Better With You (Better Love 2)

“How ‘bout you make me, Dollar Store Thor.”

I vaguely hear the redhead say something, but I can’t make it out clearly over the pounding in my head. I step forward with every intention of ripping this asshole’s fingers off Bailey’s shoulder, but she beats me to it. Then she stands and levels us with a scathing glare. Pretty sure both me and the slipper dick cower a little.

“Oh, is this what we’re doing now?” She laughs, but its humorless as she shoves her textbook into her bag. “This dick measuring toxic masculinity bullcrap? Well, guess what. I win. If I had a dick, it’d be bigger than both y’all’s. Know why? Because I’m not so insecure that I have to flex on other people just to keep the attention of a man-child. So have fun fumbling with your tape measures without me, assholes, because I’m out.”

Bailey slams her cup on the table, hikes her bag over her shoulder, and rushes out of the courtyard.

“Oh shit, you pissed her off good, didn’t you,” the guy laughs, and I glare at him.

“Jesse,” the blonde girl says in warning, and he winks at her.

“Me?” I ask incredulously.

“Hell yeah, you. Don’t think for one second any of that—” he waves his finger in the direction that Bailey took off “—had anything to do with me.”

I’m watching her run away when the dick talks again.

“She’s tiny, but those short legs can move fast. You better hustle if you’re gonna catch up.”

I whip my eyes back to him. “Huh?”

“Fuckin’ A, Stanton. You need me to skywrite it?” He swipes at the brim of an imaginary hat, tugs on his earlobe, then gives me a slow, exaggerated shove. “Go.”

I don’t question him again. I just run after her.

“Bailey, wait!” I call when I get close, sliding up next to her on the sidewalk. “I’m sorry. I got jealous and stupid, and it got out of hand and I’m sorry.”

“Save it for someone who cares, Riggs. Boys like you are a dime a dozen.”

“Just give me two fucking minutes to explain,” I growl.

“You don’t even deserve two seconds.” The. Most. Infuriating. Woman. I can't tell if I want to kiss her or curse her. Probably both.

“I just really want to talk to you,” I try again.

“Yeah, well you know what I want? I want to talk to Alex, the intelligent and funny guy I met in aisle 6 who likes funfetti cupcakes, and talks to me about young adult fiction novels, and adores his mother. That’s what I want, and the person standing in front of me right now? He ain’t it. So do us both a favor and lose my number, forget my name, and fuck all the way off.”

It’s not the anger in her eyes that stops me short. It’s the sadness. It’s the subtle cracking of her voice. I didn’t just piss her off, I hurt her, and I didn’t even consider that.

Fuck.

I don’t fight her this time when she walks away.

“Assholes,”I call when I strut through the door of the townhouse. There is a shit-ton of cars out front, and I doubt they can hear me over the music. Fuckers are having a party on a Monday?

I round the corner into the living room and see my roommates, a few guys from the team, and a handful of girls I only vaguely recognize. Dylan’s in the recliner with a girl perched on his lap, Xavier and Beck, our third baseman, are playing Madden on the PlayStation, and three of our outfielders are hanging out on the sectional entertaining a few more girls. Company is the last thing I want to have to deal with, but I flash a grin and jump into character before anyone notices my scowl.

“Guys started without me?” I laugh and dump my bag on the ground. I get a round of heys and head nods from the guys. Some finger waves and batted eyelashes from the ladies.

“Oh Captain, My Captain!” Dylan calls out. The team doesn’t have an official captain, but unofficially, the guys have decided I’m it. “Grab a beer, dude. Only a few more weeks until pre-season.”

“Go too hard, too fast and you’ll burn your shit right out. Sure Coach Daddy will love that one.”

Dylan glares at my grin. “Let me worry about that, asshole.”

“Hi, Riggs.” A blonde smiles shyly at me from the couch. She’s wedged between Ashton and Perez, and from the way their hands are on her, I think I just interrupted something.

“Hey, gorgeous.” I smile at her. “Having a good time?”

She giggles and looks away, and Perez widens his eyes at me, telling me to fuck right off. I wink at him. “I’ve got plans, boys. Just swung by to drop off my shit.”

“You can’t leave,” Dylan crows. “You just got here. Quit ditchin’ us for pussy.”

“Sorry, bro. These plans don’t like to be kept waiting.” I wink suggestively and walk out to a chorus of whoops.

Then I head to the practice fields to get some laps in.