Page 29 of Fair Ball

Caring about Millie, being with her, makes me feel a little more…everything.

When we reach my building, she expertly parallel parks and informs me she cooked me dinner. “Do you want me to come in and get everything out?”

“No. Go home. It’s a school night.”

“Big, bad Austin Ashwood is worried about it being a school night?”

“No, but you said you let Noah stay up the other night. He’s probably still making up that sleep, and it’s already nine o’clock.”

“Yeah.” She exhales, checking her cell phone. “I should get home. Although, once again, I haven’t done much for you today.”

“You picked me up, drove me home, made me dinner, and you stocked my fridge. That’s more than enough.” Then I unfurl myself from her car, but she stops me from closing my door.

“Hey, boss?”

I bend to meet her gaze. “Yeah?”

“Let me know what you think of the food.”

I nod and shut the door, trying not to picture her in my kitchen, cooking for me, in only a T-shirt and underwear, but my subconscious is a pervert.

I leave my bag on the floor and toss the bird a bird when he greets me with “Hey, dickhead!” then grab the bowl of salad and heat up a plate of the spaghetti. Seated at the counter with the highlights of another baseball game playing on the television, I stab my fork into the Caesar salad, only to come up empty because the lettuce is all wilted from the dressing. Even the croutons have lost their crunch. Scooting that out of the way, I dig into the pasta, but I find the sauce is way, way, way too salty, and the noodles are undercooked so they stick to my teeth.

I’m not sure how she managed to do it, but Millie messed up one of the easiest meals to make, and I throw everything into the trash before texting her.

Food was delicious. Thank you.

I’m so glad! I’ve never made sauce from scratch before so I’m glad it turned out okay.

How about next time I cook for you?

You cook?

I try.

Well, I’ll never say no to you since you’re paying me to be your yes man.

I swipe my hand over my hair and beard, staring at her last message, my mind conjuring up all sorts of negative and positive images. Because I don’t want her to feel taken advantage of, that she has to say yes to me because I’m paying her to, but also, I’m the worst fucking guy who is now imagining what Millie might sound like when she whispers and sighs yes in my ear.

You can and should say no to me whenever you want, Millie. You need to, okay?

Okay.

Promise me if you’re ever uncomfortable, you’ll say no. You’ll leave.

I promise.

CHAPTER 9

AUSTIN

We’ve had a stretch of home games, but this last series before we travel again has kept me up most of the night.

We’re playing Atlanta.

My former team.

My brother’s team.