Anything but Minor (23 page)

“Alice,” Rafe insisted, “just let Andy take you home.”

“No.”

“Fine, get in,” he said, pushing past me and opening the door.

“Night, Andy,” I whispered with irritation as I climbed in.

“Rafe,” Andy said slowly with a warning in his voice.

“Fuck this,” he said as he climbed in and ripped off his tie.

Minutes later, the wind whipping through the Jeep, I kept my eyes on him, undeterred. He was furious. In our time together, I’d never seen anything close to this kind of anger.

“This is your baggage, Rafe, and I haven’t even said a word about it. You’re so pissed off and blind right now you can’t even see it.”

He laughed at me in mock. “So tell me what you think of
me
now.”

“The same darned thing I thought of you an hour ago.
And
I think you’re a total jerk for what you did then and how you’re acting right now!”

Rafe turned into my complex at warp speed. “Don’t endanger my life because you’re an idiot!” I screamed as the Jeep skidded to a stop.

“I see it now. You aren’t a poor sport; you’re a total, volcanic moron! Cabron!” I hissed as I exited the Jeep a good half a mile from my condo. There was no way I was hanging around to watch him implode.

I heard a curse then a mutter as the Jeep sped up beside me. “He had his fucking hands all over you!”

“Over exaggeration,” I yelled back as he slowly rolled next to me in his Jeep.

“You were fucking judging me!”

“I was effin’ dancing with your teammate! And what you did to him was horrible, really horrible!”

“I didn’t know she was his!”

“Doesn’t help your cause, Rafe,” I said as I stopped to look at him. “Did she have a ring on her finger?” His silence was deafening. “You’re guilty.”

“And who the hell are you to judge?”

“Oh, please, you’re pissed because I’m right.”

Rafe cursed, put the Jeep in gear, and made a sudden turn to leave on the narrow drive. I continued to walk as close to the sparse streetlamps that echoed between the palm trees. It was a warm night and I was already sweating. I heard the Jeep brake again as Rafe backed up next to me and kept it in reverse.

I walked on as I tried to ignore him, but the whole thing was suddenly becoming more comical. I heard Rafe grumble next to me as he followed me down the narrow path to my complex in reverse. I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

“I let him beat the shit out of me in Savannah.”

“Good!”

“I thought you might say that.” I glanced over at him and he was grinning from ear to ear. I clamped my mouth closed as I stared ahead. “I haven’t been that pissed in a long time, Alice.”

“Well, good for you, a breakthrough. The Neanderthals will be pleased to have their leader back.”

I heard his chuckle as he continued to slowly drive next to me. I could physically feel the tension start to leave us. A car moved past him narrowly and slowed to look at us. I was sure we were a spectacle.

“Get in the Jeep, baby, and let me tell you I’m sorry.”

“No.”

“Alice, please.”

“No,” I huffed at the mid-mark, determined to make it back to my condo on heels that would scar me.

“Alice...Goddamn it!” The Jeep came to a sharp stop, and seconds later, Rafe was in front of me. I had no choice but to stop and look up at him. His lips were quirked as his green-brown eyes sparkled down at me. He was amused. I was not. Well, I was, but I wasn’t about to reveal it.

“I have a shitty temper sometimes. It’s not something I’m proud of. I swear to God, when I saw that man touch you, I wanted to end his life.”

“Probably how he feels every time he’s forced to look at you.”

Rafe let out a breath. “I’ve dealt with the guilt over that. Alice, if you think I haven’t, you’re wrong.”

“I’m not asking you to pay for your mistakes or even regret
anything
. That situation has nothing to do with me.”

“So you don’t care?”

“Do you want me to? Do you want me to hold it against you?”

“The look you gave me,” he whispered as I stood my ground.

“Was disappointment,” I said honestly. “I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of causing a rift between us. You did that all on your own.”

Rafe peered down at me with a look I’d never seen. It was somewhere between confusion and admiration.

“You’re a baseball player, Rafe. I
have
to be able to trust you. You have groupies in every city and will be gone more than you’ll be here. It’s part of being a ballplayer’s girl. Combine that with the fact that you are so damned good looking...If I can’t believe the person you say you are standing in front of me, I’d lose my mind wondering.”

I stood, covered in light sweat, my feet aching as I watched him closely.

“Ballplayer’s girl?” He quirked a brow as a slow smile spread on his face.

“I’m going to bed,” I muttered as I tried to walk around him.

He swept me into his arms with a quick “Don’t you dare throat punch me” and slowly walked to his Jeep. He placed me sideways in the seat and stood between my legs, my dress hiked up to my thighs. I sat silently as his eyes and body language implored me to look at him. I finally lifted my head with a sigh.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not,” I said, still holding a grudge.

“I’m an asshole. I ruined your night.”

“You totally did.”

“Wow, you really are hell to please.”

“I don’t want to have bad days, Rafe.” I saw his expression soften as he cupped my face.

“Baby, I’m sorry.”

I nodded. “Okay,” I said as he stroked my chin.

“Here’s the thing. I will never be able to handle another man touching you, ever.”

“But the truth is, that’s up to me, isn’t it? Just like it’s up to you to make sure that doesn’t happen. We can’t try to control each other. I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure that won’t work.”

I peeled off my jacket as Alice showered off our shitty night—a night I’d ruined by acting like a jealous thug. Andy had stepped up to the plate the minute he saw my temper flare and kept me grounded. I hadn’t realized I was capable of the same type of anger anymore until I saw him put his hands on her. Possessiveness of the most lethal kind had raced through my every pore. I was too afraid of my reaction, and even when I’d managed to calm down, it was still severe.

