Free Homerun (Pro-U Book 4) by Ali Parker Page B

houses with us, snuggle down into Aubrey's bed and tell ghost stories? He wasn't just the man I wanted between my thighs... he was my best friend, the closest thing I had to a brother, no matter how jacked up it seemed in the bigger picture.
    He was mad earlier because he loved me. Like family.
    I opened the door and stood in the darkness for a minute, trying to decide if I wanted to chance it with him. I didn't want another fight on my hands, but I needed someone to hold me, someone to remind me that tomorrow would be better.
    "Lay?" His voice was soft as he stood at the other end of the hallway in his sleeping pants. "You all right?"
    I glanced down at my feet as sadness pulled me under a tidal wave. I shook my head no as a sob shook my whole body. By the time I started to sink toward the ground, he caught me.
    "It's all right. I'm right here, okay." He picked me up and carried me down the hall as I clung to him and let myself cry like I would around Aubrey. He was the closest thing I had to her.
    "I don't know what to do. I'm so scared to lose him and to lose her and-" I tucked my face against his neck as another sob wracked me.
    "Shhhh... we'll figure it out tomorrow. Come let me hold you, okay?"
    I continued to cry, unable to help myself. I had nothing left to cover up my lie. He'd seen it and come face to face with it.
    "I'm sorry you had to see it." I clung to him as he moved us onto his bed.
    "I wish you would have told me. We've been friends since we could walk, Layla." He laid down and turned on his side, pulling me flush against him as I wrapped myself around him.
    "I'm so embarrassed and scared and hurt and terrified. I can't be me in this situation. I can't walk in and fix it, kick its ass and save the day." I tucked my face against his neck again and breathed in deeply, finding peace for just a moment in his arms.
    "No more talking, okay. Just lay here and try to get some sleep. I got you now, and I'm not going anywhere, okay?"
    I nodded, but refused to believe his promise. It was too good to be true, and when the semester was over... he would leave.
    It was just the way things would turn out. I needed to prepare for the worst – for reality.

Chapter 11
    Jayce
     
     
    I laid in the bed for what seemed like forever that next morning, just watching her sleep. She wanted peace in her life and now I knew why. Reaching out, I brushed her hair back from her face and forced myself to stay in place.
    How easy it would have been to pull her close and promise her that peace she was after, but it wasn't something I knew how to give, or find for that matter. My own life was a constant struggle to keep anxiety at bay.
    After fighting with myself over waking her up with a few soft kisses that would be out of place, I finally got up. With the fridge stocked up, I knew I could at least make her breakfast and show her that I cared - a lot.
    There was something cathartic about cracking the eggs and frying the bacon, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I liked it. Was it because I was doing something special for someone that I loved, or just the simple act of cooking.
    "Hey. Someone coming over this morning for breakfast, ‘cause I can grab my stuff and head to the gym. I don't want to get in the way."
    I glanced over my shoulder at the sound of her voice. She was dressed in a cute pair of pink pajamas, and her hair was disheveled and makeup a wreck. Somehow she was stunning and cute all in the same moment.
    "Breakfast is for you." I smiled and turned back to the stove, not quite sure how to start the conversation about the night before. I wasn't sure we needed to.
    "Oh." She walked into the kitchen and stopped beside me, reaching up to turn the burner heat down a little. "I'm going to shower and change. I'll be out in a minute."
    "Take your time." I glanced over at her, wanting to say a thousand things, but leaving my words unspoken.
    "Jayce..." She glanced down at her hands. "Thanks."
    "Anytime." I reached over,