Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains (Victoria and Elijah) novel Chapter 163

Three Women

Caleb’s POV

…

I let out an exhausted breath, leaning forward to rest my elbows on my knees,

3.1

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“Lexi, no. I’m not doing this game with you again. I don’t want to see you after everything you pulled.”

I waited for the blowback. I waited for her to flip the script, to flare up, to tell me I was being dramatic or self- centered.

That was the Lexi I knew; a master at flipping the narrative until I was the one apologizing for being hurt.

Instead, a quiet, broken sigh came through the speaker.

“I know,” she murmured, her tone devoid of any sharp edges. “I know I hurt you. I’m so sorry, Caleb. I’ll make it up to you, I swear I will. Just let me explain face–to–face. Please.”

The total lack of defense threw me off completely. It was like talking to a stranger.

The arrogance was gone. The polished, manipulative outer shell was completely cracked, leaving behind someone who sounded genuinely desperate.

I stared down at the floorboards, weighing my options. Every logical brain cell in my head was screaming at me to hit the red button and block the number forever.

She had treated me like garbage when I needed a my girlfriend the most.

But curiosity, and a pathetic, lingering part of me that still remembered how much I used to care about her-

won out.

I let out a long exhale, running a hand over the back of my neck.

“Fine, I resigned. “But you’re going to have to wait a week. I’m not in the city.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m up at Pine Ridge,” I said, leaning back against the wooden bedpost. “Coach rented out a private lake cabin for the team for the week. I won’t be back in town until next Sunday.”

“Pine Ridge?” she repeated quickly, her tone instantly shifting. “That’s only about a three–hour drive from where I am right now. I can get in my car right now and start driving.”

My eyes widened slightly.

“Right now? Lexi, it’s after ten o’clock. You’re going to drive through the mountain passes in the middle of the night?”

“I don’t care,” she said firmly. “I can be there before noon tomorrow. I just need to see you.”

1/4

14:44 Tue, Aug 18

Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains

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“Lexi, don’t be stupid,” I warned, my tone sharpening with genuine concern despite myself. “It’s not safe to drive those winding roads at night, especially with the fog coming off the ridge. Just wait until tomorrow morning.”

A faint, breathless laugh escaped her lips.

“Look at you… still worrying about me after everything.”

“I’m not ” I cut myself off, exasperated. “Don’t twist it. Just wait until morning.”

“I’m bringing a friend with me anyway,” she added smoothly. “She’s going to split the driving with me, so I won’t be alone. Is there room at the cabin? Is Coach Miller going to be okay with it?”

“The rooms are pretty packed as it is,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose as a headache began to build behind my eyes.

“Coach brought his girlfriend, and everyone else is paired up in their own rooms. He worked out the room assignments weeks ago, and we were assigned together. So, there’s a room for you. But there isn’t one for your friend.”

For a few seconds, neither of us said anything.

“Oh, Lexi murmured softly after a long pause, her voice dropping into a quiet, almost sad cadence. “It’s… it’s nice that we’re still paired up together.”

“We aren’t together, Lexi,” I cut in coldly. “The moment you decided to vanish and abandon me after the accident, I broke off whatever we had. Don’t get it twisted.”

She let out a quiet breath

“Of course. As expected. But we still need to talk things out.”

“Lexi. If you’re coming up here thinking you can just buy your way back into my life through seduction or whatever tricks you used in the past, it’s not going to work,” I warned, my voice hardening.

“Like you always used to tell me, you know your worth. Well, I know my worth now, too.”

“I know, Caleb,” she replied, her tone remaining unnervingly soft. “And that’s really not what I’m trying to do. I’m not trying to play you or buy your sympathy. I just want to explain everything. I know nothing will ever fully justify why I disappeared on you… but I just hope you’ll still be able to reason with me once you hear what happened.”

She paused, taking a soft breath before continuing.

“About my friend… she could just take a spot on a couch in the living area. Or we can just grab a motel somewhere nearby once we get into town.”

I shook my head, staring out toward the dark tree line.

“I doubt you’re going to find any motels close by. Pine Ridge is extremely exclusive and private. Getting to an actual motel from out here is going to be difficult for her.”

2/4

14:45 Tue, Aug 18

Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains

86

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“Well… we’ll figure it out when we get there,” Lexi said quietly, her voice sounding tired but resolute.

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