the specifics.”

“I do, but I want to hear it from you,” she confirmed.

“Your dad apologized for what happened at the t-ball field and explained it was you who showed him the light when it came to me.”

Harley nodded. Somehow her smile got wider.

“I explained it was Trip who has changed himself, and I’m just here to support him as a friend. Then we had lunch, and your parents told me stories of Trip when he was younger.”

Harley’s eyes went wide as if she was trying to get me to say more. When she figured she wasn’t going to get any more details she stuck her tongue out.

That night I slid into bed thoroughly pampered. Harley had gone all-out on her day without Bruce. I smiled, happy I got to spend time with Trip’s sister.

My phone alerted me of a text just as I was about to drop off to sleep.

Did Harley wear

you out? Did

you have a good

time?

 

 

I had a great time.

Thank you for setting

up a play date for

me. How was

practice?

 

 

You’re welcome.

Practice was good.

I’m exhausted.

 

 

Make sure to ice

your shoulder.

Get some sleep.

 

 

Icing right now.

Good night, Raine.

 

 

Night, Trip.

 

 

“Where are you going?” I asked Heather, our catcher, when I noticed she was getting dressed.

“We’re going to sneak out to the bar next door. Do you want to come?”

“No, I’m going to stay in and get some sleep.”

“Okay, I’m going to crash with some of the other girls. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Don’t miss the flight,” I told her as she opened the door to see if the hallway was clear.

Heather waved before she slunk out to meet the other girls for a night of debauchery. I didn’t blame them for wanting to go out and celebrate. We had a shutout away game today and they deserved to let their softballs down.

My shoulder and every other part of my body was stiff from pushing it to its limits. Having the hotel room to myself with an abundance of ice from the ice machine was my kind of night.

Throwing on a pair of sweats and my hoodie, I climbed under the covers with my teeth chattering. The ice bath was a necessary evil, but I couldn’t convince any part of me that was true. I turned on the TV, but I couldn’t concentrate as warmth started to seep into my muscles.

I grabbed my phone and noticed a text waiting for me.

 

Good game today,

Raine. I’m proud of

you.

 

 

Thanks.

 

 

Be sure to ice.

 

 

I just got out of

an ice bath. Now

I’m trying to get

Warm.

 

 

Cuddle up with

Cheeks. I’m sure

she would like that.

 

 

Haha. The girls snuck

out to celebrate.

I’m going to have to

rely on the good

old-fashioned way of

blankets and heaters.

 

 

Do you want to come

up to my room?

 

I was no longer cold. A rush of heat lit up every vein, as my heart pumped the liquid lava around. My fingers shook as I typed him back.

 

Sure, we could

finish our book.

 

 

Top floor room

714.

 

 

Fancy.

 

 

It’s good to be

me. Hurry up.

 

In the same manner as Heather, I peeked my head outside to make sure nobody was lurking about. When I was positive it was clear, I dashed toward the stairwell, not wanting to risk the elevator.

My knees felt wobbly as I made it up the stairs and to Trip’s room.

It’s just Trip, McKenna. Stop acting weird. This isn’t any different than if he was at your house.

Even with my little pep talk, I still had to wipe the sweat from my palms before I went to knock on his door. My hand didn’t have time to connect with the door, Trip opened it and pulled me inside, shutting it firmly behind him.

“What took you so long?”

“I took the stairs. I didn’t want to get caught.”

Trip smiled and pulled me farther into his room.

“Holy shit!” I exclaimed when I noticed the view.

Trip was right. It was good to be him if this was the type of room you were given. The sunk-in living room had black marble floors with a large comfy looking couch. The wall was a giant window showing off everything the city had to offer. On the side was a kitchen and two doors leading to the other rooms.

“Wait until you see the room.” Trip grabbed my arm and pulled me through one of the doors.

The room was impressive. The large bed took up a huge portion of the area. The covers were already pulled down as if Trip had been in bed. I shook my head, banishing that thought.

“Go ahead,” Trip said, still holding on to my hand.

“Go ahead what?” A bloom of a blush heated my cheeks.

“McKenna, don’t act like I don’t know you. Get it over with so we can listen to our book.”

