The Game Changer (The Perfect Game 2)

“What’d she say?” Jack asked, his eyebrows raised.

“Well, she used all caps so this is a very serious message. ” I smiled, handing my phone to him so he could read it.

“Oh, she’s yelling at you. Isn’t that what all caps means?”

“Yeah, but I think that’s her way of showing me she’s freaking out. Or excited. Or yelling,” I agreed with a smile.

“Heads up. I might be on my way over. ” Jack pressed his lips against my forehead, and I closed my eyes with his touch. So much had happened between us. So much more than any one couple should ever go through, but there we were. Together.

“I should probably text her back or she won’t ever stop. ” I quickly typed out a response.

He’s here. We’re talking. Working through things. Call you from the office Monday.

I lowered the volume button on my phone before it beeped again.

MONDAY?!?! Like hell you’re making me wait that long!

I laughed and typed out one last message before turning my phone to silent.

You’ll survive. I can’t talk now. Talk later. Love you.

“What did Dean say?”

He scanned the phone screen before smiling and handing it to me.

Dude, you got traded to the Mets and didn’t tell me? Is this because of Cassie? Of course it’s because of Cassie. How the hell did you get them to let you do it? Good luck. Call me after you see her.

“How can you not love Dean?” I handed him back his phone, smiling.

He straightened his back and pushed away from me slightly. “Good question. Speaking of Dean, why doesn’t Melissa love him?”

“What?” My tone came out more surprised than I meant.

“No, really

. What’s her deal? Dean’s totally into her, but she’s not having it. I don’t get it. ”

Jack’s demeanor and tone gave away the fact that this situation bothered him. I found it sweet, if you wanted to know the truth. He cared about his little brother, and since I didn’t have any siblings to care about me, I found it inspiring. “She’s always been like that. ” I knew I’d answered his question unsatisfactorily, but it’s all I had when it came to her.

He shook his head, not accepting my answer. “You’ve known her forever, Kitten. Hasn’t she ever had a boyfriend?”

I scratched my head, contemplating his question and forming my response. “Not really. I mean, she’s always hooked up with guys, but she’s never really had a serious boyfriend. ”

“Why not?” he asked, apparently determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.

“I don’t know. ”

“How can you, of all people, not know? You’re her best friend. You’re chicks. Chicks talk about this kind of shit all the time. ”

My body prickled with heat as my defenses quickly rose. “First of all, calm down. Second of all, I don’t fucking know. I’ve never really thought about it before. Guys have always liked Melissa, and she makes out with them or whatever, but she’s never really said anything to me about liking them back. I never questioned it because I just accepted it. That’s the way she is. I don’t know why. I don’t know when it will change. And I don’t know why the fuck she doesn’t fall head over heels in love with Dean. Maybe you should ask her instead of sitting here grilling me. ”

I started to get off the couch, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me right back down. He reached for my face, turning it, forcing me to look at him. “I’m sorry, Kitten. I didn’t mean to get so fired up about it. I just don’t get it. My brother’s a good guy. And I know he likes her. It just makes no sense to me why she doesn’t like him back. ”

He loosened his hold on my face, but I refused to turn away from him. “I can’t answer that. ” I shrugged, my annoyance fading.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. ” Jack’s lips twisted into a smile, forcing his dimples to appear.

I am such a sucker for those dimples.