Free Reflection (Game On Trilogy #2) by Lisa Sommers Page A

game, right?” Here we go with the questions. I don’t usually mind small talk with strangers, it’s just that I am not particularly in the mood right now.
    “Yeah, we have a game tomorrow.” I respond, still not offering up more of a conversation.
    I see her nod her head, but her gaze seems to lower like she’s trying to look at my body through the water. “And I take it you are here for the next couple of days, right?” A crooked grin forms on her pretty face.
    I nod my head, not verbally responding to her question.
    Her eye’s lock on mine once again and all of a sudden I feel her foot run up the inseam of my leg. I jerk from the contact, pulling away just slightly. Other than that, I remain where I am sitting in hopes that she gets the hint and leaves me alone.
    No such luck. She inches herself slowly around the built in hot tub bench seat. She’s getting closer and closer every second.
    I remove my arm that is spread wide over the rim of the tub and bring it close to my side. I don’t want her getting any ideas.
    She still doesn’t take the hint. This chick has the side of her body plastered up against mine. My body stiffens. I’ve never been in this predicament before and not known what to do. My usual instinct would have been to wrap my arm over her shoulder and pull her tight against my frame. Take her mouth with mine and end up spending the next few hours exploring one another.
    Not this time though. Not since a certain someone makes me want to be a better man. For her. Even though she doesn’t want me.
    Miss Get-up-in-all-my-space leans in close to my ear and whispers, “Hey, my name is Kelly. How about you say we take what we have going on between us upstairs and play hide the flute? Or in your case, hide the bat?” Not giving me a chance to move, her tongue darts out and licks the shell of my ear.
    At the exact moment my phone starts buzzing. It’s a freaking sign. A sign that I need to get the fuck out of this hot tub and away from her. What if it’s Chelsea? The emotions of betrayal wash over me. I know I’ve done nothing wrong and I know that Chelsea and I are not an item, but just the thought of having someone else’s scent on me makes me feel like a dick.
    I manage to dart up off of my seat and out of the water before this chick can get her claws into me. “I’m sorry. I gotta go. Early day and all.” I don’t look back. I just gather my shirt, towel and phone and make my way through the exit. I hear her chuckle and murmur something under her breath, but I have no idea what she said and I am not sticking around to find out.
    Fucking crazy lunatic. Or am I the crazy one?
     
    I wake up to the sound of my alarm clock and silently thank God as I roughly scrub my hands over my face to wake me up. Cal would have had my head on a chopping block had I overslept again.
    It’s game day and I am actually feeling pretty good about myself. Right before I fell asleep, I received a text message from Chelsea. She told me that she would like to talk to me when I return next week.
    Just that simple text put me in a good mood. It may not be what I want to hear but just knowing that she is willing to talk to me is a start. She’s thinking about me and what we have ― or what we could have. I’ll be damned if I fuck it up this time. I texted her back and told her that I look forward to it. I wanted to say so much more, but I know that would just freak her out again so I decided to just keep it simple.
     
    “You were on fire today, bro!” Shane and Rob say simultaneously as they both slap me on the back.
    I nod as I recollect making six double plays in the last four innings. “It was a good day indeed.”
    “Okay, well we have tomorrow off before we have another game here in town. What’s on tonight’s agenda? We need to celebrate.” Rob’s a good guy, but his mouth always gets us into trouble. He just doesn’t know when to quit.
    Cal looks his way with a glare as he says, “So help me God,