Dirty Curve

“Then why am I in your department? Why do you assign your athletes to me? Why did you assign him to me?”

“Again. Do not put this on me.” Anger shades his features, and he takes a quick look around before turning back to me. “Do as I said and everything will be fine.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Make it that simple.”

My eyes begin to burn, but I won’t cry.

Not yet.

The moment he disappears into the night, I lift my phone up with shaky palms. I know right where to go based on his comments, and open the student app.

I don’t even have to click on the news tab, because this article made it onto the main page, as did the photo accompanying it.

My heart drops to my feet as I stare at the three of us, and my phone falls to the grass as I bring my hands up to cover my eyes. I can’t hide from that.

Make it that simple, he said.

In other words, end it and quick.

Palms fall to my shoulders, and the soft touch has my heart clenching. His hands glide down, wrapping me up from behind and then his lips are on my neck, my jaw, my ear. “You saw the picture?”

I nod, my head falling against his chest, eyes locked to the lit-up screen wedged in the grass at my feet.

“We look good together, us three.”

Tears prick at the back of my eyes, and again, I nod.

We do.

“You upset, baby? I didn’t get the chance yet, but I planned on asking Coach Reid to help us out,” he says, and those tears swell, threatening to spill over. “He might be able to get them to back off us. I know if I ask, he’ll do whatever he can—”

The tears fall. I swiftly reach up, haul his lips to mine, and cut off his thought, allowing all common sense to escape me, knowing it’s a cruel notion, but unable to hold back all the same.

Tobias groans, his hand flying up to grip my face, but it quickly disappears into my hair, and I spin, the need to get closer to him overwhelming, heartrending.

As if we’re completely in tune with one another, his arm comes down the moment I jump up, my legs wrapping around him as his firm hold tightens.

“Baby ...” he pants, his kiss deep and devastatingly perfect.

My body aches with conflicting emotions, twisting and turning at an insufferable rate.

Dread and desire.

Fear and comfort.

Disgrace and devotion.

Yet still I whisper, “Take me home.”

And he does, but much to my surprise, he kisses me good night at my door, with a heartfelt promise of a tomorrow.

Little does he know, come tomorrow, my mind will be clear, and my orders followed.

I’m at the mercy of a man who doesn’t deserve to be called one, and there’s not a thing I can do about it.

CHAPTER 26

Tobias

I’ve been out of the house since five fifteen this morning, and I won’t be home until around seven, being today’s a double header. I planned on dropping a coffee off for Meyer on my way to warmups, but that didn’t happen. After class this morning, Coach said he needed me to come by so we could go over some game film, even though we covered most at our last meeting. If it helps secure the win, though, I’m all for it and he knows that.

My call to Meyer goes straight to voice mail, so I send her a quick text, letting her know I’ll bring dinner tonight so she doesn’t fill herself up on cereal or peanut butter, some of the only items she seems to keep stocked in her house.

At my locker, I toss my shit inside, quickly dress out, and just before I push my locker closed, my phone dings.

My Tutor Girl: I have to work tonight.

Damn, that sucks.

I start to tell her I’ll be there when she gets off when another text comes through.

My Tutor Girl: Bianca is picking me up.

That’s a bummer, but no big deal. I’m glad she figured out a ride rather than walking home like before.

Me: I’ll come over after.

My Tutor Girl: I have to be up really early. Sorry.

I frown at the message.

Sorry. As in, I can’t come over, sorry?

A hint of annoyance flares in my gut, but I shake it off.

I’ll just go to her work tonight, have dinner with her the way I can. She’ll be happy with that.

Yeah, that’ll work.

I hit the field with my team, hanging around in the dugout while they warm up since I’m not pitching tonight – my pitch counts being saved for the next series, being this team is ranked last in the league. It makes for a long ass day, but it’s good to see the second and third string guys come together with the rest of the team and do what needs done to pull out the win. Coach was smart though and left X and Neo on the field to keep things tight and hold our runs allowed number at its record low.