Beyond the Bases

I tossed and turned all night. I kept seeing Easton and those big brown eyes as he pleaded with me to give him a shot. Turning him down was hard, but it’s what I needed to do. He’s too charismatic, too gorgeous. I could get caught up in him too easily. I’m not ready for that. I have a plan and need to stay focused.

The house is quiet, normal for six in the morning. My alarm’s set for six thirty, so I reach over and turn it off. No use in trying to go back to sleep, not after the restless night I had. I can’t stop thinking about him. The way his eyes roam over me, both sexual and in a way no one has ever looked at me. The way my skin heats and prickles with awareness anytime he’s near. Easton Monroe is a hard man to resist. Throwing off the covers, I head to the shower. I might as well get moving. Maybe I can get some studying in before I have to leave for class.

On the way to school, I call Mom and check in on things. “Good morning,” I greet her.

“You sound tired,” she answers. I never could get anything past her.

“I didn’t sleep the greatest last night.”

“What’s going on?” Concern laces her voice.

“Nothing, just couldn’t sleep. How are things?”

“Good. Getting ready to fix us some breakfast. Did you eat?” She’s always worrying about me.

“I grabbed a granola bar on my way out the door. I only have morning class today and then I’ll swing by your place. I have to be at work at four.”

“I still think you should move in here, let us help you while you focus on your degree.” This isn’t a new conversation. It’s one we’ve had many times over the last few years.

“Mom, I appreciate that more than you know. You already do so much for me and I like having my own space. It’s good to know that if I need to, I can always come home.”

“If you change your mind….”

“I know, thank you. I’m at school. I need to get to class. I’ll see you later.”

“Have a good day, sweetheart.”

I make it to class just as the professor starts his lecture. Business ethics is not a hard class, but it’s not one that is particularly engaging either. It’s a means to an end, which is earning my bachelor’s degree in accounting. I’m taking notes and trying like hell not to fall asleep when my phone vibrates in my purse at my feet. Slipping it out of my purse, I see a text message from Chloe. I don’t bother reading it, needing to focus extra hard on the class; instead, I toss my phone back in my purse. I only have twenty minutes of this class left, and if I reply, I’m sure to miss that last part of this lecture. Just my luck that’s what we’ll be tested over.

I’m packing up my bag when my phone vibrates with a call. I don’t even bother looking; I know it’s Chloe. “Hey, you’re persistent this morning.”

“So, I met up with Drew last night.”

“I was there, remember?” I can already tell where this call is going. She wants me to take Easton up on his offer.

“I asked him what Easton’s deal was.”

“You called me as soon as my class was over, the exact minute to tell me you decided to be nosey and inquire about your booty call’s friend?” I’m being a sassy bitch, but she knows why I can’t do this.

She laughs. “You’re damn right I did. Anyway, Drew says he’s into you.”

“How can he be ‘into me’? He doesn’t even know me.”

“You know what I mean. He really wants to get to know you. Drew says he’s a good guy.”

“Right, said the serial killer’s best friend.”

“Aren’t we a little testy today?” she teases.

I release a heavy breath. “I’m sorry. I’m exhausted. I got maybe a couple hours of sleep last night at best.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, you know the house was quiet and I was just… thinking.”

“Uh huh. Thinking about a tall, dark-haired, baseball-playing drink of water, were you?”

“I admit he’s easy on the eyes, but the mature, responsible version of me knows that this entire situation has bad idea written all over it. You know I have so much going on in my life. I can’t get caught up in him. I don’t have time for heartbreak.” I’m well aware my words are on a constant repeating loop with all the reasons why I can’t allow myself to be involved with not just Easton, but anyone. My hope is that if I say it enough, people will get the message loud and clear and believe it. Maybe if I say it aloud enough, I’ll even start to believe it. I would love to throw caution to the wind and see where things go. That’s just not an option for me at this point in my life.