Page 79 of Bad Ball Hitter
I even understand his need to protect me from Darci’s betrayal.
Despite everything, I just miss him. He’s protected me from day one, and I don’t want to stay angry. I want to choose happiness.
But we talked the night before and had a pleasant talk. The relief he blew out when I told him I could forgive him made me smile for the first time since finding out. I’m tired of tiptoeing around truths. I’m exposing them all. Otherwise, they’ll stay buried like roadside bombs. Most of all, though, I’m tired of being in this state of funk. I’ve been in it for the past seven years, and dredging up her betrayal is like losing her all over again.
Truth be told, I hope that the paternity test results show a match for Drake. It would make things easier for the little guy. And if Drake moves to the West Coast, I’ll have to deal with it. I don’t want to stand in the way of his contract offer, which he will probably receive. But I won’t move with him. That’s why I signed on the dotted line. My life is here in Boston. Athletes don’t play sports forever, and I plan on running this business for a long time. I proved I can do it. I’ll be here waiting for him at the end of his career. I made the mistake of making him my entire world once. No matter how much I love him, I won’t fall into that trap. I need my own identity.
The corners of my lips lift. “But it’s okay. It came as a shock to both of us. But Drake and I have known each other since we were eight. We’ll always remain friends.”
“I’m glad things worked out for you.” His voice is sincere. It’s a shame Jett never lit that spark for me because he’s a nice guy.
“Me too.”
“Though I won’t lie. I wish our relationship could’ve been more than platonic.”
“You’re a great guy with a great dog.” I flash him a small smile. “Truth is my heart was taken a long time ago.”
I just hope this time he doesn’t leave it shattered.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Drake
“What are you doing here?” Miranda’s brown eyes widen as she looks up from the counter. Those perfectly shaped eyebrows furrow the moment she takes me in. I stand in the middle of her spa’s waiting room and wonder if coming here was a mistake. I should’ve waited to confront her until after I cooled down.
Thankfully, she doesn’t have any clients at this moment to overhear. The last thing I need is more bad press. I’m barely over the previous shitshow and don’t want to jeopardize my contract negotiations. But I do need answers, or at least to speak my mind.
“Cut the shit, Miranda. You know exactly why I’m here. Why did you run to the press?”
Her eyes dart away for a second before they meet mine again. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Drake.” Her voice is as smooth as silk. But the slight quiver in her perfect lips gives her away. I’ve often been on the receiving end of those lips and that voice.
“Don’t play games with me.” I glare at her, my anger simmering beneath the surface. “You leaked the story. The one about Lila and me.”
A flicker of something crosses her face. Guilt? Satisfaction? It’s hard to tell with her poker face. “It wasn’t me,” she maintains, but her voice tremors betray her otherwise confident facade.
I push away from the counter and pace in front of her, my frustration boiling. “You don’t get it Miranda. This isn’t just about me anymore.” I pause, swallowing down the lump in my throat before I turn back on her again. “This affects Lila too.”
She scoffs. “So what? You both humiliated me. You strung me along. Used me.”
“Used you? For what?”
“You’re going to stand here and pretend we had nothing between us?”
I run my hand down my scruff, and I look at her, really look at her—the poised, polished woman I’d once called my girlfriend. The woman I thought I knew. Now, she just seems as cold and calculated as this spa. But there is some truth to what she says. I did use her, in a way. Not for her money or status like she did with me, but for comfort, for companionship.
“I am truly sorry and never intended to hurt you. I wanted to try with you. It’s just…” I toss my arms up and let them fall at my side. “When I saw Lila, something snapped. She’s a part of me I can’t ever shake off. But this isn’t about us anymore. This is about what’s right.”
She folds her arms across her chest, her red lips pursing into a thin line. “And what is ‘right,’ Drake? Protecting your little ex-girlfriend?”
“Lila didn’t deserve to be dragged into this,” I answer firmly. “She didn’t ask for any of this.”
Miranda tosses her hair back and laughs bitterly. “And neither did I.”
“No,” I admit, staring at her squarely. “No, you didn’t. But did you ever think about the harm you caused a seven-year-old? I get I hurt you, but that wasn’t intentional. What you did was malicious and cruel.”
There’s a moment of silence as we stare at each other. The tension in the room is thick enough to cut with a knife. But there’s also something else—regret? Understanding? Maybe both.
“I didn’t think about Jake.” Tears well in her eyes. “I just wanted this to work out so badly.”