Current Day

My feet slap against the rain-soaked sidewalks, the sloshing of each downward stroke competing with horns and revving of engines. Philadelphia’s alive and full of energy tonight—unlike me. With my throat as thick as this unusually humid November air, I continue walking the worn path from my apartment to Arti’s, our team’s local hangout. It’s a desperate attempt on my part to shake loose the discontentment taking hold.

I approach the street corner, and a cloud of cherry sweetness hangs in the air like a blanketed warning. I dip my chin and flip the jacket collar up before rounding the brick building. In too somber of a mood for small talk, the last thing I want is to be recognized. I curse to myself as I pass the group of hipster wannabes vaping away on their e-cigs. Going out tonight is a bad idea. I know this, but staying home isn’t an option either—not with Jocelyn spending the night. And if I stayed at Zach’s house any longer, I was going to die a slow death.

Upon entering Arti’s, a sharp pang of remorse settles in my stomach. Zach’s MVP party for Jax was great, and I’m excited that he won. No one deserves the National League title more than him, especially after the two-vote loss suffered last year. There wasn’t anywhere else I’d rather be when they announced the winner than with my roommate. Jax didn’t want a big production, so the only teammates present were us three. After the excitement died down, I had to get the hell out of there. Watching their families interact with each other felt like a Goddamn Beaver Cleaver reunion—a picture-perfect ball of family coziness. I had to leave before regret and years of worthlessness seized my balls.

Still, I refuse to choke on self-pity. My fate was determined a long time ago. I don’t begrudge their happiness, nor am I jealous. They deserve those warm, feel-good feelings. Lord knows, it didn’t come easy, but I was drowning witnessing it. Trust me, the only drowning I want to be a part of is the female variety kind.

Tonight’s agenda is to find a girl and get laid.

Maybe then I can purge Mia from my mind. Ever since the sweet little cupcake sprung out of nowhere, a clusterfuck of thoughts has taken over.

A quick scan of the bar reveals Rodriguez and Drake in the far booth. Great. Rodriguez, I like. Drake? Not so much. I detour to the bar and order a Guinness Blonde American Lager.

“Hey, AJ.” The seductive drawl from a familiar brunette raises the hairs on my neck and not in a good way. My reaction shocks the hell out of me. Isn’t she exactly what the doctor ordered?

“Bonnie.” My gaze rakes along her low-cut sequin top. Yep, exactly the medication I need. But I detect a problem.

“You here alone?” Her suggestive tone isn’t leaving much to the imagination. I’m not complaining. I like a woman who knows exactly what she wants and, Lord knows, Bonnie can deliver, but that problem I spoke of? Everything south of my beltline has decided to stage a sit-in protest. In other words, no action going on down there. Not even a rise.

The bartender hands over my long neck, and I slip him the cash. “I’m just meeting my buddies. You here alone?”

“I can be. But my friend may want to play along.” She nestles against my side and runs her hands along my abs, dipping close to the new dead zone. “If you’re up for it tonight.”

“Mmm,” I moan, visualizing Bonnie and her friend naked and trying to get a rise. A stirring. Hell, I’d even settle for a twitch. But there’s nothing. I’m officially fucked.

Despite my body’s disinterest, I don’t burn my bridge. “Give me about thirty minutes with my friends, and then come find me.”

Her red painted lips spread into a seductive smile. “You got it.”

Christ, I hope something stirs a bit later. Otherwise, I’m in for one hell of an embarrassing evening.

Beer in hand, I edge my way to the back table where my teammates have crashed.

“What are you doing here?” Rodriguez asks. “Shouldn’t you be celebrating with Jax over his victory?”

“I was. Just left Zach’s.” I hunker down next to Axel, forcing him to scoot over. It’s bad enough having to look at Drake, but I sure as hell won’t sit beside him.

“What’s the matter? Too family oriented for you?” Drake asks.

My jaw twitches. He has no idea how close to home his words hit. “It was fine.”

He laughs. “Sure, but there won’t be any hot woman to take home. Right, A-rod?”

“Quit calling me that. That name is already taken.”

“Whatever, Ariel here needs to get laid.”

With my bottle paused halfway to my mouth, I take a calming breath before finishing the drink. Between Drake’s slurring words and obnoxious behavior, one doesn’t have to be a genius to figure out he’s beyond drunk.

