Messy Love (Stumbling into Love 3)

“It doesn’t make you sound like an asshole. I get what you’re saying. You were thrust into your brother’s group of friends. It didn’t feel like it was yours, though it could be. And I bet you’d realize you have more in common with everyone than you think.”

“Probably,” I agreed. “But today…today didn’t feel like that. The game was fucking awesome. The team all hanging out afterward. It was like it fell into place naturally, like these people chose to hang out with me because of me, not because of my brother. I felt on equal footing with them, like I’d found my place—friends and lunches out with people who only know me now, so they don’t have expectations of me the way my old friends do, and…”

We’d stopped walking. I wasn’t sure when that happened, but it was likely because we were standing in front of our building. I seemed to have missed that as well.

“And, what?” Danny asked when I didn’t continue. We were facing each other, him against the building and me standing in front of him. I could feel Danny’s breath, smell beer.

“It’s because of you.”

“No, it’s not. I didn’t do anything. It’s because of you.”

“I would never have joined that team if it wasn’t for you. I wouldn’t have been at that game and wouldn’t have loved every second of playing. I wouldn’t know Mark, or anyone on the team. I like Jerome and Kurt a lot too. They’re good guys.” I was getting off track because that was easier than saying the rest. “The point is, today was great, and I have you to thank for it.”

Danny bit his bottom lip, and fuck, that was sexy. A little too sexy. I found myself lifting my arm, cupping his cheek, brushing my thumb against his skin, his creamy brown against my lighter complexion.

He sucked in a sharp breath, and motherfucker, this was bad. I wanted to lean in, wanted to see what he tasted like, wanted him to do all kinds of things to me that I’d never let myself do with a man.

“This feels like déjà vu, but you keep staring at me like that, and you and I are gonna be in a whole lotta trouble, handsome,” Danny said. It reminded me of when I’d been looking at him and he said if I didn’t stop, he’d think I wanted a taste.

“I wanted you to look this morning,” I admitted.

Danny grinned, then moved slightly closer and…this was it. I could practically taste him already, and I wanted to drown in the sensation, when—

“Um…baseball?”

I jerked back at the sound of Elijah’s voice. He and Shaw were standing beside us.

“Is this a bad time?” Elijah asked.

“I’m gonna go with yes,” Shaw said.

I had to agree with him, but I replied, “Nah, it’s fine.”

“We were just talking about the game,” Danny lied. Well, not really lied. We kind of had been, but then we were about to kiss, and fuck, I wanted to.

“You didn’t tell me you were on a baseball team.” There was hurt in Elijah’s voice.

“Sorry, E. I just…”

He hadn’t told Elijah because of me. Because he knew I hadn’t told Will, and once the cat was out of the bag, they would all know. “It’s my fault. I asked him not to tell anyone. I wasn’t ready.”

Elijah’s and Shaw’s gazes snapped back and forth between Danny and me, much too knowing for my comfort. Not that I was embarrassed, but I didn’t like my business being out there. I was used to what I did being mine and not public knowledge.

“We’ve only been practicing for two weeks. Today was our first game. It’s not a big deal. Well, unless you consider this fucker hitting a home run to make us win.” Danny used his thumb to point to me.

“Well, that’s pretty badass,” Shaw said.

“I know, right?” Danny added.

“It is pretty cool,” Elijah agreed. “I’m happy for you.”

I gave him a nod, appreciating the support.

“Even if that means we have practice on Tuesdays?” Danny winced.

Oh, right. They had their BFF Tuesday thing sometimes. Shit. This was screwing with his whole schedule, but he was doing it…with me. For me. I wasn’t used to people doing stuff like that for me.

“That’s it. Quit the team!” Elijah countered, and we laughed. “We’ll find another day to have dinner while you guys are playing. It’s not like we have them as consistently anymore.”

Danny hugged Elijah and kissed his cheek. My stomach did somersaults, which was not good at all. There was no reason I should feel weird about Danny kissing his best friend, or anyone for that matter. But definitely not Elijah, whose boyfriend was beside him and didn’t care.

“What’re you up to?” Danny asked.

“Coming by to see you. We were out and about and figured we’d stop by. You’ve been quiet, but I see now it’s because you’ve been busy.”