The Dugout: A Sweet Grumpy Sunshine Sports Romance (The Vegas Kings Book 3) by Emily Childs

Author:Emily Childs [Childs, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Victorious
Published: 2023-01-18T18:30:00+00:00

Ava

I’ve always had a bad attitude about teenagers. I was one once, after all. But Mason and Lucas are hilarious, respectful, and helpful.

They stick it out with us, unpacking supplies, helping assemble game tables and equipment, and offering suggestions from their perspective for what they’d want in an athletic house. Not once have they mocked the numerous alarms going off on my phone to keep me focused. I work well in sprints—hard focused chunks, and when the alarm blares, I can take a mental and physical break.

We all have our routines and systems. Ryder already knew mine, but it’s nice that the two boys start to turn my alarm system into a competition. They race each other during the focus time, desperate to see who can unpack more boxes, or take the stairs from the lobby to the loft fastest with new supplies before the alarm sounds.

Lucas even says he’s going to give it a try with his homework.

We make a lot of progress, and most of the rooms are blocked off, planned out, and those that aren’t at least have the beginnings of an organized setup. The sun is nothing but a thin splash of bloody red as it fades over the mountains by the time we call it a day. I wave at the boys from the front door as they pull out of the parking lot.

When the red glow of taillights strikes my face, the back of my neck prickles. Ryder’s stare is a physical entity all on its own. One felt to the bones before it sears into the blood and leaves a delightful shiver of goosebumps all over the arms.

I peek over my shoulder. Ryder holds my stare for half a breath too long, then tosses a stack of trash from a greasy lunch of burgers and fries.

He brushes his palms together and picks up my bag next to my feet. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

“Okay.”

Breathe. Take a step. Breathe. Step. I’m being dramatic, but walking this close, the occasional brush of his shoulder against mine has my head chanting each movement I need to make, as though my brain is about to short circuit.

I’m on dangerous ground here. No wonder Drake felt the need to give me a warning. How many years have I been lost in the casual dating pool? Like James. We had worked together, he was a successful guy, but when I looked forward, he wasn’t in my vision.

No one ever has been. Except Ryder Huntington.

I think that’s what makes the knife to my heart so sharp and lasting. I once believed I was one of those lucky ones who found her second half before high school graduation.

Love at eighteen is considered puppy love, but in my case, it was no less real than mature, adult love of another human.

I’ve never found it since. Truth be told, I’m not sure I’ve wanted to. And there is the problem. My heart is a glutton for punishment by hanging onto memories of a different time, a different man.

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