I didn’t have to be told three times. Taking a running leap, I jumped on the bed and bounced up and down, giggling like an ass. Motioning with my hand to Trip, I wanted him to join me as I acted like a fool. He shook his head, his arms crossed over his chest, a smile playing on his mouth.

“Come on, Alfred, have a little fun.” I wiggled my finger.

He finally took the bait and I squealed in delight when he launched on the mattress next to me.

We jumped until we were both breathless. Collapsing in a heap of limbs, we sucked in air, still laughing.

“I need water,” I cried out still out of breath.

“I’ll get the water. You get the bed together and get the book ready.”

I nodded and Trip moved out of the room. Scanning the still rumpled bed, I shrugged my shoulders when Trip came back. I guzzled the water in one drink. Trip’s large calloused finger swiped a drop that had escaped in my hurry to hydrate. My heart rocketed to my throat and I stared at his T-shirt covered pec, not wanting to see what face he wore. When his finger moved away I sucked in a deep breath.

Trip pulled on my hand and we climbed under the covers. With shaking limbs, I offered Trip an ear bud, still refusing to look at him.

“Does your shoulder hurt?” Trip asked, bringing me back to reality.

“What?” I asked, pausing the story.

“Your shoulder, you keep moving it around and rubbing it.”

I looked at my hand, and sure enough, I’d been rubbing it without realizing I was doing it.

“It does hurt a little,” I admitted.

“Well, I would think so being that you pitched a badass game today. Lie down and I’ll rub it.”

I swallowed hard as I turned on my stomach and lay flat on the bed. Flutters erupted everywhere, as I held my breath, listening to Trip move around the room. Before I could figure out what he was doing the story poured out of a magical set of speakers.

My teeth sank into my lip, wondering why we hadn’t thought to do that before. Instead of being tethered to each other with shared ear buds, we could have just connected it to speakers and listened comfortably. Sadness crept through me knowing I would never have to sit leaning toward Trip as our book unfolded.

Trip’s hands kneaded my stiff shoulder through my hoodie. My eyes drifted shut as his strong hands worked deep into the muscles. After yanking down the material of my hoodie again, he let out an annoyed breath.

“Take off your sweater, Raine. I can’t get to your knots through it.”

Trip moved away and I sat up in a daze. It was an innocent request but there was nothing innocent about the heat surfacing from his words.

“I think there’s some lotion in the bathroom. I’ll go get it.” He took two steps before saying, “Sports bra off too.”

I was momentarily frozen as I watched his sweatpants covered ass move away. When he disappeared into the bathroom I quickly shed my sweater and bra and pressed my front into the bed. In my head I began reciting all of the muscles in the body, trying not to think about what was happening.

Trip sucked in a breath when he made it to the bed. The skin on my back tingled and I couldn’t help thinking it was from his eyes roaming over it. I rolled my eyes behind my closed lids at the preposterous thought.

For a long time, Trip just sat at the side of the bed while the skin bared to him and some that wasn’t sizzled with energy. My lungs were having a hard time pulling in oxygen at a steady pace. The urge to turn around and bring him down on me was simmering through every nerve ending.

After what seemed like eternity there was a booming click of the lotion bottle being opened. Trip’s hands landed on my back, and I thought I felt them shaking.

His large hands almost spanned my whole back as they made their way up my spine. He must have had X-ray vision, because he was able to locate every knot he passed. When his fingers closed over my shoulder and pushed, I hissed out a breath. The searing pain his fingers brought pulled me out of my momentary loss of sanity.

“Payback, Raine.” Trip’s voice was low and husky.

The pain was burning away my ability to think straight, and I didn’t know if I was imagining what sounded like desire lacing his voice.

“Breathe,” Trip commanded.

The breath whooshed out of me as he continued working my shoulder.

Trip continued to knead the knotted mess that was my back. Each time he hit a sore spot he instructed me to breathe, and I soon found myself in a trance.

At some point he turned off the book, knowing I wasn’t paying attention as his hands brought me sweet agony. It was amazing how much pain his hands were inflicting, and yet it felt good at the same time.

The sexual haze when he first laid his hands on my back melted away as he worked out a huge knot in between my shoulder blades. My mind drifted off, trying to escape the pain.

