The Game Changer (The Perfect Game 2)

“Just Cassie would be great. No Miss Andrews. It’s sorta weird and creepy. ”

“You’re weird and creepy. ” I leaned into her ear, whispering.

She whipped her head around to face me, and I grabbed the back of her neck, pulling her mouth to mine. Her tongue parted my lips, and I deepened the kiss, my hands roaming down her back to her ass. I squeezed and she moaned into me. My lower body willing and able, I suddenly wished for privacy glass so I could take her in the back of this car.

Matteo cleared his throat as he eased the car forward. “Sorry. I just wanted to make sure we were heading home and not stopping anywhere first. ”

“We have to stop somewhere. I’m starving,” I said. “But no pizza. I need meat. ”

The sound of Cass’s cell phone beeping distracted me from my starving stomach as I wondered who was texting her this late. As if sensing my question, she said, “It’s Melissa. She wants to know if we’re fighting already. ” She scratched the side of her head, her hair dangling around her fingers.

“What the hell does that mean?”

“I don’t know. I’m asking her. ” She barely responded as her fingers raced across the cell phone screen.

“I keep forgetting it’s three hours earlier there, you know?”

“I know, right? Me too,” she said, still typing.

I watched as the Manhattan skyline grew closer with each passing moment, marveling at the unmatched character of this city. I’d never seen so many tall buildings in such a small space before. I knew that seemed stupid, but there was nothing like this in Southern California. I fucking loved it here already. Cassie’s phone beeped again. And then again, as I turned to her.

“Oh my God. ”

“What is it?” I focused as she covered her mouth with her hand. “Cass?”

She waved a finger in the air. “There are pictures of us online already. From when we were just talking a few minutes ago. They look bad. ”

Cassie shoved her cell phone in front of my face, and I stared at the three attached photos, all showing Cassie looking upset and angry while I stood there like a jackass. The Internet caption on the photo read: “Jack Hits a Home Run on the Field, but Strikes Out at Home!”

“What do you want me to do?” she asked, her voice shaking.

I tossed my arm around her shoulder, pulling her body against me. “There’s nothing you can do. We should probably be more aware from now on when we’re out in public. ” Anger worked through me as I digested the simple fact that nowhere was safe from prying eyes. It was the one part of being a professional athlete that I loathed. I hated having no control over which pictures were posted of my personal life and when. I honestly couldn’t give a shit what they posted about me, but posting things about Cassie crossed the line.

“I’m so sorry, Jack. I didn’t even think about who might be watching. ” Her breath warmed my chest.

“It’s not your fault. ” I planted a kiss on the top of her head. “We didn’t have to deal with this kind of stuff before. ”

“I look like such a bitch in those pictures. ”

“It doesn’t matter. ” I tried to reassure her but ended up pissing her off instead.

She pushed away from my chest, squaring her shoulders to me as her breath quickened. “What do you mean, it doesn’t matter?”

I leaned forward, cupping her cheek in my hand. “I’m just saying that people are going to think whatever they want to think, no matter what we look like in some online photo. ”

Her eyes closed as her breathing evened out. “But I don’t want people t

o think you have some crazy mean girlfriend who yells at you after your games. ”

“They won’t,” I told her. I couldn’t promise her that people wouldn’t think badly of her, but I’d do my fucking best to try. I’d fight the press for her. I’d do anything to keep her feeling safe, happy, and loved. She didn’t deserve to be vilified online for any reason. Hell, if the public knew anything about our relationship, they’d be hunting me down daily with pitchforks and chanting. “But you have to promise me something, Cass. ”

Her brow furrowed. “What?” she pouted, looking up at me with those big green eyes.

“You can’t let them get to you. The press will write and post whatever they think will sell ads or get them attention. They say things all the time that aren’t true, and you just have to remember what is and what isn’t. OK?”

I’d experienced how rabid the press can get when it comes to players. I’d escaped the scrutiny somehow in regard to everything that happened between Chrystle and me. I always wondered if Marc had something to do with that, but I’d never asked him. I watched my teammates’ relationships crumble under the pressure and never once blamed them or their girlfriends for not being able to handle it. But I knew I couldn’t let that happen to Cassie and me. I’d make sure of it.

“Cass? Just try not to read anything if you can help it. Tell Melissa to filter what she sends you,” I suggested.