Beyond the Play (Out of Reach 3)

It’s Saturday night, and I’m sitting on the couch with my books scattered all around me and my laptop in my lap. This is how I plan to spend my night. I tell myself it’s because I want to get ahead. Only a few weeks are left in the semester, and I need to buckle down. The real story, I don’t want to risk running into Holden again.

Okay, that’s a lie. I’d love nothing more than to have his hands, his mouth, and all his attention, but I know it’s a dead-end street, so here I am, secluded in my apartment wearing my ratty sweats and a faded Blaze T-shirt with my hair piled in a messy knot on top of my head. No chance of going out. It’s a perfectly executed plan. Now it’s just convincing Autumn that I’m set for the night.

“Really, Parker?” Autumn stands at the end of the couch with her hands on her hips, staring me down.

“Is that your mom face?” I point at her scowl. “Your kids are going to be terrified,” I tease.

“Why are you not ready?”

“Because I’m not going. I’m going to get caught up on homework. I have a paper due next week.”

“I call bullshit.”

I open my mouth to defend my excuse, but the look she gives me tells me my best friend is on to me. “Fine. I don’t want to see him.”

“You’re messing with fate, Parker.”

I chuckle at her annoyance. “You’re crazy.”

She huffs out a breath. “You can try to avoid this, but I’m telling you. I have this gut feeling about you and Holden.”

“Yeah? What is this gut feeling? That we fall madly in love and have two point five kids, two dogs, and a white picket fence?” It takes all I have in me not to roll my eyes.

“Exactly! Well, I was thinking more of a wrought-iron gate with some brick. You know, to keep the paparazzi out.”

“Stop.” I smile. “I’m good. I promise. Call me if you need me to come and get you,” I say as a knock sounds at the door.

“Come in,” Autumn calls out.

Kate and Bridgette walk in. “You ready?” Kate asks, and then her eyes land on me. “Are you sick?”

This time, I do roll my eyes. “No. I just have lots of work to get caught up on. You all have fun. Call me if you need a ride home.”

“Parker,” Bridgette whines. “You have to come.”

“Sorry, B, Duty calls,” I say, holding up my laptop.

“Ugh. Buzzkill,” she retorts.

“Go. Have fun. You guys are acting like this is the first time any of us have bailed to do homework.”

“Well,” Kate speaks up, “back then, we didn’t get to watch the Holden and Parker show.”

“There is no Holden and Parker show. Both incidents were isolated, and it’s not happening.”

“Well, now we’re never going to find out.” Kate points at me accusingly. “You’re hiding.”

“I’m not hiding. I have a paper to write.”

What I don’t tell them is that the paper is written, and I just need to proofread it. What they don’t know won’t hurt them, but me running into Holden again, that might hurt me. He’s already all that I can think of. Being pulled into his orbit for the third weekend in a row isn’t something I need to let happen. I’m not saying that it would, but staying home ensures that it doesn’t.

“Come on. He’s a Tomahawk.” I don’t need to explain that I have Blaze blood running through my veins.

“He’s a hot as fuck Tomahawk,” Bridgette replies, smirking.

“Be gone. Have fun.” I wave them off. “Call me if you need a ride.” I give them my biggest, widest smile.

“You sure you won’t come?” Autumn asks.

“I’m good right here. Promise.”

“Fine,” she concedes. “I’ll see you later.” With a wave from the three of them, they walk out the door.

I expel a heavy breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Dodged a bullet. I get to work proofreading my paper, and once I’m done, my fingers have a mind of their own as they type Holden Bailey into the search engine. I click on images and carefully study each one. I’m assaulted with memories of his hands, his lips, and his scent.

“You did the right thing, Parker,” I tell myself. “Holden has heartbreak written all over him.” Closing out of the browser, I pack up all of my books and carry them to my room before making my way back to the kitchen. I grab a bag of chips and a can of Dr Pepper and settle in for some Netflix. I push all thoughts of Holden out of my mind. It’s better this way.

CHAPTER 6

Holden

Sitting in my truck, I stare at the front entrance of The Outfield. The bouncer is checking IDs at the door, and the line is wrapped around the building. My hands grip the wheel as I wage war within myself. There is a 50 percent chance she’s in there right now. I’m torn. I want her to be in there. I want to lay eyes on her and feel the softness of her skin beneath the palm of my hands. However, it’s after eleven, so chances are if she is there, she’s been here for a while. That means there is certainly another man with his hands on her.