Bad Boy of Baseball (Player Loves Curves 6)

He almost reaches for it but stops himself. “Tonight’s her first night. How about I bring out Jasmine for you?”

But I’m already shaking my head. “No. I want Sweet Peach,” I tell him, gritting out her name. So this is her first night. The fact that she’s even here blows my mind a little. This is the same woman that I took the virginity of the night we graduated high school. The same woman that would smile really big, like she was doing something rebellious when she said a cuss word and she never drank. Why is she even here? I can just add that question to all of the other ones I have. Like, why did she fuckin’ destroy me?

Troy finally shrugs his shoulders and I can tell he’s uneasy about it, but he takes the money from my hands and points down the hallway. “Room 3. Give her a few minutes.”

I walk away with confidence, headed to room three. As soon as I sit down, I spring back up. I pace back and forth across the room. I try to empty all the thoughts from my head, but it’s impossible. Why am I punishing myself? Why am I even doing this? I should walk away and never step foot in here again. I should run as far as I can. She made it plain to me two years ago that she didn’t want me, so why am I doing this? Why can’t I just walk away?

I start to walk out the same door I came in, but I stop myself. The argument in my head continues. Maybe this is what I need. Maybe I need to talk to her. Maybe I need the closure so that I can get my shit together. She’s haunted me for two years. She’s always on my mind, she’s in every dream I’ve had, and she’s the reason that I’m the shell of a man that I am today. No, I’m staying. I’m getting some answers.

I walk back over to the chair and sit down. I lean back and stretch my legs out as if I don’t have a care in the world. Like my world didn’t just tilt on its axis. Like my heart didn’t just rip the rest of the way in two.

4

Hanna

I can’t believe that Carter Arnold is here. I’m backstage and still trying to recover from seeing him when Troy walks up beside me. I feel that I’m going to hyperventilate, and I’m bent over, sucking air, my hands on my knees. Troy doesn’t say anything, he just stands over me and waits for me to get myself together. “The first time’s always the hardest.”

I nod at him, but only because there’s no way I’m going to explain to him why I’m so messed up right now. I have two more dances tonight. Hopefully, I can do those, avoid Carter, and then go home.

When I stand up, Troy is staring at me worriedly. “You’ve been requested for a private lap dance…” I start to interrupt him, but he holds his hand up, flashing five one hundred dollar bills at me. “He’s a regular. The price is never this high, but he’s a good customer.”

“I don’t, I can’t…” I’m staring at the money and even now I know I’m not going to say no. I’m not in any condition to turn down money like that. “Who is it?” I ask him instead.

“Some pro baseball player. He’s harmless. And you are monitored the whole time. One dance is all he asked for.” And already Troy is leading me out of the backstage area and out into the bar.

I follow behind him, knowing I’m not ready for this. He says that Carter is harmless—at least I’m assuming it’s Carter, but who knows? A lot of ballplayers could have been here tonight, as far as I know. But the pit in my stomach is telling me it’s definitely him… and I’m about to face him.

I follow Troy, and he stops at a door with a number three on the front of it. He pats me on the shoulder. “I’ll have your money for you after your last dance tonight. Just come see me.”

I nod and he walks away. I take three deep breaths, pull my shoulders back, and open the door to a very mad Carter on the other side.

He’s sitting in a chair and from the way his hard body is relaxed it looks like he’s calm and laid back. The only giveaway is the tight pull of his jaw. He doesn’t realize that I have everything about him memorized. I know the face he makes when he’s sad, confused, happy, and yes, even mad. And that’s what’s radiating off of him right now. He is mad. Anyone else might be scared of him, because just a glint in his eye makes him look dangerous, almost unhinged. But I know Carter. He would never hurt a woman, no matter how mad he gets.