The Locker Room(96)

I thought . . . God, I thought that after he confessed his love, he’d want me. I was so wrong. It’s just unfathomable that he would be so mean. He’s never hurt me like this, then again, he made it quite clear how badly I hurt him.

But to seek vengeance, it doesn’t—

Knock. Knock.

I prop my head up just as the door opens, Cora’s head popping through the crack.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Yup.” I give her a fake smile and wipe at my eyes. “Fine. Was there something you need?”

She bites on her bottom lip just as the door swings open wider and Knox stands on the other side.

My heart seizes in my chest from the mere sight of him—again—and when he excuses himself past Cora, thanking her and closing the door, I lose all ability to breathe. From behind his back, he holds out a bouquet of flowers and then studies my face, confusion in his expression.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asks, his voice soft.

What’s wrong? He can’t be serious.

What is happening right now?

Is he really here, standing in front of me, holding a bouquet?

“Wh-why are you . . . here?” I swallow hard, my voice cracking with emotion.

“Why are you crying?” He rounds the desk and kneels in front of me, forcing me to look him in the eyes. “Babe, what’s wrong?”

Babe?

Am I missing something?

“You . . . you left. This morning, when I woke up, you were gone, and when I texted you, you didn’t respond.”

“I told you I had morning weights, and I would see you for lunch.” His brow knits together. “Em, I left you a note.”

“What?” My mouth quivers. “Where? I didn’t see it.”

“On your nightstand, next to your phone. Jesus, did you think I left you without saying a damn thing?”

Shamefully, I nod. “I thought you got what you wanted after eight years and left.”

“Fuck . . . no. Christ, Em, I told you I loved you last night. Does that not mean anything to you?”

“I’m sorry.” I bury my head in my hands, relief starting to ease up my spine. “I didn’t know what to think. Everything has happened so fast, seeing you again, falling for you all over again, spending the night with you. I’m honestly a mess.” He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me close, hugging me. “I love you, Knox, and after last night, when I woke up without you in my bed, I couldn’t fathom what happened. Maybe I wasn’t as good as you thought, maybe I wasn’t the same girl, maybe I wasn’t—”

“Maybe you need to stop thinking so low about yourself and see the woman I see.” He pushes a stray hair behind my ear and traces his fingers down my neck. “You’re beautiful, inside and out. You’re so fucking kind and sweet. You’re passionate, and even though it will still take me time to accept what happened between us, I know, deep in my fucking bones, that you’re the most selfless person I know.”

A sob escapes me.

“I love you, babe, and nothing is ever going to change that.”

“But . . . you didn’t answer my text message.”

“Phone died last night. Didn’t charge it. I was kind of too busy fucking you to remember. I came straight from training to here, because I have an important question to ask you.”

“You do?”

He nods, the corner of his lips peeking up in the sexiest of ways. He hands me the flowers that I clutch to my chest, letting the floral fragrance ease my nervous heart.

“Emory Ealson”—he takes my hand in his—“after over eight years of knowing your beautiful self, I’m going to ask you one more time, and I really hope you don’t say no.” He takes a deep breath, connects his beautiful eyes with mine, and asks, “Will you go to lunch with me?”

The most unladylike snort shoots out of me right before I cover my mouth. This is really happening. He’s kneeling in front of me, confessing his love, bringing our entire relationship full circle, and I couldn’t love him more for it.

I reach out and caress his face, still in shock that he’s here, wanting me again. “But, Knox, you lost the bet last night. Which means . . . you owe me a steak dinner in one hell of a revealing outfit.”

His smiles grows wider. “How about this? You go to lunch with me right now, and this weekend, after our afternoon game, I take you out for steak, and then for dessert I eat that delicious pussy of yours.”

Can’t argue with that.

I lean forward and press a chaste kiss across his lips. “Deal.”





I pace my living room unable to stand still. The girls left an hour ago after I filled them in on everything, and I mean everything. Their questions were very specific, and I had no problem answering them because after this morning, I wanted them to fully be on Team Knox.

And they are.

They couldn’t be happier for us.

I called my mom when I got out of work and told her everything. She screamed for a good five minutes and then broke down into sobs, thanking the good Lord for bringing us back together. She was always a huge Knox fan, especially after seeing what he did to pull me out of my Neil funk.

Now, I wait.

The Bobcats won. Four to two, and Knox was incredible, making a few diving plays, one into the stands, and hitting three singles across the field. It was amazing watching him again. I always felt like he was an art form on the diamond, a perfect example of what a baseball player should look like and play like. Seeing him execute his moves so simply, after all the hard work he put in, it was a huge turn-on.