The Trade(104)

A tear falls down her cheek as she shakes her head. “I’m so sorry, Cory. I really, really am.”

“I know,” I say softly, hating what I’m going to say next. Seeing that single tear roll down her cheek feels like a rusty pitchfork’s digging into my gut, churning and churning to point that I’m nauseas. “I . . . uh, I was thinking that maybe it’s best you don’t come to visit quite yet.”

“What?” Her eyes shoot up and her lip trembles. “Are you . . . breaking up with me?”

“What? No,” I shout, my chest growing so tight that it almost feels impossible to breathe. “No, fuck, I’m not breaking up with you. I love you, Natalie.”

“Then why don’t you want me there?” she asks, and I can hear the vulnerability in her voice. I can see the desolation in her eyes.

“It’s not that I don’t want you here, because hell, I need you here, Natalie. I need your warm embrace, your soft lips, your smile. I need it all now more than ever. But I’m terrified what might happen if you’re here when the pictures come out, if they do.”

“Nothing is going to happen to me.” Her calming tone eases some of the tension. “Rebels fans are assholes, but they’re not criminals.”

I laugh at that and shake my head. “I understand, but I also don’t want you to see anything, hear anything.”

“I will eventually.”

“Not at the height of it all,” I say and then sigh. “I know it sucks, and I’m going to miss you like crazy, but I really think it’s for the best. I love you. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

She looks off to the side, biting the corner of her lip. “I love you too.”

Resolved with this conversation and wanting to move on, I ask, “How was lunch with Joseph?”

The mention of her brother makes her smile as she brings her eyes back to mine. “Wonderful. He was at a local high school the other day promoting The Lineup. My mom spoke to an assembly of athletes about inclusion, they showed the PR clip we had put together, and the teenagers asked how they could start a program immediately.”

“That’s amazing. He must have been so happy.”

“He was. He was beaming, that’s for sure. We have a long way to go but getting a local high school on board with our mission is one step closer to full-on inclusion.”

I smile at her, wondering how I was able to get this beautiful girl with the even more beautiful heart to fall in love with me, to even give me a shot.

We spend the next two hours talking about spring training, the guys, Jason’s ability to win over everyone in a matter of seconds, Joseph’s candid ability to joke around just like Jason, and how much we miss each other. We don’t do anything frisky. We don’t even flash each other the goods. But we connect on a deeply intimate level and when we hang up, for the first time in two days, I feel like everything is going to be okay.





Chapter Twenty-Four





NATALIE





“Where are you right now?”

“The airport,” I say on a wince.

“Oh Natalie,” Monica says on a sigh. “I thought he told you not to go.”

“I know. I know.” I shift in my uncomfortable airport seat and bring my knees into my chest. “But I need to see him. I need to make sure he’s okay, that we’re okay.”

“You said you were.”

“It seems like it. But there’s something missing when he talks to me, almost like he’s holding back again. There’s worry in his eyes even when he’s smiling and laughing with me. I think if we just press reset, everything will be okay.”

“What about the pictures?”

“I think Gregory took care of them, because it’s been a week and they’re not out. With spring training starting, now would be the perfect time to release something like that.”

“True.” And she pauses for a second before saying, “I’m still nervous for you.”

“It’s not like I’m going to find another woman in his hotel room,” I say, because that’s what Monica almost seems like she’s alluding to.

“Oh my God, no.” From her quick response, I relax. Cory would not do that, but I don’t want Monica to even entertain that thought in her head about him. “Cory would never cheat on you, not just because of what Ansel did to you, but because he’s not that man. I’m just worried that he’s super stressed right now and having you there might stress him out more.”

“Yeah, I can see where you’re right, but then again, what’s being in a relationship if we can’t shoulder some of the responsibility of stress, right? Plus, this added stress he’s been harboring is from me, so I want him to know that everything is okay. I’m a big girl, I can handle things.”

“Okay. I mean, you’re at the airport anyway. Maybe take him some Garrett’s popcorn?”

“Already bought some.”

She chuckles. “Now that’s a good girlfriend. Okay. I have to go. Good luck, and text me when you get there.”

“I will, thanks. Love you.” I hang up and stare out at the tarmac where planes are coming and going, bags are being tossed around, kitchen galleys are restocked, and cars buzz around with a purpose.