Page 21 of Just for the Plot

I glance at him and he just smirks before letting go of her hand.

“Jealous that Bennett here has you all to himself.” He pats my back just as a beer is placed in front of me.

“Oh, we’re just friends,” Bower says with a wave of her hand. “Isn’t that right, Benny Boo Boo?”

I can feel the fucking wince from Nolan, not even having to look at him. Being friend-zoned right off the bat. Fucking humiliating.

Top that off with her using my nickname. Yup, might as well throw in the towel now.

“Friends,” I reply and clink my glass with hers, one of the most painful declarations I’ve ever made.

“Friends, huh?” Nolan asks. “How could you be just friends with this guy?” Nolan nods toward me. “He’s the whole package. Good-looking, killer at the plate, a six-pack that makes every single one of our teammates drool.”

Bower glances at me. “You have a six-pack?”

“Uh, I mean—”

“Sure does,” Nolan says, lifting my shirt and flashing my stomach, giving Bower a glimpse.

“Oh my God, you do.” Bower smirks. “When did that happen?”

I scratch the back of my neck. “Well, you know, I have to work out and—”

“And the dick on this guy,” Nolan says, shocking the shit out of me, because what the fuck is he doing? “When I say he’s the whole package, I mean the…whole…package.”

For the love of God.

Embarrassment eclipses me as Bower takes a sip of her beer and crosses one leg over the other. “Is that right?” She eyes me for a moment.“Then how come you’re hanging out with your older sister’s best friend rather than calling over one of the many girls who are clearly frothing to get into this space?”

Nolan chuckles and then an evil glint falls over his face as he starts to say, “Because he has a massive—”

“Donaldson,” I say, loud enough for practically the entire bar to hear me. Confused expressions from Bower and Nolan both look in my direction as I clear my throat and repeat, “Donaldson, uh, he’s calling you over.” I point toward Donaldson, one of our relief pitchers who is at the bar. “He wants you, Nolan.” I shove at his shoulder. “Better go see what he wants.”

Nolan knows I’m a fucking liar as he glances at me, but thankfully goes with it as he says, “Probably wants to do a shot. I’ll be back.”

“Take your time,” I say, wanting to get the point across that his help is not needed, especially since he was just about to blow up my spot without even a fucking second thought. It was right there on the tip of his tongue, ready to blurt out to Bower that I have a massive crush on her.

Unsure what I’d have done if she found that out. Probably melted into a pile of sweat, never to be seen again.

“So…what was that about?” Bower asks as she leans back on the couch.

“Pretty sure he’s already drunk,” I say, even though I know he’s not.

“He’s kind of strange but super fucking hot.”

“That’s the general consensus.”

“Yeah? Your teammates think he’s hot?” She playfully smirks at me.

“We have a hard time keeping our hands off him.”

“Oh yeah?” Her smile grows even bigger. “Tell me more about that sausage fest.”

Ugh, why did I say that?

“What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room.”

She sips her beer. “Consider me intrigued.” Her eyes travel over thebar, taking in the decorations. “Interesting place. What’s with the fishing gear?”