For the second time in my life, I was scared I didn’t have a handle on my head or my heart. I wanted her in a way I never thought possible. I was falling hard, and though I’d asked for it, I never expected what I got, and it was a helluva lot more.

The idea that I could get the call to the big club and soon be forced to leave her struck next, and I braced myself on the counter.

I was already jealous of my time away from her, already desperate for her touch, her voice, her whisper, her every day.

Alice deserved so much fucking better than what I’d put her through tonight.

I grabbed a bottle of water from her fridge and spotted a card on her counter. The outside was glittered with a blue and white Happy Birthday, and the inside simply read: From all of us in your Boeing family.

FUCK.

I sat in the stands and couldn’t shake the smile on my face as I watched Rafe coach. Kristina sat beside me as Rafe knelt down to talk to Dillon, who was up to bat. Kristina’s son looked adorable in his little league outfit, armed with a mini slugger, and eager as Rafe whispered to him.

“He’s so good with them,
all of them
,” she said as she looked over at me. “Every year, without fail, he shows up to teach these kids everything he knows. It’s kinda hard not to fall for him a little.”

I nodded, my eyes trained on the exchange between a little boy and his coach.

“I think I’m moving to Atlanta,” Kristina said as she watched. “Dillon’s father’s parents live there, and they’ve offered to help me get settled. They’ve been begging for years for me to bring him, and I need a change.”

My heart cracked at her announcement. “You really want that?”

“Yes, I think I need to try somewhere new. I can go back to school while they watch him. I couldn’t afford to do both here.”

“Kristina, I could help.”

She flung her hand dismissively. “I love you, babe, but you have your own man to concentrate on. It’s not that far, and I’m not sure if it’s happening, but I’m thinking about it.”

“Crap,” I whispered as I turned to her. “I’ll hate it here without you.”

“I’m just thinking for now. Besides, aren’t you happy here?”

“Sure.” I looked over at Rafe as he encouraged the tiny players.

I’d never felt so amazing, so completely powerful, yet helpless at the same time. In the past few weeks, I’d felt Rafe’s distance. We’d spoken less every day he was on the road. My texts went unanswered more than once. When he’d arrived home last night, he’d been more than quiet. He’d been withdrawn and refused to admit it.

“You’re falling for him,” Kristina noted as I turned to her with a nod.

“It’s obvious?” I asked as I slid my sunglasses over my eyes. Right at that moment, Rafe looked my way and gave me a small smile, which I returned.

Kristina nudged my arm. “He’s just as obvious.”

“I don’t think that’s what that is, Kristina.”

She looked over at me with worry etched on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know yet.”

Rafe gently pitched the ball a few times as Dillon swung away. Kristina and I hollered out words of encouragement. Dillon’s bat connected and the ball flew centerfield. Stunned, he turned and looked directly at his mother with a glowing and unbelieving smile. Kristina stood and waved frantically. “Run, buddy!” Rafe watched the ball go midfield then began to wind his arm, encouraging him to run. Dillon darted from one base to the next then slid into home plate. Rafe was already there to pick him up and pat him on the back.

“Wow,” I said as I watched their exchange then turned to Kristina.

She wiped a tear from her eye and looked over at me with light laughter. “PMS,” she said in excuse.

As the game ended, Dillon ran up to us, and Rafe followed closely but kept his distance...from me.

“You did good today, buddy,” he called after Dillon, who took his Gatorade and drank it down with greed.

I took a step toward Rafe and felt him tense, so I remained planted. Kristina hovered over Dillon, and for a moment, the space between the three of us felt uncomfortable. I’d agreed to be Rafe’s only a short time ago, and he had kissed me in public quite passionately, but in that moment, I felt hurt and rejection I’d never experienced, and it scared the hell out of me.

Silence lingered as Rafe waved a quick goodbye to the rest of the little people and their parents.

“Come on, buddy,” Kristina said to Dillon, who looked at Rafe with stars in his eyes. “Let’s go get some lunch and ice cream.” Kristina turned to me. “Girls’ night soon?”

I nodded with my eyes on Rafe, who seemed to be absorbed in his thoughts.

As soon as Kristina was out of earshot, I took a step forward. “What am I missing?”

Rafe shrugged as he began to gather the bats. “Nothing.”

“Okay,” I said as I picked one up and handed it to him. He took it with a small “Thank you.”

“I’m leaving,” I said as Rafe snapped his eyes to mine. “I’m just going to go”—I swallowed hard— “visit my mom.”

His lack of protest told me so much more than his distance. We hadn’t seen each other in weeks. I braced myself as I spoke to him again. “You should know you’re a really special man. You have a lot of patience with those kids. I can tell they adore you.”

Rafe dropped the bats and cursed as he looked over at me. “Why do you have to be so goddamned perfect?”

“I’m just being honest,” I said defensively. “I can see you aren’t in the mood for it.”

“Baby, no,” he said as I crossed my arms in front of me and stared at his cleats.

“What’s happening between us Rafe?”

“What?” he snapped.

“What are we doing? Are we in a relationship that’s now boring you?”

“Damn it, Alice,” he said as he took a step toward me, closing the distance. “No.”

“No, we’re not in a relationship or no I’m not boring you?” I felt my heart rip as he watched the cars leave behind us.