She juts her chin out at me and I try not to smile. Her feistiness is sexy. “No. No, I don’t know. You can’t just go around stealing other people’s dates and pretend to be someone you’re not.”
Frustrated, I blow out a breath. What can I say? I can’t let her walk away. I soften my voice and move closer to her. “I never pretended not to be myself. I didn’t tell you anything that is untrue, except the part where I pretended I knew you and I were going out on my boat today.”
She folds her arms across her chest and shakes her head. “Why not just ask me out and tell the truth from the start?”
“Honestly? You want the truth?” I ask her, and when she nods her head, I tell her, “Because I knew just looking at you that you were different than most women I know. I didn’t want to pass up the chance of getting to know you.” I want to tell her that I think she’s hot as fuck, but from the stubborn look on her face, I know that wouldn’t go well. “Look, I had a good time with you. I’d like to go out again.”
I hold my breath, hoping she’ll give me another change to be truthful with her.
3
Naomi
I could stand here and keep looking at him all night. Even though he didn’t actually say the words, I still feel lied to. I know how easy it could be for me to just forgive him. He’s a sexy man with smooth words. He knows what he’s doing. I could fall under his spell easily. But I don’t want to be that way. I’m not that woman. My mom and her marriages tell me that I don’t want to be that woman.
So I do the only thing I can. I turn away from him and walk away. The pier is long and I almost stop at least five times to turn around and change my mind. But I don’t. I force myself to keep going. I can feel his hard gaze on me, but luckily he doesn’t chase after me because I don’t think I would have the will to keep going if he did.
Later that night, all I can do is think about my afternoon with Neil. Yes, we had a good time together out on his boat. Yes, he was a perfect gentleman. Yes, he’s protective and all alpha on me. But he also lied to me. Or he didn’t tell me the truth anyway.
My phone starts to ring and I pick it up. The caller id is an unknown number and I know it’s him. I had put my number into his phone. I decline the call and no sooner do I set it down than it starts to ring again. I ignore the way my stomach flutters with excitement, knowing it’s him. Hitting decline, I silence it and lie back on my couch.
I almost call Jackie. She’s the closest friend I have, but I remember that she had told me the Mavericks are not playing tonight and she had a special date night with Reagan. Man, she got a good one. Reagan is crazy about her and I’ve never seen her like this. He’s a baseball player, and women are goo goo crazy for him, but he doesn’t even care. He only has eyes for Jackie. I have to admit that a part of me is jealous. I would love to have what they have.
I run my hand through my hair and undo the bun, letting my hair fall down around my shoulders. I can’t stop thinking about Neil, if that’s even his real name. He said it was, but should I believe him?
I turn to my side and pull my legs up to my stomach. I see my phone light up on the table, but I don’t even reach for it. It’s better this way. I may have had a good time with him today, but it doesn’t matter. No matter what could come of us, nothing good starts with lying.
Neil
I barely slept last night thinking of Naomi. She wouldn’t answer my calls. I can’t say I blame her. I fucked up yesterday, pretty bad. If I had to do it all again, I would have been honest and upfront with her. But no, I kept it all to myself. Now I’m wondering if her date that never showed up has made a move on her. Could my actions have forced her into the arms of another man? Fuck!
“Fox! Get your shit together, man. We have a game with the Rangers this week and right now you can’t even catch a ball.”
As the starting catcher for the Mavericks, I know I should have my head into practice. But I just can’t get my mind off Naomi. I’ve been catching bull pens for over an hour now and I finally hold my hand up to let Jasper, the pitcher, know I’m done.