“Have another drink, Drake,” I say flatly.

“Or don’t.”

Axel’s mumbled words cause Drake to narrow his eyes at him, and then he turns the hardened stare toward me. He leans back in the booth, his cocky smirk sliding into place. “What’s wrong? Afraid of some competition?”

“From you? You’re sitting with Axel. Alone.”

“By choice, my friend. I have a hot little number on hold. One call and she’ll be making my fantasies come true.”

Axel cringes, but if Drake’s trying to bait me with whoever this poor chick is, it won’t work. I don’t give a flying fuck who he screws.

“Jesus, Drake.” With a shake of his head, Axel gives me a side glance but averts his gaze when our stare meets. Strange.

“I think the only call you’ll be making is to an Uber driver,” I say.

“Fuck you. I’m fine. But I gotta piss like a racehorse.” And to prove my point, he stands and wobbles to the bathroom.

“Do racehorses piss a lot?” Axel asks.

“I have no idea. Shit, he’s wasted.” I may not like the guy, but he is Mia’s brother. Not to mention a teammate. I do care about his safety, no matter how reluctantly I want to.

“Yeah.” Axel runs a hand along his face. “I’m going to call his sister. He won’t let me take him home, and besides, anytime I get to see her is a plus.”

My back straightens at the mere mention of Mia. I didn’t miss the look he gave her back at the warehouse. If he’s attracted to her, I need to shut that shit down now.

“Teammates’ sisters are off-limits.” I swig back the rest of my drink, wetting my dry tone. The quiet stare I’m greeted with raises my heat level, and as much as Drake needs help home, I don’t want to be here when Mia shows. “I can call an Uber and make sure he gets home.”

Axel shakes his head. “Not gonna happen. Believe me, the only person he listens to when he’s this wasted is his sister.”

I tip my empty bottle to Arti, the bar owner, and he nods an acknowledgment. Drumming my fingers on the table while Axel places the call, I try not to question why the hell he has her number. I also try not to imagine her lower lip, slightly plumper than the top, as Mia’s voice comes through the phone. Those mismatched lips I never once kissed. I thought about our last date so many times—the last time we saw each other. I have a lot of regret for my actions back then, but not kissing those delicious-looking lips ranks among the top. The other regret? I don’t want to think about how stupid I was.

Shit, why aren’t they off the phone yet? They’re speaking to each other as if they’re lifelong buddies. Bonnie approaches the table at the same time as Arti, and I welcome the interruption.

“I place on your tab,” Arti says in his thick accent.

“Thanks, Arti. You’re the best.” I stand and pat him on the back. He chuckles as he leaves, and I motion for Bonnie to sit in Drake’s seat. I settle next to her right as Drake stumbles up to the table.

“Who do we have here?” Drake crashes beside Axel and blatantly checks Bonnie out.

“Someone who isn’t interested in you.” Bonnie’s ice-cold tone reminds me of why I always liked her. She’s a no-nonsense type girl. But when she places her hand on my thigh, I’m struck with the realization her advances are going nowhere.

Drake clutches his chest as if he’s in dire pain. “You wound me.”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Bonnie slides her hand farther up, stopping at the crease, and nothing—no response, no twitch. Yep, totally fucked. It took months to purge Mia from my mind the last time. I can’t go there again.

“I like a girl with sass. Why the hell are you with this old man?” Drake points over at me while Bonnie sneers back.

“Drake,” Axel injects. “You’re being obnoxious.”

“What? It can’t be anything too serious. We all know he won’t be here after December.”

Bonnie gasps as I glare at Drake. “You’re lucky you’re not worth the hassle of kicking your ass.”

If it weren’t for the fact he’s Mia’s brother and a teammate, I would’ve kicked his ass way before now. He’s beyond drunk, but that doesn’t excuse him for being an asshole.

“Jesus, Drake.” Axel’s sharp tone causes Drake to place his hands up in defense.

“Sorry, I’ll behave, but did you come here with a friend, honey?”

“She’s occupied.” After a beat, Bonnie turns to me with a forced smile. “I’m not too sure you’re in a playful mood.”