I vaguely heard myself begin to snore and jerked awake.

“Shhh, McKenna, it’s okay. Sleep for a while. I’ll wake you up before the bar closes so you don’t get caught out of your room.”

“Cheeks said she was going to crash in the room with the other girls.” My voice sounded far away as Trip continued working on my back.

A loud snore startled me awake. I blinked quickly, trying to figure out where I was. Slowly, the night came back and my blood grew hot thinking of Trip’s hands caressing me. Well, in my mind I was going to remember it as caressing and not digging into knots that took me years to build up.

Trip’s arms were wrapped tight around my waist, bringing my back flush to his front. One of his hands was precariously close to my breast. At some point one of us must have covered me with my hoodie. I spotted my sports bra still on the nightstand where I put it.

Trip hugged me tighter when I tried to wiggle out of his grasp. My bladder was bursting from the bottle of water I guzzled, and if he squeezed me tighter I was going to pee all over him. I tried again to get out of his grasp, but his arms were like bands of steel.

“Trip, I’m going to pee on you if you don’t let me go,” I confessed as I tapped on his arm to get free.

“Raine, I didn’t know you were into golden showers. Kinky.”

Trip’s voice ghosted over the shell of my ear, and when he chuckled goosebumps burst over my skin. His arms slowly released me and I sprinted out of bed, barely making it to the bathroom.

“What time is it?” I asked as I washed my hands and splashed water on my face.

“It’s three in the morning.” Trip yawned widely when I came back out of the bathroom.

He looked adorable. His hair was mussed from jumping on the bed and sleeping. The blue of his eyes was blurry, half hidden by his hooded eyelids. My heart raced at the sight.

“Good, I can get back before anyone notices I’m missing.”

Trip’s face hardened and he looked over my shoulder instead of meeting my eyes.

“Yep, your bladder saved the day.”

What the hell was that about?

“Are you okay?” I asked, moving to put my shoes on.

Trip climbed out of bed and pulled me in a hug.

“I’m fine. I’m not a morning person. Do you want me to walk you back to your room?

“No. It would be better if I walked back alone. That way it’s less likely we’ll get caught.”

I lost myself in Trip’s hug, holding on tight. When he released me I let my eyes wander over his bare chest, tracing his defined abs, trying to memorize them.

“Raine.” Trip’s voice pulled me away from his abs and I had to stop myself from frowning at him for distracting my studying.

He cleared his throat and grabbed my hand, leading me out of the bedroom. “You trust me, right?”

I nodded, confused at his mood change.

“I’m trying to be a good friend.”

“Trip, you are the best friend.”

He frowned again and ran his fingers through his hair. His eyes scanned my face before he let go of my hand, still not saying anything.

“I’m sorry I let you fall asleep. You pitched so hard today I knew you must have been exhausted. It was stupid of me to invite you up here. You could still get caught and it would all be turned around on you and you’d be the bad guy.”

I caught myself from reaching up and running my hands over his stubbled chin. “Trip, it’s fine. I’m not going to get caught and what’s the worst they could say about me?” I gave him a smile, but it didn’t change the hardness on his face.

“You don’t know how brutal things can get, and if I have any say you’ll never have to. I’m sorry I invited you up. It was a bad friend move.”

My heart plummeted down to my toes. I smiled even wider, not wanting him to know how devastating his words were to me.

“It’s fine.” My voice had a high pitch sound to it and I cleared my throat.

“No, it’s not. I’ll be better at being your friend. Please forgive me for being stupid.”

I nodded as Trip quickly opened the door and looked both ways before giving me a thumbs-up.

“Text me when you get to your room.”

I smiled again, still not trusting my voice, and made my way toward the stairs. When I got to my room, I texted him that I made it safely and climbed into my bed.

Sleep wouldn’t come. It was obvious the heat I was feeling, the connection I couldn’t ignore was a one-sided affair. Trip truly wanted to only be my friend. He had said it a hundred times, yet my stupid brain refused to accept it. Unable to fall asleep, I climbed out of bed and took a shower before packing and waiting for the sun to come up. All I wanted to do was get on the plane and go home to wallow in my own bed.