The sigh that escapes my lips has her withdrawing her hand. My previous plan to fuck Mia from my mind won’t work. Bonnie may not be looking for a commitment, but she doesn’t deserve to be used either. And with Mia taking up my headspace, that’s exactly what would happen.

“I probably shouldn’t have come out tonight.” I toss back the rest of my drink. Mia will be here any minute, and the last thing I want is to run into her. “I’m going to head home.”

“Alone?” Bonnie’s last attempt softens me up but not enough to cave.

“I’m sorry. Walk you to your friends?”

She nods as we file out of the booth.

“Sweetie, I’m right here if you change your mind. You have my number.”

“Noted.” She waits until we’re out of earshot before saying, “Not to get too personal, but how the hell do you stand that guy?”

“I don’t.”

“I can see why.” We reach the table her friends are occupying, and she leans closer to kiss my cheek. “Come see me before you leave if you get traded. We were always good together.”

“Sure thing.” I know walking away is the right thing to do, but it sure feels like crap. As my feet carry me across the barroom floor, I come to an abrupt halt when a pissed-off photographer comes barreling through the door. Even with the hard scowl on her face, she still stuns me. Her blonde hair is piled on top of her head in a messy bun. She looks like she just came from an all-night Netflix binge fest. Her tight, white cotton tee stretches across those large tits. And what do you know? It’s a fucking miracle. My dick finally awakens.

Her gaze roams the bar, and I duck into the hallway. The last thing I want is for her to see me. I stand there and wait until she’s out of vision before heading into the bathroom. I’ll hang out here until she’s long gone.

After what feels like an eternity, I finally exit the bathroom. If anyone saw me go in there, they’d probably think I took the biggest shit of my life. Nothing to see here but stalling tactics, folks.

I glance at the back table and do a double take. Huh, Rodriguez is talking to Bonnie. But more importantly, Mia and Drake are gone. Despite the fact I should be happy, I can’t stop the sadness tugging at my gut. I don’t know why this girl gets to me, but she always has. I bite back a sigh and head to the door.

The dense air greets me as I step into the darkness. But the humidity isn’t what steals my breath. It’s the sight of a petite blonde trying to get her overbearing brother into the Uber car and failing rather miserably.

“You need help?”

She snaps her head at my approach, her eyes widening before narrowing into slits. “I’ve got him.”

Her declaration would be easier to believe if Drake wasn’t draped over her. He leans across her side to wave at me, but the sudden shift about topples Mia over. I react without thought and put the bulk of his weight on my shoulders.

“AJ, my buddy.” He pats me on the back as if we’re lifelong pals.

“We aren’t buds.” Not by a long shot.

“Just get inside the car, Drake.” The irritation evident in Mia’s voice causes Drake to swing his head toward her.

His face scrunches in confusion. “But I’m going home with his hot date.”

“There’s no date, Drake. I came here alone.”

Mia mouths “I’m sorry” as I align Drake up with the back seat.

“You know who I mean. That hot piece of number who rubbed her body against you.”

Mia’s body visually stiffens, and any compassion her features held hardens and turns cold as the ice now running through my veins.

“Get inside the car. She’s just a friend, not a date.” I shove him in the seat and shut the door. I stand next to it, so he can’t escape. Mia rounds the trunk and tries to duck inside the passenger seat before I can explain. Not that I need to, but for some reason, I feel compelled.

“Mia.” I lean my forearms on the edge of the car and wait.

She stops, and those electric blue eyes stare over the roof of the car at me.

“She wasn’t a date.”

“It doesn’t matter, AJ. We’re not together.”

“I know, but I thought you should know.” I need to shut up before I make things worse.

“Glad you clarified it.” She goes to slip inside, and I panic.

“Mia.”

She doesn’t say anything this time, her silence more damaging than words.

“I have missed you. Go out with me tomorrow night. If anything, just to catch up.”

She opens her mouth right as Bonnie yells my name. Those beautiful eyes cut behind me.

“I think you have your answer.” Mia disappears into the car, and a moment later, the Uber driver takes off.

I was wrong. It isn’t Mia’s silence but her words that are more hurtful. As the Prius’s taillights fade away, I’m left with the same Goddamn feeling I had eight years ago when she was no longer in my life. Only this time, I have the power to change the outcome. I just need her to forgive me.